Am applying for a medium / large police department here in the states and had my poly today, here's how it went (or didn't go):

Items measured were my heart rate, respirations, sweat, and pressure cushions under my butt, each arm, and feet.

Went through the initial test (list of states, lie on the state that you're actually in) with no problems, told that I reacted 'well' to the question I was instructed to lie on and that everything looked good.

Went through the pre-interview with no problems, disclosed the few things I needed to disclose and moved on.

First series of questions went by uneventfully, no idea if I showed deception or not.

Second series went by, I was asked at the end if there was something wrong because strange results were coming up and told the interviewer I was having a bit of back pain, but I would be fine.

About a quarter or third of the way into the third series of questions the examiner got angry and stopped the test.  Then proceeded to basically accuse me of attempting to tamper with the results because there were strange results coming up.

To use the examiner's terms: Early Responses, Variable responses, and couldn't read the chart in general.

What does this mean?  I Was accused of moving (which I know I wasn't doing) as well as pushing the galvanic pads down into the cushion (which I dont believe I was doing either).

I've been scheduled for a much shorter interview in a week (only an hour, I assume to do only the series of questions and a post interview if necessary).

This has left me frustrated and a bid disappointed by the fact that I was not doing anything to attempt to circumvent the test (no countermeasures at all) and was actually being honest in my answers.

Anyone have any opinions?

F

Twoblock wrote on Oct 7^th, 2003 at 10:28pm:


Excuse me, are you saying a polygrapher can detect deception? Do you seriously believe that?

Actually, the setup in the picture is the exact setup that I was rigged up to, down to the brown boxes.

It was attached to a computer so apparently this department takes their polygraphs very seriously.

To prepare for my next attempt at the test I will take some ibuprofen (I will even write it down on a piece of paper for the examiner, per instructions) and wear something a bit more comfortable.  It should be of much shorter duration this time around so hopefully I will be able to avoid the discomfort I guess I was feeling in the first attempt.

Thinking back on the whole process through my head the only thing that's been giving me solace to this point is the fact that while I was in the lobby waiting to be let upstairs (at the PD) I was talking to a guy who was at the oral-board phase of the process.  He said that he was unable to complete the test the first time around because the examiner (the same examiner I had) had hooked him up and then basically said that it wasn't going to happen right now, he had to be rescheduled and come back as well.  He said he sailed right through the second time around.

Apparently he did fine considering that he was called back for his orals.

We'll see and I'll keep everyone posted on the situation; my hope is that this is some type of tactic or procedure.  Who knows, will know more in several days.

Frustrated

Went through round 2 today, and all went much much better.

Just to recap - no CounterMeasures used (went on faith that the truth will set me free <cringe>); was honest in all my answers; doing no mental aerobics between or during questions.  I have not read TLBLDT as of yet (though I'm considering reading it now out of general education).

First, I had a different examiner.  This examiner's approach was much more professional and appeared to be relatively up front.   2nd examiner gave me more of a sense that the test was going to be fair (as fair as can be considering the circumstances) and that this examiner was better at the trade than my previous examiner.

The Examiner stated they they didn't know why I was being retested and that they really weren't concerned.

We had what the examiner called a blind test in which I did not go through the interview phase again, but that I should refer back to the information I gave to the first examiner when thinking about the questions.

First two series went well, on the third series the examiner asked me to repeat the last word of the the question before answering. IE - "Are you applying for a PO position with given police department?"  --  My response would be "Department, Yes".

The examiner briefly reviewed the charts, made sure there was enough information to review then asked me if I had any problems with the process.  Assured the examiner that no, I didn't have any problems and the examiner asked me again (inferring that it seemed as though I must have had a problem given my responses).  I again assured the examiner there were no problems.

Examiner briefly went into office, returned, ushered me out the door saying 'Good luck, take care of yourself' and it was over.

This procedure of having me repeat the last word in the question has piqued my curiosity, has anyone heard of this method and if so under what circumstances is it given?

Feeling quite a bit less frustrated now knowing that if I am eliminated at this point that it wont be due to nerves or inadvertant motions / items that I didn't have control over.  If I'm now eliminated at least I'll know that it was due to my answers not coming across as honest (even though all were answered honestly).


Not So Frustrated