I've taken one polygraph before for the NSA about a month and a half ago. I felt as though it went pretty well. I felt a little tense during the lifestyle/counterintelligence portion of the exam because I knew that my career could depend on it, but I think I got through it all right. The examiner never told me I had a blip or a flicker anywhere specifically, just that after the test I didn't seem to be particularly honest with the questions regarding foreign nationals, drug use, crime history, and being honest regarding my security forms/interviews (i.e., all of the questions other than those involving my name, birthdate/place, etc). The first question asked was a standard 'answer 'NO' to this regardless of what I ask' type of question. So, let's say: Is the month we're in *? Obviously, the examiner would have said the correct month at one point and I would have lied during that time. There were no control questions just relevant/irrelevant (although they were relevant in a way). The other questions were basically those mentioned above: Is your name....? Were you born.....? Is your birthdate....? A test or two was done with these questions and possibly a few other basic factual questions about me (my memory is failing me). Then I was asked (in another grouping of 2 or 3 tests): Do you have any secret contacts with foreign nationals? Have you been honest with your security forms? Have you committed any serious crimes? Have you ever *** with drugs (don't remember the wording)? I answered truthfully to everything. After the test, s/he left for about 10-15 minutes and came back to tell me that s/he wanted me to be honest regarding the last set of questions. S/he told me that my test showed an aggitation during those questions but never showed me anything and was never more specific. Admittedly, I was nervous because they're serious matters. I was adamant about not having tried drugs (since s/he seemed to focus on that one above all others). I'm not a person that got into drugs, wouldn't know where to buy them if I wanted to. I don't think it leads to a healthy lifestyle, same reason I don't smoke cigs. or eat fast food. Anyhow, I don't wish to retell the whole episode, but I'm curious to know when I'm supposed to employ countermeasures in such a situation (IR/R test) should I choose to in the future polygraph I'm scheduled for. Should I employ them during the factual questions, the name/birthplace type of questions? What about the initial 'always say "NO"' question? Thanks for any advice you have for me. Also, please tell me if you need more information regarding what happened to be able to help me further. Also, any idea why it would have taken me 6 weeks to be contacted for another poly instead of less? AND, what does the following mean (from the ebook on the site): "In addition, recall that with this technique polygraphers look for “consistent, specific, and significant” responses to a particular relevant question over multiple charts. You can prevent such a pattern from occurring by simply producing responses to two differing groups of two relevant questions within the different chart presentations." "two differing groups of two relevant questions within the different chart presentations"? Alternate between 2 questions the first round and two quesitons the second, and back and forth through the 3-4 chart presentations.
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