pailryder wrote on Sep 30
th, 2007 at 8:36pm:
corrections as per your request
1 no doesn't have to be an action can concern a purely mental state such as have you ever considered blank
2 doesn't have to be bad but usually is
3 doesn't have to be done by everyone and can be neutral example Have you ever been a suspect in a workplace theft? can be answered yes or no with no implication of wrongdoing
4 no doesn't have to be a lie see ex 3
The most challenging and creative part of polygraph is developing the RQs and CQs. The books do not have the answers as each interview is unique, as are the two parties involved. Developing the questions is a process of negotiation, a give and take between examiner and examinee. When something doesn't work in a negotiation I try another way. A cookie cutter, forced or canned approach will not suffice. Imho, the only thing required of a good CQ is that it exerts a pull on the truthful examinees attention.
Well, if it doesn't have to be bad, would you say that it does need to carry at least some sense of ignominy or disapproval? There has to be some reason for the person to lie, right?
So, if someone answers your CQ ("Have you ever previously been suspected of workplace theft?") with an affirmative, that would still produce the necessary reactions to use as a control? I'm not certain I understand what you're saying.
Also, why, as a knowledgeable subject, is my attention going to be significantly more attracted to the control questions than to the relevant ones? Whether or not I've done those things in the CQs is irrelevant to determining my suitability for employment or my guilt or innocence in an investigation. They only reason I have to worry about concerning them is whether or not I'll produce the correct responses, and that applies equally well to the relevant questions.
As an aside, it seems like this thing works mainly because most people are stupid and easily manipulated by people in authority who apparently know what they're doing. People can often be made to believe pretty silly things if they either want those things to be true or fear them to be true, especially if isolated, not given time for rational thought, and put under pressure. Let me ask you this, with your knowledge and experience, does it surprise you that, in
a series of well known experiments, it was demonstrated that 61-66% of American adults would apply potentially lethal electrical shocks to a stranger... just because a guy in a lab coat told them to?
I would thank you for avoiding personal attacks and insults, but that would probably prove too tempting to those who cannot avoid such.