Cadets of the Faculty of Training Specialists for Criminal Police Units of the National Police of Ukraine took part in the event.
The class was conducted by the Inspector of the Criminal Analysis Department of the Main Police Department in Luhansk Oblast, Police Lieutenant Maksym Parshykov and the Deputy Head of the Criminal Analysis Department of the Main Police Department in Luhansk Oblast, Police Major Dmytro Churbakov.
During the class on the topic “Cognitive Biases in Police Activity. How to Detect “Mind Traps” and Ensure the Objectivity of Research”, issues of typical mistakes that affect the quality of analytical work were discussed.
The confirmation bias (forming versions based only on information that confirms the initial assumption), the availability bias (using the most accessible information instead of an objective array of data) and the anchoring bias (excessive influence of the first received information on all further analysis) were analyzed.
Particular attention was paid to the risk of groupthink, when the team supports one dominant version, ignoring alternative explanations.
According to the speakers, the analyst must think critically, question obvious conclusions and analyze data comprehensively.
Such classes contribute to the formation of critical thinking among cadets, increasing the objectivity of research and the quality of analytical support for pretrial investigation.
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