Was your polygraph administered by the NSA? If so, the polygraph format used may well have been the DoDPI "General Question Test" (GQT), which Mr. Scalabrini and I were unaware of when we wrote the 1st edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. (The 2nd edition will be updated.) The GQT outwardly appears to be a relevent/irrelevant technique, but it actually uses disguised "control" questions.

You'll find more about the GQT posted here:

http://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=Proc&action=displa...

And you'll find my analysis of why the polygraph screening format used by NSA seems likely to be the GQT posted here:

http://www.antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl/YaBB.pl?board=Policy&action=...

Does the GQT seem consistent with the polygraph examination that you received?

The questions you listed:

1.  Are you sometimes referred to as <my name>?
2.  Do you live in <state I live in>?
3.  Do you live in <my city>?

are all irrelevant questions. I'm not aware of any format used by the federal government where these would serve as "control" questions. If one were to employ countermeasures, one would not do so when answering these questions, but rather, when answering the disguised "control" questions.

I recently took a polygraph for a government organization.  A few years ago I took an initial polygraph, and passed it after being accused of deception during the counterintelligence (CI) phase of the test.  During my most recent test I was once again accused of deception during the CI phase, but was again cleared.  We then moved onto the lifestyles portion where questions about drug use/manufacturing/distribution during the past 5 years and serious crimes are asked.  I was accused of showing deception during the drug use questions.  I again told the examiner I had not used/manufactured/distributed in the last 5 years.  Naturally, he pressed for some sort of confession, but I maintained my honesty.  We again went through another round of questions which brought the four hour session to a close.  He told me that there I had still shown a "little deception" and someone else would have to look at the charts. I expect to hear something in the next few weeks.  The funny thing is, everyone I talk to who has taken this "test" is always accused deception during the drug and CI questions, like this is their MO to try to obtain some sort of confession.

Prior to the test I read "The Lie Behind the Lie Detector."  I was going to employ counter-measures to be sure there was no type of problem during my "test," but was not really sure of the control questions.  I was not forced to lie and wasn't asked any of the control questions outlined in the book.  I was asked the following questions, which I think may have been control questions:

1.  Are you sometimes referred to as <my name>?
2.  Do you live in <state I live in>?
3.  Do you live in <my city>?

If I were to employ counter-measures on any future tests, are these the questions I should use them on?  Even though I maintain my innocence, I could feel my heart rate increase whenever the drug questions were asked.  I was just plain scared!  I don't want to lose my job over some stupid test.  Any suggestion would be appreciated.

L