FBI Intelligence Analyst Skills 2

Question 1

When evaluating a source, an analyst learns the informant has financial ties to the subject under investigation. How should this affect the assessment?

Accepted Answer

The source reliability rating should be lowered due to potential bias

Answer

The information should be accepted as fully credible

Answer

The financial tie makes the source automatically reliable

Answer

Bias is irrelevant once information is reported

Question 2

An analyst notices two independent reports describe the same event with identical wording. What is the most likely concern?

Accepted Answer

The reports are circular reporting from a single original source

Answer

The reports are doubly confirmed and stronger

Answer

The wording proves both sources are firsthand

Answer

Identical wording always means the event is true

Question 3

Which analytic technique deliberately challenges a leading hypothesis by assigning analysts to argue against it?

Accepted Answer

Devil's advocacy

Answer

Brainstorming

Answer

Linchpin analysis

Answer

Pattern matching

Question 4

An analyst must brief leadership but has incomplete data with a deadline in one hour. What is the best approach?

Accepted Answer

Present the assessment with clearly stated confidence levels and gaps

Answer

Delay the briefing until all data is gathered

Answer

Present only the data that supports one conclusion

Answer

Withhold the briefing because conclusions are uncertain

Question 5

What does the term 'cognitive bias' most directly threaten in analysis?

Accepted Answer

Objective interpretation of evidence

Answer

The speed of data collection

Answer

The classification level of a report

Answer

The number of available sources

Question 6

An analyst forms a conclusion early and then interprets all new evidence as supporting it. This describes which bias?

Accepted Answer

Confirmation bias

Answer

Anchoring bias

Answer

Availability bias

Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 7

Which is the best example of an inference rather than an observation?

Accepted Answer

The increased traffic at the warehouse suggests a shipment is imminent

Answer

Three trucks arrived at the warehouse at 0900

Answer

The warehouse door is painted blue

Answer

Two people exited the building