VPA Reports

VPA Reports serves contractors and agencies working in regions of inter-group tension or conflict Our Mission: To provide timely diagnostic reports on the probable near-future behavior of identity groups (ethnic, religious, value-based groups) in contractor/agencies’ fields of operations. Our Product: Forecasting reports assess 9 classes of each group’s probable behavior toward other groups; each class signals a degree and type of threat/non-threat. Classes include (1) Avoid: potential for significant threat; (2) Caution: some threatening tendencies; (3) Engage: a transitional group that may seek new relations; (4-5) Trust: highly stable group that avoids conflict while also avoiding new relations; (5-6) Engage: a transitional group that may seek new relations; (7) Non-threat: group displays complex inner dynamics and indecisive behavior toward other groups; (8-9) Monitor: group lacks stability and order; individual members tend to act autonomously. Our Method: Linguistic analysis of oral and written discourse by group members (especially cultural leaders and influencers). VPA analysts receive transcripts and audio files collected within the field of operation: as collected by contractors/agencies, by informants, and by remote VPA analysts. Collected materials are translated into English by local informants, VPA researchers, or other employees. Metrics: VPA analysts identify and measure linguistic signals of the 9 classes of probable group behavior. (Technical Appendices available on request for detailed account of the diagnostic tools of Value Predicate Analysis.) Contracted Services: VPA Reports offers service contracts for contractors/agencies seeking timely diagnosis of probable religious/value group behavior within their fields of operation.