NCJ Number
182298
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 28 Issue: 4 Dated: 1999 Pages: 273-283
Date Published
1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the relative effectiveness of exclusive (time-bar, or Backster) and nonexclusive (no time-bar, Reid) probable-lie comparison questions (CQ) by comparing the physiological responses elicited by using one or the other type CQ in 230 (60 percent truthful and 40 percent deceptive) verified Zone Comparison Test field examinations.
Abstract
Exclusive comparison questions were used in 87 (37.8 percent) examinations, and nonexclusive comparison questions were used in the remaining 143 (62.2 percent) examinations. Each examination used two relevant questions. Analysis of the field numerical scores showed that overall examinations that used nonexclusive comparison questions had significantly larger mean numerical scores (question one, M=2.99; question two, M=2.87) compared to examinations that used exclusive comparison questions (question one, M=2.14; question two, M=2.26). Further analysis showed similar results after computing the mean numerical scores for truthful and deceptive subject status. Examinations that used nonexclusive comparison questions had scores significantly more in the correct direction than those produced by exclusive comparison questions. These findings are consistent with those reported in some earlier laboratory studies that examined the same issue. Together, these results present a strong argument for the use of nonexclusive comparison questions in conducting specific-issue field examinations. 4 figures and 10 references