CDASA AC EXAM/54 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Why provide sourcing information? - -- to enhance the credibility and
transparency of analysis
- to assist customers in making informed decisions based on the quality and
scope of source underlying the analysis
- Source Reference Citation - -- an endnote
- must be used each time a source is directly cited
- Appended Reference Citation - -- descriptive elements about information
that relates to analysis in a supplemental way; may provide
context/background
- optional
- Source Descriptor - -- a brief narrative of factors that indicate the
credibility of a source (e.g. age, technical elements of collections, possible
DnD, etc.)
- should be included in the main body of the text. If not, it MUST be in the
SRC
- for PAI only, analysts can develop their own source descriptor verbiage if
information is not from IC-produced open source report
- Source Summary Statement - -- an explanation of the quality, credibility,
and validity factors of sources on which an analytic product is based
- strongly encouraged, especially with complex products
- should cover strengths/weaknesses of source base, which sources are most
important to key judgements, etc.
- What are the components of a SRC? - -- classification of endnote
- classification of extracted information
- overall classification of source
- page number if applicable
- identification [of owner/publisher]
- source identifier (e.g. a serial # for retrieval)
- title [of the source document]
- source descriptor
- other (date of issuance, page number if applicable)
- ICD 710 - -Classification Management and Control Marking System
- Retention of Analytic Products - -- unusual sources: 1 year
, - products with a specified time horizon: 5 years or the time horizon,
whichever is shorter
- What is the purpose of Analytic Standards? (ICD 203) - -- to serve as core
principles of intel analysis
- to provide foundational assessment criteria for review of IC products
- to furnish a common base for IC education/training
- to promote a common ethic in achieving analytic rigor
- What are the 5 Analytic Standards? - -Analysis must be...
- objective
- independent
- timely
- based on all available information (inclusive)
And address the..
- 9 Analytic Tradecraft Standards
- Objective (Analytic Standard) - -- Perform functions with awareness of
personal assumptions and reasoning
- Employ reasoning techniques and practical mechanisms that reveal and
mitigate bias
- Be alert to influence of existing analytic positions and judgments and
consider alternative perspectives
- Ensure analysis is not unduly constrained by previous judgments
- Independent (Analytic Standard) - -- Analytic assessments must not be
distorted, nor shaped for advocacy of a particular group, agenda, or policy
viewpoint
- Analytic judgments must not be influenced by preference for a particular
policy
- Timely (Analytic Standard) - -- Intelligence must be disseminated in time
for it to be actionable
- Being continually aware of events of intelligence interest, customer
activities and schedules,intelligence requirements and priorities
- Based on all Available Sources of Intelligence (Analytic Standards) - --
Analysis must be based on all relevant information available
- identify/address gaps and work w/ collectors to develop collection
strategies
- What are the 9 Analytic Tradecraft Standards - -1. quality/credibility of
sources (sourcing)
2. express uncertainty (uncertainty)
3. distinguish intelligence from assumptions (distinction)
4. analysis of alternatives (alternatives)
ANSWERS
Why provide sourcing information? - -- to enhance the credibility and
transparency of analysis
- to assist customers in making informed decisions based on the quality and
scope of source underlying the analysis
- Source Reference Citation - -- an endnote
- must be used each time a source is directly cited
- Appended Reference Citation - -- descriptive elements about information
that relates to analysis in a supplemental way; may provide
context/background
- optional
- Source Descriptor - -- a brief narrative of factors that indicate the
credibility of a source (e.g. age, technical elements of collections, possible
DnD, etc.)
- should be included in the main body of the text. If not, it MUST be in the
SRC
- for PAI only, analysts can develop their own source descriptor verbiage if
information is not from IC-produced open source report
- Source Summary Statement - -- an explanation of the quality, credibility,
and validity factors of sources on which an analytic product is based
- strongly encouraged, especially with complex products
- should cover strengths/weaknesses of source base, which sources are most
important to key judgements, etc.
- What are the components of a SRC? - -- classification of endnote
- classification of extracted information
- overall classification of source
- page number if applicable
- identification [of owner/publisher]
- source identifier (e.g. a serial # for retrieval)
- title [of the source document]
- source descriptor
- other (date of issuance, page number if applicable)
- ICD 710 - -Classification Management and Control Marking System
- Retention of Analytic Products - -- unusual sources: 1 year
, - products with a specified time horizon: 5 years or the time horizon,
whichever is shorter
- What is the purpose of Analytic Standards? (ICD 203) - -- to serve as core
principles of intel analysis
- to provide foundational assessment criteria for review of IC products
- to furnish a common base for IC education/training
- to promote a common ethic in achieving analytic rigor
- What are the 5 Analytic Standards? - -Analysis must be...
- objective
- independent
- timely
- based on all available information (inclusive)
And address the..
- 9 Analytic Tradecraft Standards
- Objective (Analytic Standard) - -- Perform functions with awareness of
personal assumptions and reasoning
- Employ reasoning techniques and practical mechanisms that reveal and
mitigate bias
- Be alert to influence of existing analytic positions and judgments and
consider alternative perspectives
- Ensure analysis is not unduly constrained by previous judgments
- Independent (Analytic Standard) - -- Analytic assessments must not be
distorted, nor shaped for advocacy of a particular group, agenda, or policy
viewpoint
- Analytic judgments must not be influenced by preference for a particular
policy
- Timely (Analytic Standard) - -- Intelligence must be disseminated in time
for it to be actionable
- Being continually aware of events of intelligence interest, customer
activities and schedules,intelligence requirements and priorities
- Based on all Available Sources of Intelligence (Analytic Standards) - --
Analysis must be based on all relevant information available
- identify/address gaps and work w/ collectors to develop collection
strategies
- What are the 9 Analytic Tradecraft Standards - -1. quality/credibility of
sources (sourcing)
2. express uncertainty (uncertainty)
3. distinguish intelligence from assumptions (distinction)
4. analysis of alternatives (alternatives)
