Critical Thinking and Intelligence Analysis (Second Edition)

Analystsandanalystsalonecreateintelligence.Althoughtechnologicalmarvelsassistanalystsbycatalogingandpresentingdata,informationandevidenceinnewways, theydonotdoanalysis.To bemosteffective,analystsneedanoverarching,reflectiveframeworktoaddstructuredreasoningtosound,intuitivethinking."Criticalthinking"providessuchaframeworkandgoesfurther,positivelyinfluencingtheentireintelligenceanalysisprocess.Analystswhoadoptcriticalthinkingstandtoimprovetheiranalysis.Thispaperdefinescriticalthinkingin thecontextofintelligenceanalysis,explainshowitinfluencestheentireintelligenceprocess,exploreshowittoughenstheartofintelligenceanalysis,suggestshowitmaybetaught, anddeduceshowanalystscanbepersuadedtoadoptthishabit.