Questioning Techniques 1 Questioning Techniques Successful Information Gathering ▪ Planning ▪ Poor Planning = Poor Performance ▪ Determine an appropriate interviewing strategy ▪ Methodology ▪ Simple systematic approach ▪ Determine an appropriate interviewing strategy ▪ Approach ▪ Low key and avoid damaging rapport 2 Questioning Techniques Interview Stages ▪ Stage I – Question and Answer ▪ Stage II – Investigative / Debriefing (Q & A w/ Follow up) ▪ Stage III – Interrogation 3 Questioning Techniques Terms Interview: A free-flowing, non-accusatory meeting or discussion used to gather information. Interrogation: An accusatory confrontation with a subject, normally conducted in a controlled environment, designed to persuade the suspect to tell the truth. Elicitation: Stimulation that calls up (draws forth) a particular class of behaviors designed to gain truthful information. 4 Questioning Techniques Interviewing vs. Interrogation ❑ Non-accusatory ❑ Accusatory ❑ Q&A format ❑ Monologue ❑ Elicit information ❑ Elicit the truth ❑ 15-45 minutes ❑ Unlimited time frame ❑ Free flowing ❑ Highly structured Variety of environments ❑ Note taking ❑ ❑ ❑ Controlled environment No note taking 5 Questioning Techniques Debriefing ❑ Systematic questioning ❑ Non-custodial ❑ In response to collection requirements ❑ Direct and indirect questioning ❑ Multi-level ❑ Operational ❑ Tactical ❑ Strategic 6 Questioning Techniques The Successful Interviewer Attitude ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Nonjudgmental Cordial and polite Even-tempered Genuine interest 7 Questioning Techniques The Successful Interviewer Posture ▪ Relaxed ▪ Frontally aligned ▪ Open ▪ Non-defensive 8 Questioning Techniques The Successful Interviewer Tone of voice ▪ Conversational ▪ Smooth speech ▪ No skeptical tone ▪ Friendly 9 Questioning Techniques Interview Purpose “To get relevant and timely information as accurately and completely as possible in the shortest amount of time.” 10 Questioning Techniques Pre-Interview Preparation Determine the Purpose ▪ What is the end product? ▪ What information do you want? ▪ What are the key issues?? ▪ Identify Collection Requirement(s) ▪ What is the situation? 11 Questioning Techniques Pre-Interview Preparation Gathering the Facts ▪ Obtain necessary background information 12 Questioning Techniques Pre-Interview Preparation ▪Maximize all available tools ▪ Background investigations ▪ Police checks ▪ Polygraph ▪ Physical evidence ▪ Financial checks ▪ Behavioral assessment ▪ Asset/Source/Contact validation ▪ Expertise of others 13 Questioning Techniques Pre-Interview Preparation ▪Structuring the Interview ▪ Opening (Approach) ▪ Body (Questioning) ▪ Closing (Termination) 14 Questioning Techniques Questioning 15 Questioning Techniques The Questioning Law Extract the MAXIMUM amount of accurate information in the MINIMUM amount of time. 16 Questioning Techniques Questioning Principles • Logical sequence • Topical areas • Mission driven • Vocabulary tailored to source. • Questions tailored to source • Poor Questioning = missed information 17 Questioning Techniques Questioning Types ▪ Open-ended questions ▪ Closed-ended questions ▪ Presumptive questions ▪ Bait questions ▪ Negative question 18 Questioning Techniques Guidelines for Questions ▪ Keep it simple ▪ Keep it direct ▪ Single meaning ▪ Avoid Complex / Compound ▪ Avoid negative ▪ Avoid leading ASK THE QUESTION YOU WANT THE ANSWER TO! 19 Questioning Techniques Questioning Approaches Directed Questioning: An interview in which the interviewer controls subject matter, length of answers, climate, and formality. Also known as Directive Approach. Non-Directed Questioning: An interview in which the interviewee controls subject matter, length of answers, climate, and formality. Also known as Nondirective approach. 