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In his article, "The Zone Comparison Test," Polygraph, Vol. 27 (1998), No. 2, pp. 108-122, former National Security Administration (NSA) polygraph program director Norman Ansley provides the question sequence for the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute's version of the Zone Comparison "Test." The following citation is from p. 118:
Zone Comparison Test Question Sequence
Department of Defense Polygraph Institute 1991
1. Irrelevant. Are the lights on in this room? Yes.
2. Sacrifice Relevant. Regarding that stolen money, do you intend to answer truthfully each question about that? Yes.
3. Symptomatic. Are you completely convinced that I will not ask you a question on this test that has not already been reviewed? Yes.
4. Control. Prior to 1990, did you ever steal from someone who trusted you? No.
5. Strong relevant. Did you steal any of that money? No.
6. Control. Prior to coming to Alabama, did you ever steal anything? No.
7. Relevant. Did you steal any of that money from the footlocker? No.
8. Symptomatic. Is there something else you are afraid I will ask you a question about, even though I have told you I would not? No.
9. Control. Prior to this year, did you ever steal anything from an employer? No.
10. Weak Relevant. Do you know where any of that stolen money is now? No.
SKY - Optional
11. Suspect. Do you suspect anyone in particular of stealing any of that money? No.
12. Knowledge. Do you know for sure who stole any of that money? No.
13. You. Did you steal any of that money? No.
Posted by: George Maschke (Guest) Posted on: Nov 20th, 2000 at 9:27pm
The Zone Comparison "Test" (ZCT) is one of the most commonly-used polygraph formats, but is not addressed in the 1st electronic edition of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. It is a form of "Control" Question "Test" and is considered a single-issue "test" as opposed to the Modified General Question "Test" (regarding which, see Appendix A of of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector).
In a polygraph dragnet to find out who leaked information to the press, I expect that a variant of the ZCT would be used.
The following information on two varieties of the ZCT is extracted from chapter 11 of James Allen Matte's Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph. Other versions also exist.
DoDPI Bi-Spot Zone Comparison Test Structure.
l. Irrelevant Is today Monday?
2. Sacrifice Relevant Regarding the incident you reported, do you intend to answer truthfully each question about that?
3. Symptomatic Are you completely convinced that I will not ask you a question on this test that has not already been reviewed?
4. Non-Current Exclusive Control Prior to 1993, did you ever lie to anyone in a position of authority?
5. Relevant Did you lie about that man forcing you to have sexual intercourse with him?
6. Non-Current Exclusive Control Prior to this year, did you ever lie about something you are ashamed of?
7. Relevant Did you lie about that man forcing you to have sexual intercourse with him in his apartment?
8. Non-Current Exclusive Control Prior to 1990, did you ever lie to get out of trouble?
9. Symptomatic Is there something else you are afraid I will ask you a question about, even though I have told you I would not?
Utah Zone Comparison Technique
1. Irrelevant
2. Sacrifice Relevant
3. Symptomatic
4. Control
5. Relevant
6. Control
7. Relevant
8. Irrelevant
9. Control
10. Relevant
Matte notes regarding the Utah technique that "at all times relevant test questions responses at each (R) position are compared only with the responses to the previous control question position..."
Persons using polygraph countermeasures to protect against a false positive outcome should not bother memorizing question orders, but should learn to recognize "control" questions on the fly. See chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for details on how to recognize "control" questions.