NCJ Number
112926
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 219-246
Date Published
1988
Length
28 pages
Annotation
The profession of polygraphy uses physiological measures to improve the detection of deception. The science most relevant for assessing the utility of these measures is that of psychophysiology.
Abstract
This article examines the validity of polygraphy from the perspective of the science of psychophysiology, which employs physiological measures to study and differentiate psychological processes. The focus is on the version practiced currently by most members of the American Polygraphy Association, the 'control question technique' (CQT). A brief consideration of some critical terms is followed by a description of CQT polygraphy, and then by a review of the literature. We conclude that as a scientific tool, CQT polygraphy is of questionable validity, although it is probably a better-than-chance detector of guilt. Tabular data and 44 references. (Publisher abstract)