NCJ Number
216485
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 35 Issue: 3 Dated: 2006 Pages: 149-155
Date Published
2006
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes research over the past 30 years that has attempted to validate a portion of the many polygraph techniques currently used in the field.
Abstract
For the purpose of this article, "scientific validation" of a technique is defined as "the existence of replicated and published research which found the technique to be accurate." "Accuracy" is considered 90 percent for evidentiary polygraph techniques (conducted for courtroom purposes) and 80 percent for investigative polygraph techniques (used for nonjudicial purposes), with inconclusives excluded. Both evidentiary and investigative polygraph techniques are permitted an inconclusive rate of up to 20 percent of all cases. This is the threshold of accuracy according to standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (2005). The article outlines the 10 criteria that were required for research on the techniques presented in this article. Research is summarized for the following polygraph techniques: Army Modified General Question Technique, the Concealed Information Test, the Federal Zone Comparison Technique, the Reid Technique, the Relevant-Irrelevant Screening Test, the Test for Espionage and Sabotage, and the Utah Zone Comparison Technique. Research findings presented for each of these techniques are the unweighted averages of the true negative, true positive, and inconclusive rates, followed by the supporting research citations. The accuracy figures are based on human decisions rather than algorithm decisions. 1 table and 20 references