20 Questioning Techniques Directed Questioning ▪ Basic Questions using interrogatives ▪ Requires narrative response ▪ Brief ▪ Precise ▪ Simply worded 21 Questioning Techniques Types of Direct Questions 1. Topical 2. Follow-up 3. Non-pertinent 4. Repeat 5. Control 6. Prepared 22 Questioning Techniques Topical Questions ▪ Basic questions on topic ▪ Based on requirements ▪ Answers to basic questions generally leads to follow-up questions 23 Questioning Techniques Follow-Up Questions: Usage ▪ Expands from Basic Questions ▪ Identifies all nouns and pronouns ▪ Clarifies partial answers ▪ Can lead to more Follow-up questions 24 Questioning Techniques Follow-Up Questions: Method • Identify persons/ places/ things • Clarify Verbs • When source answers follow-up questions, use more follow-up as needed • Continue until information from source is exhausted 25 Questioning Techniques Your Favorite Two Words ▪ When you think you have it all but just want to “shake the tree”… ▪ When you know there is more there, but you’re just not sure what it is… ▪ When all else fails and you don’t know what to ask next… 26 Questioning Techniques KEEP ASKING…. “WHAT ELSE?” 27 Questioning Techniques Non-Pertinent Questions: Usage ▪ Do not PERTAIN to collection objectives ▪ Conceal collection objectives ▪ Strengthen rapport ▪ Gain time to formulate pertinent questions 28 Questioning Techniques Truthfulness and Accuracy ▪ Repeat Questions ▪ Control Questions 29 Questioning Techniques Repeat Questions: Method ▪ Rephrase or disguise question ▪ Separate in time ▪ Should be logical to area being questioned 30 Questioning Techniques Control Questions: Usage ▪ Check for truthfulness ▪ Check for accuracy 31 Questioning Techniques Control Questions: Methods ▪ Develop from recently confirmed information from other sources ▪ Mixed in with other questions ▪ Clarify information that conflicts with confirmed information ▪ Clarify date of information to check for changes to information ▪ Use follow-up questions as needed 32 Questioning Techniques Prepared Questions ▪ Used for… ▪ Specific topics ▪ Technical information ▪ Derived from… ▪ Directed research ▪ Intelligence collection requirements 33 Questioning Techniques Techniques to Avoid ▪ Leading ▪ Compound ▪ Negative ▪ Vague 34 Questioning Techniques Leading Questions ▪ Yes/No vs. narrative response ▪ Why avoided ▪ Easier for source to withhold information ▪ Time consuming 35 Questioning Techniques Leading Questions ▪ When used ▪ Verify specific facts ▪ Pinpoint map location ▪ Map tracking ▪ Transition 36 Questioning Techniques Compound Questions ▪ Two or more questions asked at same time ▪ Can Confuse Source ▪ Easily misunderstood ▪ Source can evade part of question ▪ Source can give incomplete answer 37 Questioning Techniques Negative Questions ▪ May come across as judgmental ▪ Answers unclear ▪ May lead subject to a specific answer 38 Questioning Techniques Vague Questions ▪ Incomplete, general or nonspecific in nature ▪ Can Confuse source ▪ Can Create doubt in source ▪ Wastes time ▪ Requires unnecessary follow-up 39 Questioning Termination How do I get this guy to stop talking? 40 Questioning Termination Reasons to Terminate ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Objective Met Inability to Continue Requires multiple sessions Loss of rapport / control Discovery of possible crime Uncooperative Source Other Reasons 41 Questioning Termination Concluding the Interview ▪ Review key issues to determine if: ▪ You asked each question ▪ Subject adequately answered your questions ▪ Any questions that require follow-up ▪ Who, What, When, Where, Why, How ▪ Subject displays deceptive behavior to a question ▪ Decide if more direct questioning is appropriate (challenge truthfulness?) 