ABSTRACT
One of the investigative tools used by social scientists is the concept - a term or idea, usually abstract, which is defined in such a way as to facilitate study. When investigating new 'territories' it is most useful to start with concepts which have been used in cognate areas in order to make the most of previous experience and to reduce the chances of re-inventing the methodological wheel. There are three main concepts considered here: information, power and law. These are logically interrelated and are central to the study of the state and security intelligence, but for the purpose of this chapter they are initially discussed separately.
