Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat The - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

• What is a Social Scientist?
• Why M ethods M atter
• The Application of Social Science
• Questions?

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Overview

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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• Social science is not a single discipline

but rather a collection of associated disciplines.

• M any counter insider threat programs

incorporate Behavioral Scientists with specific training and experience in Psychology, and sub-disciplines.

• Experience, training, and

methodological approach shape how a Social Scientist supports Counter Insider Threat programs.

Courtesy of http:/ / www.performance.noaa.gov/ social-science-basics-faqs/

The Framework

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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Quantitative analysis dominates knowledge production in Counter Insider Threat programs.

M ethods M atter

H u m a n b e h a v i

• r

i s 9 3 p e r c e n t p r e d i c t a b l e , r e s e a r c h s h

• w

s

F e b r u a r y 2 3 , 2 1 , N

• r

t h e a s t e r n U n i v e r s i t y

WE'RE SO PREDICTABLE An algorithm can predict human behavior better than humans By Olivia Goldhill October 18, 2015

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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M ethods M atter

Quantitative

• Focus on numbers/ numeric values
• Who, what, where, when
• M atch with outcomes about knowledge an

comprehension (define, classify, recall, recognize)

• Allows for measurement of variables
• Uses statistical data analysis
• M ay be generalized to greater population
• Easily replicated

Qualitative

• Focus on text/ narrative from

respondents

• Why, how
• M atch with outcomes about

application, analysis, synthesis, evaluations

• Seeks to explain and

understand

• Captures “elusive” evidence

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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Skills S

• urces

Contributions

• Hey Docs

(Advice/ Consultation)

• Research Reviews with

FFRDCs and Interested Stakeholders

• Assessments (Annual, ad

hoc, special projects)

• Working Group/ Steering

Committee and Senior Leader Requests for Information

• M ulti- Context Focused
• Critical Perspective/

Red Teamer

• Policies and Socio-cultural

Considerations

• Applied M ixed M ethods
• Experience Supporting

DOD and M arine Corps

• Brief Summaries/ Knowledge

Nuggets

• White Papers
• Internal Assessment Reports
• Literature Reviews
• Original Research reports
• Training
• Brown Bag Discussions
• Research and Information

Database

• Conference Presentations

Social Scientist: A Profile

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

• Use research skills to

look more deeply

• Tailor the framework to

the program context

• Add to the Body of

Knowledge

Source: The critical pathway to insider threat behavior (adapted from Greitzer, et al., 2010) https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-critical-pathway-to-insider-threat-behavior-adapted-from-Greitzer-et-al-2010-30_fig2_327186846

The Critical Pathway

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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National Insider Threat Policy Insider Threat Research Community Those Being M onitored TS/ SCI and Others

M acro Level Perspective

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

User Activity Monitoring Continuous Evaluation Data Modeling Risk Evaluation Device Monitoring Case Management

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M icro Level Perspective

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

• Applied Social Science and specifically the use of non quantified

methods can be messy.

• Broadening the space for Social Science may make it difficult to

professionalize and codify the work.

• Critical thinking can become cumbersome for implementers.

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Challenges

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

• The Social Sciences are broader than Psychology and are not

synonymous with the Behavioral Sciences.

• There is diversity in the existing Social Science community.
• Broader analytic lenses, tools and research methods offer a

check and balance on tech centric approaches/ myopic policy implementation/ one size fits all approaches.

• Social Scientists provide advice, critical thinking, research,

assessment capabilities and training.

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Summary Points

Social Science Perspectives and Countering Insider Threat

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Q uestions & Discussion