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PROFICIENCY PROJECTS:
"A" SERIES
SHORT TITLE:
DTI-S-1052-SL
Date of Publication
10 December 1992
This document was prepared by the
Directorate for Scientific and Technical Intelligence,
Defense Intelligence Agency.
REPRODUCTION REQUIRES
APPROVAL OF ORIGINATOR
OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY
FURTHER DISSEMINATION
ONLY AS DIRECTED BY DT
OR HIGHER DOD AUTHORITY
NOT RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS
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DECLASSIFY ON:
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Vnoforn/limdis
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PREFACE
( S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
This
report
is
part
of
a
series
that
summarizes
proficiency
project
activity
conducted
by
DTI-S
personnel.
It
contains
a
discussion
of
basic
procedures,
and
includes
an
assessment
of
results.
Specifics
on
targets,
data
summaries,
and evaluations are contained in the appendix.
-i-
^**^^^^*NOFORN/LIMDI
S
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UNCLASSIFIED
CONTENTS
PREFACE
PAGE
I
PURPOSE
±
II
BACKGROUND
x
III
DISCUSSION
x
IV
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
V
RECOMMENDATIONS
APPENDIX:
A -
B
-
C
-
D
-
E
-
F
-
G
-
H
-
I
-
J
-
TARGET A
TARGET B
TARGET C
TARGET D
TARGET
E,
TARGET
F,
TARGET
G.
TARGET
H.
TARGET
I.
TARGET
J.
A-l
B-l
C-l
D-l
E-l
F-l
G-l
H-l
1-1
J-l
-ii-
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LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE
FIGURE
FIGURE
TABLE
TABLE
PAGE
TASKING SHEET
EVALUATION SCALES
INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES
LIST OF TABLES
RATING DATA CHART
INDIVIDUAL AVERAGES
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'NOFORN/LIMDIS
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PROFICIENCY PROJECTS:
"A"
SERIES
I
(U)
PURPOSE :
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
The primary purpose of this
proficiency
"A" series was to provide project personnel with a
variety of general interest targets for their own proficiency
enhancement or development.
A secondary purpose was to examine
the data for trends useful
in future proficiency or operational
activity.
II
(U)
BACKGROUND :
(U)
Basic approaches for in-house proficiency activity was
defined in DT-S-1031-SL,
Procedures for Special Proficiency
gargets ,
5 April
1991,
and in DT-S-1039-SL,
Proficiency
Enhancement Projects.
21 June
1991.
Evaluation procedures for
these types of projects were presented in DT-S-1046-SL,
Proficiency Program Reporting and Evaluation .
3 Jun 1992.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
The proficiency series presented
in this
report
is part of the on-going proficiency activity conducted by
DTI-S personnel.
This particular series was defined
in advance
to consist of only
10 targets that were randomly drawn from a
pictorial target pool consisting mostly of general interest areas
or sites.
Content of the pictures
in this pool includes natural
geographic areas,
geographic areas with structures,
or unique
objects.
Ill
(U)
DISCUSSION :
1.
(U)
Basic Procedures:
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
This proficiency series employed
standard remote viewing approaches used by DTI-S personnel.
To
examine possible effects in targeting conditions,
two targeting
protocols were manipulated:
(1)
the targets would either be
known to a beacon person;
or
(2)
the specific targets would not
be known to anyone
(i.e.,
double blind,
no beacon person
condition)
.
It was defined in advance to select an equal number
of beacon person and no beacon person targets.
This condition
was not randomized so that the schedule of available beacon
persons could be accommodated.
(U)
Basic protocols,
records,
and other aspects of
this proficiency series were performed according to previously
established procedures that are reported
in documents cited in
the background section.
(S/NF)
Due to the small number of targets in this
series,
definitive conclusions could not be drawn from the
results.
However,
it was anticipated that data trends might be
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observed that could be useful for certain aspects of future
proficiency and possibly operational projects.
2.
(U)
Target Pool:
(S/NF)
The ten targets used in this series were
selected from an extensive target pool based on pictorial
material extracted from National Geographic magazines.
This
material could be anything published within the past 20 years,
and could include natural and/or man-made scenes or objects.
This particular pool
is relatively homogeneous in that a wide
variety of topics are included,
and some of these are similar in
content.
The criteria for selecting pictures for this target
pool included diversity and uniqueness of content,
as well as
definitive and clear features to avoid ambiguousness
in target
comparisons.
Targets
in this pool were previously sealed in
opaque envelopes and secured in a special office file,
once
selected,
the target was not replaced back into the target pool.
This procedure was used to avoid problems observed in the past
when identical targets are used with little time separation
between projects.
This eliminates influence of memory of
previous targets,
especially when trial-by-trial feedback is
used.
3.
(U)
Session Procedures:
(S/NF)
Targets for each session were selected randomly
from the target pool placed in a dedicated,
secure safe drawer.
When no beacon person was involved,
the targets would remain
unopened until after all the viewer* s data was recorded and given
to the project officer.
When a beacon person was involved,
the
beacon person would open the envelope,
observe the target,
and
v
place
it in the secure file drawer.
No other person would be
permitted access to this target and the beacon person would not
in any way discuss the target until after all data were recorded
and given to the project officer.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
A typical tasking sheet for the
viewers
is shown on figure
1.
Other data records are on the
viewers response forms as shown in the appendix material.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
Upon completion of all records for
each target,
the viewer
(sources)
were only then provided access
to the target for trial-by-trial feedback and preliminary
y
evaluation.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
All three of the current viewers on
the DTI-S staff were involved in this series.
Each viewer was
unable to work all
10 projects due to leave or TDY.
An
individual not involved in viewing activity and who had no prior
viewing experience was used as a "control person".
The control
persons data
is included in this report and evaluated according
to the same procedures established for evaluating the viewers
data.
