Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 5, Number 1, Spring / Summer 2020 | Page 115

The Challenge of Evaluating and Testing Critical Thinking in Potential Intelligence Analysts
tests can be given remotely and scored
electronically, they can widen the pool
of candidates. Most importantly, valid
tests can help companies’ measure
three critical elements of success on the
job: competence, work ethic, and emotional
intelligence. Although employers
still look for evidence of those qualities
in résumés, reference checks, and interviews,
they need a fuller picture to
make smart hires.
Partnering and encouraging academic
institutions to trail-blaze new
measures for fostering critical thinking
in the twenty-first century age of Big
Data, fake news, and the weaponization
of information is also paramount.
The University of Washington is at the
forefront of making a systematic and
organized effort to strengthen critical
thinking skillsets at their university,
disseminating lesson plans and educational
material for free on their website.
Their Office of the Provost states, “... it is
crucial that we educate our students on
how to think critically, access and analyze
data, and, above all, question the
answers. If our students are going to become
leaders, scientists, public officials,
writers, businesspeople, teachers—even
informed voters—they need these skills
.... But now, the need is more important
than ever as our devices flash yet another
outrageous headline every day” (Baldasty
2018).
The CIA concurs and calls for
all twenty-first century citizens to be
exposed to tradecraft structured analytical
techniques, which can help individuals
challenge the mental models
which humans can use to sift through
abundant information and be aware of
the fallacies that humans are prey to.
“Schools and academia should consider
ways such rigorous [Intelligence] analysis
could be brought into curriculums.
Ideally, just like every student learns
the scientific method in STEM classes,
every civics student should learn intelligence
analysis techniques” (Golson
2018). The CIA further suggest that
there should be an online initiative or a
“Master Class taught by former IAs with
the goal to encourage Americans to be
‘self-conscious about their reasoning
process.’” As critical thinking trailblazer,
CIA analyst and educator Richards
Heuer writes, “[Individuals] should
think about how they make judgments
and reach conclusions, not just [think]
about the judgments and conclusions
themselves” (Golson 2018).
Along with the weaponization of
information, what has been called the
Fourth Industrial Revolution is changing
and shaping the students, employees,
and the IAs of tomorrow. Many
forecasters have predicted that talent
and ability will represent a critical factor
in the workforce. Talent assessment,
recruitment, and employee training
and engagement will have to be revisited
because an employer will need to
find talented IAs whose skills stack up
against the high-paced needs of the IC.
Complex problem solving, all aspects of
critical thinking, creativity judgment,
decision-making, and the ability to be
cognitively flexible will be paramount.
The twenty-first century is taking us to
the threshold of a more dynamic and
sophisticated digital information age,
where technology’s impact extends
101