Richard Heuer

  • proposed that thinking is a learned skill

a few of my notes are here:

Perception

  • goal is accurate perception (an active process)
  • “we tend to perceive what we expect to perceive”
  • “mind-sets tend to be quick to form but resistant to change”
  • “new information is assimilated to existing images”
  • these drawings change from man woman. when subjects are shown the image of a man first, they will be more resistant when the rest of the images of a woman are shown. they will see the man longer than someone who is only shown a single picture of a woman
  • This drawing is a young/old woman. If you see one, try and see the other perspective. sense how difficult it is
    • analysts need to constantly be looking at different perspectives
  • “initial exposure to blurred or ambiguous stimuli interferes with accurate perception even after more and better information becomes available”

Improving intelligence analysis (a checklist for analysts)

  1. defining the problem - ask the right questions (asking management)
  2. generating hypotheses - list any ideas that are relevant
  3. collecting information - gather information for the hypotheses, develop alternative hypotheses
  4. evaluating hypotheses - could use a matrix format, protect yourself against cognitive biases
  5. selecting the most likely hypothesis
  6. ongoing monitoring - new information can change analytic conclusions

management of analysis

  • support for research