Normal Topic Confused about results (Read 2545 times)
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box LJHIP
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 2
Joined: Feb 22nd, 2005
Confused about results
Feb 23rd, 2005 at 4:07am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
My husband took a fidelity polygraph with someone registered to the APA as an intern.  She said he passed the test, was very confident.  But she also said he had a reaction as she was asking the question but then in the next 2 sets didn't show any reaction to the question.  She also said he did not show a reaction through the question, only at the beginning of it and not in the 30 seconds during questions.  Should he have passed this test?  We might get a retest if it is not clear.  Thanks
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box George W. Maschke
Global Moderator
*****
Offline


Make-believe science yields
make-believe security.

Posts: 6232
Joined: Sep 29th, 2000
Re: Confused about results
Reply #1 - Feb 23rd, 2005 at 6:05am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Polygraph "tests" are typically scored based on a comparison of a person's reactions to relevant questions (e.g., "Since your marriage have you had sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse?") to his/her reactions to so-called "control" questions that are intended to provoke a response even in people who are truthfully answering the relevant questions (e.g., "Since your marriage, did you ever think about having sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse?"). The person being "tested" is not supposed to know about the distinction between these two classes of questions, and all are presented as being relevant. The general public is not supposed to know about the distinction either, which is no doubt why the polygrapher you hired didn't mention it.

If a person reacts more strongly to the relevant questions than to the "control" questions, he fails. Conversely, if the person reacts more strongly to the "control" questions, he passes. 

If your husband indeed reacted only slightly to one instance of a relevant question that was asked three times, then the polygrapher's assertion that he passed is quite plausible. But you should be aware that the entire polygraph procedure is without scientific basis, as you will find explained in Chapter 1 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

The answers you seek are not to be found in the reading of polygraph charts. Rather than considering a re-test, you and your husband might be better advised to consider marriage counseling and working together to build openess and trust in your relationship.
  

George W. Maschke
I am generally available in the chat room from 3 AM to 3 PM Eastern time.
Tel/SMS: 1-202-810-2105 (Please use Signal Private Messenger or WhatsApp to text or call.)
E-mail/iMessage/FaceTime: antipolygraph.org@protonmail.com
Wire: @ap_org
Threema: A4PYDD5S
Personal Statement: "Too Hot of a Potato"
Back to top
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box LJHIP
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 2
Joined: Feb 22nd, 2005
Re: Confused about results
Reply #2 - Feb 23rd, 2005 at 8:14am
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Thank you for answering, I couldn't agree more that counseling would help us and that is our next course.  I did take a lok at the pdf and it's interesting that there is so much debate about the validity of these tests.  I wish this had not been one of our options and would not do it again.  Regards, LJHIP
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Paste Member Name in Quick Reply Box nina
New User
*
Offline



Posts: 11
Joined: Apr 1st, 2005
Re: Confused about results
Reply #3 - Apr 2nd, 2005 at 8:11pm
Mark & QuoteQuote Print Post  
Let us know how things turn out. I am sorry you had to go through the test. If he didn't pass, it would affect your relationship in a negative way.

I kissed a married guy, and I felt bad about it. What I learned from that though, is that a lot of men are vulnerable.

Rather than harping on the past, and what might have happened, take time to make a better future. Women who take married men are stupid, because sooner or later they will get re-acquainted with the ripples of the thrown pebble in the pond.

Take care and let us know how things turn out. We are behind you. Don't give up too easily. Being single/divored sucks.
Nina
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Confused about results

Please type the characters that appear in the image. The characters must be typed in the same order, and they are case-sensitive.
Open Preview Preview

You can resize the textbox by dragging the right or bottom border.
Insert Hyperlink Insert FTP Link Insert Image Insert E-mail Insert Media Insert Table Insert Table Row Insert Table Column Insert Horizontal Rule Insert Teletype Insert Code Insert Quote Edited Superscript Subscript Insert List /me - my name Insert Marquee Insert Timestamp No Parse
Bold Italicized Underline Insert Strikethrough Highlight
                       
Change Text Color
Insert Preformatted Text Left Align Centered Right Align
resize_wb
resize_hb







Max 200000 characters. Remaining characters:
Text size: pt
More Smilies
View All Smilies
Collapse additional features Collapse/Expand additional features Smiley Wink Cheesy Grin Angry Sad Shocked Cool Huh Roll Eyes Tongue Embarrassed Lips Sealed Undecided Kiss Cry
Attachments More Attachments Allowed file types: txt doc docx ics psd pdf bmp jpe jpg jpeg gif png swf zip rar tar gz 7z odt ods mp3 mp4 wav avi mov 3gp html maff pgp gpg
Maximum Attachment size: 500000 KB
Attachment 1:
X