'
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FIGURE
TASKING SHEET
SOURCE NO;
DATE ;
31 July 1992_
SUSPENSE :
3 1 July 1992
1500 hrs
1.
PROJECT NUMBER;
92-80-P
(TARGET A)
2.
METHOD /TECHNIQUE;
Method of choice.
.
BACKGROUND :
Target
was
randomly
selected
from
a
series
of
targets
contained
in
sealed
envelopes
and
stored
in
Container
Number 10.
A designated beacon person* has accessed and viewed the
target on this date.
The target will remain
in the top drawer of
Container Number
10 until
1500 hours,
this date.
4.
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF INFORMATION:
_
Describe the target.
Submit sketches
in support of vour findings.
/
5.
COMMENTS:
Optional Coordinates:
317748/923385.
*
Beacon person for this target
SG1J
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4.
(U)
Evaluation:
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
All targets were independently
evaluated by comparing the viewers data to the target picture
according to two data categories
(concept/generic;
specifics/analytic)
.
Four or five statements had been prepared
in advance for these two data categories were also included in
the sealed target envelopes.
They were prepared to help provide
a consistency in judging and to clarify the content of the two
target categories.
These statements are also included in the
appendix for each target.
A "value factor"
is also identified to
indicate those target elements considered to be more important
than others as an additional assist in data evaluation.
(U)
Occasionally,
a viewer's response consists
primarily of specific or "naming" data.
In this case,
the
generic data category would be given
a provisional rating based
on the content of the specifics provided.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
It has been suspected that the
viewers initial data
is of
a "pattern-making"
or concept
identification nature.
Later data tends to be more specific,
eventually leading to higher precision
in identifying or "naming"
the target.
Thus,
evaluating the data according to these data
categories would be consistent with the viewers natural process.
Examining the data from this perspective could also add insight
on individual strengths or preferences.
(S/NF)
Response assessments were based on a basic
evaluation scale as shown on figure
2.
Experience has shown
these scales to be generally reliable and adequate for evaluation
of data
in projects of this type.
Detailed evaluation methods
are also available that can be used to refine evaluation of this
series or to apply to future projects.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
All results were initially assessed
by the project officer and the branch chief for correlation to
the two basic data categories.
An individual external to the
DTI—S unit and judged to be neutral to this area was also used as
a third evaluator.
An "average" of all three evaluations was
then computed and recorded on the evaluation records
form.
IV
(U)
SUMMARY OF RESULTS :
(U)
Overall results from this series of
10 targets
(A through
J)
are shown on table
for the three viewers
(l,
2,
3)
and the control person
(C)
for the two data categories
(a,
b)
For quick reference,
the appendix is keyed to the same target
identifier.
The general nature of the target
is shown on the
table to facilitate target-type comparisons.
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EVALUATION
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TARGET
CORRELATION
WITH
ESSENTIALLY;
NO
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DATA
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TABLE
RATING
DATA
SUMMARY
V
AVERAGE
RATING
(2)
TARGET
TYPE
(1)
TARGET
I.D.
V
No • 1
C
(3)
a
b
a
b
a
b
a
b
B
A
HORSESHOW
13 H —
B
LIGHTHOUSE
—
—
B
C
SUSPENSION BRIDGE
—
—
NB
D
SATELLITES
—
—
f
B
E
CASH REGISTER
—
—
—
—
B
F
VICTORIA FALLS
NB
G
MT PINATUBO
—
—
.
• 17
NB
H
RESEARCH SUBMARINE
—
—
NB
I
SINAI DESERT
—
—
NB
J
FLOOD IN CITY
—
—
NOTES:
(1)
B
(2)
a
(3)
C
BEACON PERSON USED;
NB = NO BEACON PERSON
CONCEPT/GENERIC;
b = SPECIFICS/ANALYTIC
CONTROL PERSON
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(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
Since the evaluation scale
is based on a
0-5
(and corresponding 0-100)
rating scheme,
ratings of 2+ to 3-
(40-60)
or higher would support the possibility that the viewer
was
in fact accessing at least some of the target material.
For
the conceptual/generic data category
(a)
,
one person scored a 2+
or more on
of
5 targets,
another scored 2+ or more on
5 of the
6 targets,
and the third scored 2+ or more on
5 of
9 targets.
The control person who made "random guesses" scored considerably
lower,
on the average,
than the viewers did.
The control
person's highest score was a 30 for one of the targets.
Results
were not as good,
overall,
for the analytic data category
(b)
;
however,
the viewers data were consistently better for most of
the targets than the control person for this data category.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
Table
2 and figure
3 show overall averages
for
the. viewers and the control person.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
Not all viewers were able to work all
projects,
and as a result,
no clear interpretations can be made
regarding the two major target conditions
( beacon,
no beacon)
.
It does appear,
however,
that this targeting condition made
little difference in the results.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
The best scoring was achieved for targets
that were clear and distinct,
with well defined boundaries.
Simpler targets yielded better results then complex ones.
Viewers did quite well on one in particular
(C—suspension
bridge).
Dynamic natural targets
(falls,
volcano)
also yielded
good results.
The control person results for these "good"
targets were generally low.
(S/NF/SG/LIMDIS)
In summary,
general observations from this
series are:
-
Reliability of conceptual/generic data
is
consistently better than specific analytic data.
-
Overall,
the viewers did considerably better than
the control person for the concept/generic data
category.
-
The viewers also did better
(though not as
pronounced on the average)
than the control person for
the specific/analytic data category.
-
Best results were obtained for clear and distinct
targets,
and those with strong dynamic content,
-
Overall,
a differential between beacon person and
no-beacon person conditions could not be identified in
this series.
-
Use of
a control person provides an important
reference point for making comparisons between pure
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