A bit backwards showing intelligence (4)
I believe the answer is:
data
'intelligence' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'a bit backwards' is the wordplay.
'bit' becomes 'tad' (I've seen this before).
'backwards' is a reversal indicator.
'a'+'tad'='atad'
'atad' in reverse letter order is 'DATA'.
'showing' is the link.
(Other definitions for data that I've seen before include "Collected information" , "Statistical information" , "intelligence" , "Information for/from computer" , "Input; facts" .)