42 Questioning Termination Termination Procedures ▪ Reinforce Approach ▪ Prepare source for next contact ▪ Check availability for follow-up ▪ Disclose that information will be verified ▪ Ask if they want to add, change or delete info ▪ Conduct a sincere end to interview ▪ Determine Need of Contact ▪ Maintain Rapport 43 Questioning Termination Post Termination Actions • Review Notes • Report 44 Debriefing 45 Debriefing Debrief To question formally and systematically in order to obtain useful intelligence or information. -Random House Unabridged Dictionary 46 Debriefing Debriefing ▪ Systematic questioning ▪ Non-custodial ▪ In response to collection requirements ▪ Direct and indirect questioning ▪ Multi-level ▪ Operational ▪ Tactical ▪ Strategic 47 Debriefing Tactical Debriefing ▪ Civilian population ▪ ▪ One time contacts In support of ongoing operations 48 Debriefing Strategic Debriefing ▪ In response to national / theater requirements ▪ Non-hostile environment ▪ Voluntary (consensual) 49 Debriefing Subjects ▪ Cooperative ▪ Two categories ▪ ▪ Friendly Forces ▪ Others May have information of interest ▪ Recent travel ▪ Ops with foreign forces ▪ Other 50 Debriefing Friendly Forces ▪ US Government ▪ US Military ▪ Law Enforcement 51 Debriefing Others ▪ Émigrés ▪ ▪ Legal and illegal migrants Private Sector ▪ Private security ▪ Private business ▪ Walk-ins ▪ Other 52 Debriefing Sensitization ▪ Pre-mission / Pre-boarding ▪ Collection Requirements ▪ Limitations ▪ Items of interest ▪ Briefs, business cards and handouts ▪ Photos 53 Debriefing Planning and Preparation ▪ Review collection requirements ▪ Research ▪ Prepare appropriate references ▪ Schedule debriefing location ▪ Prepare detailed questioning plan 54 Debriefing Review Collection Requirements ▪ Priority Intelligence Requirements ▪ Coast Guard Collection Requirements ▪ National Level Requirements ▪ Initiative 55 Debriefing Research Subject specific ▪ Screening reports ▪ Previous reports by subject ▪ Other ▪ Previous reporting ▪ SITREPs ▪ Trip Reports ▪ FIRs (and other intelligence reports) ▪ Other ▪ OPLAN / OPORD / SOPs ▪ Current events ▪ Databases ▪ Other ▪ 56 Debriefing Prepare Appropriate References ▪ Maps, charts, etc. ▪ Technical reference manuals ▪ Photos ▪ Handbooks 57 Debriefing Schedule Debriefing Locations ▪ Private ▪ Secure ▪ Non-hostile, business like ▪ Control 58 Debriefing Prepare Detailed Questioning Plan ▪ Topical ▪ Chronological 59 Debriefing Topical Questioning ▪ Used when ▪ Time is of concern ▪ Subject has knowledge in limited area ▪ Questioning concerns a technical topic ▪ Debrief is a follow-up 60 Debriefing Topical Questioning ▪ Outline of topics ▪ Based on collection requirements ▪ Serves as checklist ▪ MILO ▪ Mission ▪ Identification ▪ Location ▪ Organization 61 Debriefing Chronological Questioning ▪ Used when ▪ Unsure of areas of subject knowledge ▪ Time is not a factor ▪ Subject has large knowledge base ▪ Friendly forces are being debriefed 62 Debriefing Final Preparations ▪ Review plan ▪ Collect materials ▪ Conduct any coordination ▪ Organize ▪ Visit the location ▪ Set up debrief site ▪ Check security ▪ Check with medical personnel 63 Debriefing Counterintelligence Debriefing 64 Traveler CI Debriefing ▪ Differs from Strategic Debriefing ▪ Looking for FISS threats vs. Strategic Intel ▪ Trip generally preceded by threat brief ▪ Looking for signs of “spying” ▪ Belongings disturbed in hotel room ▪ Signs of being followed ▪ Approaches from strangers ▪ Inappropriate questioning Unusual security efforts or law enforcement attention ▪ 65 Additional CI Debriefings • Returned prisoners of war • Hostages • Military members missing in action • Returned US defectors 66 Additional CI Debriefings (cont) The purpose of these debriefings is to: Determine enemy methods of operations concerning prisoner of war handling and interrogation. ▪ ▪ Learn of enemy weaknesses. Gain information concerning other prisoners and soldiers missing or killed in action. ▪ ▪ Conduct a damage assessment. 67 Additional CI Debriefings (cont) Identify recruitment attempts or recruitment made while soldiers or hostages were captives ▪ Obtain leads to other defectors who had access to classified information or who may have worked for FISS before or after defection ▪ Obtain personality data about FISS personnel with whom the defector had contact ▪ Determine the extent of loss of classified information ▪ 68
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