cause or origin and progression.
The ability to recognize and interpret acts or
conditions and relate them to an event is a skill that you must develop. To this
end, persons, objects, and places involved, as well as incidents or events should
be observed as discussed above.
(1) Facts to be determined concerning an event are the time of occurrence,
location, sequence of action, objects and persons involved, and results.
(2) A method of applying the senses to aid in determining the progress of
an event is hard to prescribe.
You must develop this through practice.
Develop
within yourself an external sensory stimulation of not only sight, but of hearing,
touch, taste, and smell as well.
Apply trained and logical analysis to these in
determining the relationship of one occurrence with another.
Determining the
relationship of factors you have observed may be difficult.
It may involve the
pursuit of a number of false clues. However, it is only through perception of all
facets present at the scene of an event that proper observation will be
accomplished.
Only when this is achieved is it possible that clues will not be
overlooked.
Analysis may then establish the true leads to a sequence of actions
and circumstances.
(3) If you are present at the time of the event, you must be able to
observe objectively, accurately, and rapidly, factors of time, place, persons,
objects, and actions involved, as well as the results. These factors are involved
in the questions of when, where, who, what, and why of complete observation and
investigation. The ability to observe actions and events through use of all fives
senses is a skill which is developed only through hard training and practice.
Complete and accurate observation is the result of conscious, applied effort rather
than luck. Habitual methods of observation which use all five senses will improve
your sensory perception.
3.
Techniques of Description.
a. Description will normally be written or verbal.
It may also include any
other means such as signs, gestures, or sketches.
b. Describing Persons. Every person has some trait which sets him apart from
other persons.
These features are the most important part of a person's
description.
It is important that this be complete and accurate so that others
will be able to recognize him readily. As in the case of observation, description
is aided by following a pattern which proceeds from general to specific
characteristics.
(1) General characteristics.
The following accepted
words,
terms,
and
methods are used in describing general characteristics:
(a) Sex.
Male or female.
(b) Race. Caucasian, Negro, American Indian, Spanish American, Oriental
American, Puerto Rican, Filipino, Hawaiian, or Eskimo.
MP1016
5-4
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