| 1. |
- Granhag, Pär-Anders, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Eliciting information from small cells of sources
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1833-5330 .- 2159-5364. ; 11:2, s. 143-162
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In past research, the Scharff technique has consistently outperformed different comparison techniques with respect to the elicitation of human intelligence. This study extends previous work by examining the efficacy of the Scharff technique applied to small cells of sources. The sources worked in triads (N=180), and were given information about a planned terrorist attack. They were then interviewed individually with either the Scharff technique (conceptualised as five tactics) or the Direct Approach (open and direct questions). The two techniques resulted in an equal amount of new information. As predicted, the sources in the Scharff condition underestimated, whereas the sources in the Direct Approach condition overestimated, their own contribution of new information. Furthermore, the Scharff tactics resulted in the sources overestimating the amount of information revealed by their fellow group members, whereas this was not the case in the Direct Approach. The paper advances the knowledge on elicitation techniques on several accounts: with respect to the context (focusing on small cells of sources), measures of efficacy (introducing a new dependent measure) and tactics (introducing novel context-dependent tactics). The outcome of the study marks the Scharff technique as a promising technique for eliciting information in intelligence settings.
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| 2. |
- Granhag, Pär-Anders, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Eliciting intelligence from human sources: The first scientific test of the Scharff-technique
- 2015
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Ingår i: Legal and Criminological Psychology. - : Wiley. - 1355-3259. ; 20:1, s. 96-113
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The gathering of human intelligence (HUMINT) is of utmost importance, yet the scientific literature is silent with respect to the effectiveness of different information elicitation techniques. Our aim was to remedy this by conducting the first scientific test of the so-called Scharff technique (named after the successful German WWII interrogator). Method We developed a new experimental paradigm, mirroring some main features of a typical HUMINT situation. The participants (N = 93) were given information on a planned terrorist attack, and were instructed to strike a balance between not revealing too much or too little information in an upcoming interview. One third was interviewed with the Scharff technique (conceptualized to include four different tactics), one-third was asked open questions only, and the final third was asked specific questions only. The effectiveness of the three techniques was assessed by a novel set of objective and subjective measures. Results Our main findings show that (1) the three techniques did not differ with respect to the objective amount of new information gathered; (2) the participants in the Scharff condition perceived (as predicted) that it was more difficult to read the interviewer's information objectives; and (3) the participants in the Scharff- and the Open-question condition (incorrectly) perceived to have revealed significantly less information than the participants in the Specific question condition. Conclusions We presented a new experimental paradigm, and new dependent measures, for studying the effectiveness of different information elicitation techniques. We consider the outcome for the Scharff technique as rather promising, but future refinements are needed.
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| 3. |
- Granhag, Pär-Anders, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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Eliciting intelligence with the Scharff technique: Interviewing more and less cooperative and capable sources
- 2015
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Ingår i: Psychology, public policy and law. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 1076-8971 .- 1939-1528. ; 21:1, s. 100-110
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective was to compare the efficacy of the Scharff technique (conceptualized as 5 tactics) with the direct approach (open and direct questions) as a means of eliciting intelligence from human sources. The interview techniques were used with 4 different types of sources varying in their levels of both cooperation and capability to provide information as follows: (a) less willing/less able, (b) less willing/more able, (c) more willing/less able, and (d) more willing/more able. The sources (N = 200) were given information about a notional planned terrorist attack and instructed to strike a balance between not revealing too much or too little information in a subsequent interview. Overall, the Scharff technique resulted in significantly more new information than the direct approach, particularly for the less cooperative sources. Furthermore, sources interviewed with the Scharff technique had a more difficult time reading the interviewer’s information objectives and consistently underestimated how much new information they revealed. The study substantiates the Scharff technique as an effective humanintelligence gathering tool.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Granhag, Pär-Anders, 1964, et al.
