You guess wrong, Lethe.  You dared me to provide an example pf an actual CQ and to explain why I thought it was a good CQ.  If, as in your hypo conversation, the subject had admitted dealing drugs with her cousin, then that issue would not have been good CQ material, and I would have move on and found another issue to develope for that purpose.

Unlike many who visit the board, I am here to learn.  I am not here to advocate or convince or change anyones mind.  I am not interested in zinging anyone.  I am willing to openly share the knowledge I have gained from more than twenty years of pratical experience with polygraph with any interested party.  But I do enjoy thoughtful intelligent conversation, and for the first time I was a little disapointed in the lack of understanding shown in your last post.  Maybe you would now answer a question for me?  Is there anyone so blind as she who refuses to see?

pailryder wrote on Sep 30^th, 2007 at 1:15pm:


I am here to learn to, and so I appreciate your more honest approach.  Many of your colleagues prefer to obfuscate and hurl insults about and you have avoided that.

But your response to my last question doesn't satisfy me.  "I'd find another control question that would work."  With polygraphers, it seems that it is always about the next thing.  The next book or study that I read will contain all the answers that I seek.  The next person that I ask will be willing to answer my question.  The next control question they come up with will be perfect.  Et cetera.   

To my understanding--and I seek correction if I am wrong--a suitable control question must have the following characteristics.

(1) It must concern an action which the subject may or may not have done in the past;
(2) Said action must be at least nominally bad;
(3) Said action must have been done by almost everyone in the subject's circumstances OR you must have solid information that the subject has done the action; and
(4) You must be able to maneuver the subject into lying to the question.

The first two criteria are shared with relevant questions.  The third most certainly is not.  An intelligent and informed subject is able to distinguish between control and relevant questions with a reasonable degree of accuracy.  Your example question ("Did you and your cousin deal drugs together?") is obviously a control question and therefore the knowledgeable subject would know that she is expected to lie on it.  It would therefore be difficult, to say the least, to form the intent to deceive or to feel the fear of detection.  Thus, it seems that the control question in question is no more likely to produce the response needed for an accurate test than a denial to the question "Are you Napoleon Bonaparte?"

Other polygraphers have explained that I am wrong about this because they have some new and improved special control questions that no one could ever figure out were control questions.  I asked for some examples of these magic control questions.  Nope.  They can't be a shared.  Why?  Because if you know what they control questions are, you won't produce the responses needed for an accurate exam.  This leads us back to my initial observation: if you know how the test works, it looks like you're screwed.

'George appearing with the U.S. flag could, I suppose, be taken to convey "I am an American, so you can trust what I say."  But, more likely, I think he is trying to indicate that one need not believe everything that everyone who draws a government paycheck says in order to be a patriot.  I would have thought that the agency to which you referred would have a policy regarding unofficial use of it's logo and insignia.  But apparently it is okay to use them to advertise your private business and to make money for yourself. '


George with an american flag - while hiding in the Netherlands...okay

' I think he is trying to indicate that one need not believe everything that everyone who draws a government paycheck says in order to be a patriot.' When did anyone state you have to be a government employee to be patriot?  Also the definition of Patriot states - a proud supporter or defender of his or her country and its way of life.  Once again, George is in the Netherlands.  The only thing he is a proud supporter of is his attempts to help liars and sex offenders pass polygraphs.   

'I would have thought that the agency to which you referred would have a policy regarding unofficial use of it's logo and insignia.  But apparently it is okay to use them to advertise your private business and to make money for yourself. '     Go ahead LETHE call someone out if thats the case.  If it is who I think you are referring to, I would watch your false allegations....just ask George about making false allegations.

Lethe wrote on Sep 30^th, 2007 at 6:03pm:


Lethe you probably have no opinion, cuz you are foregetful or oblivious from drinking your own bath water.

Quote:


That's just gross. I was trying to enjoy my lunch.

Do you really do that, Lethe?

If so, you need help. Maybe some therapy, or something.

jeeze

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.

I dont't know where you reside, but in the state where I live most people are not stupid and are not eaisly manulated into doing something against their own self interest.  I have lived in the same area for a long time and if I had mistreated my friends or neighbors, I would not be able to make a living here.  Examinees have told me that I got it wrong.  Some have made sure that I knew I made a mistake, but no examinee has ever accused me of treating them with anything less than dignity and respect.    

The study you mentioned is very troubling for any thinking, careing person.  I can't honestly say it surprises me, but it truly saddens me to comptemplate the implications.

Lethe wrote on Sep 30^th, 2007 at 9:36pm:


Lethe,
I'm glad someone said it. Some 65% of American adults are gullible. That grouping is specifically the p/g examiners target market. It is the other 35% that have the guts to tell them they're screwing up and are
indeed screwed up.