Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

to reliably filter out those individuals with the highest probability of acting out
inappropriately (i.e., abusively, violently, etc.) in the interrogation room.
In sum, the interrogation process can be an emotionally charged, high-intensity
activity that requires a considerable degree of self-control — accompanied
by strategic thought and action — on the part of the interrogator. The unique
challenges set before the interrogator strongly underscore the importance of 1) a
systematic screening and selection process, 2) comprehensive initial and ongoing
training, and 3) continuous assessment of the interrogator (including a selfassessment)
as well as that of the team.
Question Design: Tools of the Trade
Debriefing questions should usually be couched to provoke a
positive answer and should be specific. The questioner should
not accept a blanket negative without probing. For example, the
question “Do you know anything about Plant X”is likelier to
draw a negative answer than, “Do you have any friends who
work at Plant X”or “Can you describe its interior” 73
Planning, preparation, approaches, rapport-building, detection of deception,
and subject matter expertise are all key elements of the overall interrogation
process. In a real sense, however, each of these is but a supporting player to
the art of effective questioning. Going back to the fundamental definition of
interrogation set forth previously (“it consists of no more than obtaining needed
information through responses to questions”), it becomes readily apparent that
the entire effort hinges upon the ability of the interrogator to methodically ask
meaningful questions of the source.
Of all the skills required of the accomplished interrogator, none is more
important than mastery of interrogatives. Rudyard Kipling went straight to the
heart of the matter when he observed, “I kept six honest serving-men (they taught
me all I knew); their names are what and why and when and how and where and
who.” 74 These six questions provide the basic tools of the trade that can enable
the skilled interrogator to expertly probe a source’s knowledge with laser-like
precision while adroitly disguising intent.
Research in the social sciences, communication theory, and linguistics has
uncovered a number of useful understandings about the potential power of welldesigned
questions that could have immediate application in interrogation. Subtle
changes in syntax, for example, have shown to greatly enhance the persuasive
power of a given question (Davis and Knowles, 1999). Additional study is
required to assess the effect of such questioning techniques through the crosscultural
filter.
73
KUBARK, 62.
74
From Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories.
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