(författare)
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The Scharff technique: On how to effectively elicit intelligence from human sources
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0885-0607 .- 1521-0561. ; 29:1, s. 132-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ‘‘What did he get out of me? There is no doubt in my mind that he did extract something, but I haven’t the slightest idea what.’’ (Hubert Zemke) The quote setting the stage for this report is from U.S. Army Air Corps Colonel Hubert Zemke, one of the many World War II prisoners interrogated by Hanns Joachim Scharff (1907–1992). Scharff worked at the German Luftwaffe’s Intelligence and Evaluation Center (Auswertestelle West), where he interrogated over 500 American and British fighter pilots. Within today’s Intelligence Community, Scharff is often recognized as a constructive—even iconic—role model for interrogators, one typically portrayed as uncommonly affable, with almost psychic powers to obtain information from his prisoners. While all available accounts support this portrayal of Scharff’s engaging personality and refined interpersonal skills, far less emphasis has been placed on the actual strategies and methodologies that, together, might explain his uncommon effectiveness as an interrogator. Where mention is made of his actual tactics, little discussion has occurred beyond the fact that he was reportedly friendly (especially in contrast to his Luftwaffe peers), exceptionally respectful toward the Allied air crewmen he encountered, and deeply knowledgeable about the U.S. air order of battle as it related to fighter operations based in the United Kingdom. Herein we systematically explore and assess the tactics used by Hanns Scharff. We indicate how Scharff’s s uite of techniques came to inspire a major research program on the elicitation of human intelligence. And, for the very first time, a summary of the outcome of this pioneering research program is here presented.
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| 6. |
- May, Lennart, et al.
(författare)
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Eliciting Intelligence Using the Scharff-Technique: Closing in on the Confirmation/Disconfirmation-Tactic
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling. - : Wiley. - 1544-4759. ; 11:2, s. 136-150
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current study examined interview techniques aimed at eliciting intelligence from human sources. We compared two versions of the Scharff-technique to the Direct Approach (a combination of open and direct questions). The Scharff conditions, conceptualised into four tactics, differed only with respect to the ‘confirmation/disconfirmation-tactic’. The participants (N=90) received background information and took the role as a source in a phone interview. They were instructed to strike a balance between not revealing too little and too much information. As predicted, the Scharff-technique resulted in more new information than the Direct Approach. Importantly, the sources interviewed by the Scharff-technique perceived that they had revealed less new information than they objectively did, whereas the sources interviewed by the Direct Approach perceived that they had revealed more new information than they objectively did. Furthermore, the interviewer's information objectives were better masked with the confirmation-tactic than with the disconfirmation-tactic. The results highlight the Scharff-technique as a promising human intelligence gathering technique. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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| 7. |
- Meissner, Christian, et al.
(författare)
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Developing an evidence-based perspective on interrogation: A review of the U.S. Government’s High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group research program.
- 2017
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Ingår i: Psychology, public policy and law. - : American Psychological Association (APA). - 1076-8971 .- 1939-1528. ; 23:4, s. 438-457
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Interrogation practices in the United States have been roundly criticized both for their accusatorial ethos, at times leading to false confessions by the innocent, and for a history of applying physical and psychological coercion in law enforcement, military, and intelligence contexts. Despite decades of psychological research demonstrating the failures of such approaches and despite recent positive advances in countries such as the United Kingdom moving to an information-gathering framework, little change has occurred in the training or practice of U.S. interrogation professionals over the past 50 years. This article describes recent historical events that have led to the development of the first unclassified, government-funded research program on the science of interviewing and interrogation. Since 2010, the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group (HIG) research program has identified effective approaches for developing cooperation and rapport, eliciting information, challenging inconsistencies by presenting evidence or information strategically, and assessing credibility using cognitive cues and strategic questioning tactics. The program has also examined the influence of culture and language, and has facilitated the translation of research from the laboratory to the field. In this context, we review the significant contributions of psychologists to understanding and developing ethical, legal, and effective interrogation practices, and we describe important future directions for research on investigative interviewing and interrogation.
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| 8. |
- Oleszkiewicz, Simon, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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A descriptive analysis of the approaches and tactics used in undercover operations
- 2017
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Ingår i: 7th Annual HIG Research Symposium, Washington DC, 17 Oct 2017.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The heart of an undercover operation is when an undercover officer (UC) poses as a fellow criminal and interacts with suspects and witnesses. The overarching aim of such operations are to elicit information from the subject; information that might advance an ongoing investigation and/or be used as evidence in court. By analyzing transcripts of these interactions, we identified 22 tactics used by the undercovers. These tactics were sorted into four broad approaches that served to build a relationship with the subject and elicit investigative information. Descriptive analyzes showed that the undercovers were mostly active with posing explicit questions (e.g., closed and open questions) and made many attempts to gather information unobtrusively (e.g., ‘disclosure’, ‘subtle encouragements’). To establish a relationship, the undercovers would commonly display ‘affinity’ and stress the subject’s current situation (‘emotion: affirming self’). Moreover, evidence stimulation tactics were used in almost all interactions, in which subject's were informed that new evidence had emerged on their case. Having analyzed almost 60 hours of Perkins interactions, we found that less than 0.001% of all tactical attempts used could be viewed as verbally manipulative and/or deceptive. In sum, the current study provides a first insight into the interactional elements of a Perkins operation, and suggests that undercovers use a variety of verbal tactics largely fitting within an ethically defendable framework. Methods for analyzing outcomes of the interactions will be discussed.
