Educing Information: Interrogation - National Intelligence University

speech content analysis. 77 Until a technique can be reasonably evaluated with a
specific cultural group, it would be unwise to assume that technique has utility
with that group.
Summary of Findings
We do not really know what we think we know. Overall, knowledge of
behavioral indicators that might assist in the detection of deception is very limited
and provides little reliable information that could assist intelligence collectors
operating anywhere outside the United States or Europe. Despite some progress
in the ability to assess common criminals, results gleaned from the domestic
population of criminals and college undergraduates may help us little in dealing
with uncooperative detained soldiers or committed and possibly resistance-trained
followers of radical movements.
Very little is actually known about current populations of interest. In addition,
this review failed to locate a single study examining the impact on deception
detection of using interpreters/translators in questioning subjects. There is little
reason to assume that data generalize across cultures, particularly Third World
populations.
The severe methodological shortcomings in research to date should lead us to
question whether what we think works really does, or what we think doesn’t work
indeed does not. Existing research results, drawn from non-stressful situations,
may have prompted the premature abandonment of potentially useful methods.
Suggested Approaches
The U.S. government needs to implement an aggressive, focused strategic
plan for supporting behavioral research and developing enhanced capabilities to
validate information and sources. Such a plan should focus on understanding actual
behavior and prioritize projects on the basis of operational needs, operational
realities, cost, and potential return on investment.
Operational Needs
The Intelligence Community should work with field operatives to identify
and prioritize their most important and urgent operational needs and associated
research goals. Examples might include screening public transportation passengers,
improving interrogation techniques and results, validating embassy walk-ins as
legitimate sources, or improving field operatives’ capacity to elicit and validate
information from sources in the field and rebuild a viable human intelligence
capability. The length of time needed to develop and field a method should be one
consideration.
Operational Realities
The primary tool in human intelligence collection is the operative on the
ground. This role necessitates moving within the society of potential sources and
talking to individuals who may or may not be motivated to assist the United States
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