NCJ Number
68407
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 7 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 286-292
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE ADVANTAGES OF THE POSITIVE CONTROL CONCEPT IN POLYGRAPHEXAMINATIONS ARE PRESENTED IN COMPARISON WITH THE TRADITIONAL CONTROL QUESTIONS SYSTEM.
Abstract
THE CHOICE OF THE CORRECT CONTROL QUESTIONS IN TRADITION TESTING IS TIME CONSUMING AND NOT ALWAYS CLEAR. FOR EXAMPLE, INNOCENT SUSPECTS MAY BE TOO INTIMIDATED BY THE SITUATION, IN SPITE OF THE ASSURANCES GIVEN DURING THE PREEXAMINATION INTIEWS. A SUSPECT MAY ALSO BE INNOCENT OF THE CRIME IN QUESTION, BUT GUILLTY OF ANOTHER OFFENSE. IN BOTH CASES, POLYGRAPH CHARTS MAY BE DIFFICULT TO EVALUATE. THE POSITIVE CONTROL QUESTIONS; RATHER, IT IS BASED ON THE SUBJECT'S REACTIONS TO A QUESTION WHICH IS ASKED TWO CONSECUTIVE TIMER. THE PERSON IS INSTRUCTED TO DELIBERATELY LIE TO THE QUEATION FOR THE TIME, AND TO ANSWER TRUTHFULLY FOR THE SECOND TIME, ABOUT 20 SECONDS LATER. THE INNOCENT PERSON'S TRACING SHOULD SHOW EVIDENCE OF RELIEF WHEN TELLING THE TRUTH, AS COMPARED WITH THE STRESS OF DELIBERATELY LYING. HOWEVER, THE GUILTY PERSON WILL REGISTER ANXIETY WHEN ANSWERING 'YES' IN REGARD TO THE OFFENSE IN QUESTION. THE TEST INCLUDES RELEVANT QUESTION PAIRS, PERTAINING TO THE OFFENSE IN QUESTION, AND IRRELEVANT QUESTION PAIRS, TO WHICH THE ANSWERS ARE KNOWN. THE REACTIONS TO THE IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS OFFER A REFERANCE POINT FOR NOTING IDIOSYNCRASIES IN THE EXAMINEE'S TRACINGS WHICH HELPS IN CHART INTERPRETATION. THIS SYSTEM PERFORMS WELL IN POLICE INTERROGATIONS, AND IN PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING. IN THE SECOND CASE, THE RELEVANT QUESTIONS SETS BECOME JOB RELATED ISSUES. A SAMPLE OF QUESTION SERIES AND THE ACCOMPANYING CHART SEGMENTS FROM AN ACTUAL CRIMINAL CASE ARE INCLUDED.