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| 9. |
- Oleszkiewicz, Simon, 1982
(författare)
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Eliciting human intelligence: A conceptualization and empirical testing of the Scharff technique
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis is on how to elicit intelligence from human sources with the principal aim being to examine the efficacy of the tactics employed by the renowned WWII interrogator Hanns Scharff. A novel experimental set-up (as well as new dependent measures) was introduced to evaluate the efficacy of different human intelligence gathering techniques. Participants were given information about a planned terrorist attack, asked to take on the role of “sources”, and instructed to be semi-cooperative in a subsequent interview. In Study I (N = 60), interviews were conducted over the phone. The Scharff technique (conceptualized to include five tactics) was compared to the direct approach (a combination of open-ended and specific questions). The Scharff technique resulted in relatively more new information and led sources to underestimate how much new information they revealed. With the Direct Approach, sources overestimated how much new information they revealed. In Study II (N = 119), interacting parties met face-to-face and the sources were allowed to lie. Two versions of the Scharff technique were compared to the direct approach. The Scharff confirmation technique made use of claims that included the correct alternative while the Scharff disconfirmation/confirmation technique made use of a mix of correct and incorrect claims. The Scharff confirmation technique resulted in more new information than the Scharff disconfirmation/confirmation technique and the direct approach. Sources interviewed using the Scharff techniques had a more difficult time reading the interviewer’s information objectives and underestimated their contribution of new information. Sources interviewed using the direct approach overestimated how much new information they revealed. In Study III (N = 200) the interview techniques were used with four different types of sources varying in both their levels of cooperation and capability to provide information as follows: (a) less willing/less able, (b) less willing/more able, (c) more willing, less able, and (d) more willing/more able. The Scharff technique was compared to the direct approach. Overall, the Scharff technique resulted in relatively more new information, particularly when interviewing less cooperative sources. Furthermore, sources interviewed using the Scharff technique had a more difficult time reading the interviewer’s information objectives and consistently underestimated their contribution of new information. This thesis provides a psychological framework for and a conceptualization of the Scharff technique. Furthermore, the thesis introduces an experimental set-up mirroring a human intelligence interaction and offers a new set of dependent measures for mapping the efficacy of intelligence gathering techniques. In sum, this thesis provides support for the Scharff technique as an effective tool for eliciting information from human sources.
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| 10. |
- Oleszkiewicz, Simon, 1982, et al.
(författare)
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Eliciting information from human sources: Training handlers in the Scharff technique
- 2017
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Ingår i: Legal and Criminological Psychology. - : Wiley. - 1355-3259 .- 2044-8333. ; 22:2, s. 400-419
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: In previous laboratory-based work, the Scharff technique has proved successful for gathering intelligence from human sources. However, little is known about whether the technique can be taught to practitioners, and whether Scharff-trained practitioners will interview more effectively than colleagues using their conventional approaches and tactics. Method: We examined professional handlers from the Norwegian Police (n = 64), all experienced in interacting with informants. Half received training in the Scharff technique, and their performance was compared against handlers receiving no Scharff training and free to use the approaches they saw fit. All handlers received the same case file describing a source holding information about a future terrorist attack and were given the same interview objectives. Police trainees (n = 64) took on the role of semicooperative sources and were given incomplete information about the attack. Results: The trained handlers adhered to the Scharff training as they (1) aimed to establish the illusion of 'knowing-it-all', (2) posed claims to collect information, and (3) asked few (if any) explicit questions. In contrast, the untrained handlers tried to evoke the sources' motivation to reveal information and asked a high number of explicit questions. Scharff-trained handlers were perceived as less eager to gather information, but collected comparatively more new information. Conclusions: The Scharff-trained interviewers utilized more specific elicitation tactics (e.g., posing claims) and fewer general interview strategies (e.g., evoking motivation), and they collected comparatively more new information. This captures the essence of the Scharff technique: It is subtle, yet effective.
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