Dan Mangan wrote on Jul 15
th, 2015 at 8:16pm:
Before you go on another lengthy hiatus, december, I'd like your comments on something...
I ran for president-elect of the American Polygraph Association on this simple three-point platform:
1. A bill of rights for polygraph test subjects, designed to elevate informed consent to a higher level and help prevent victimization from false results
2. An ongoing countermeasure challenge series, integral to APA seminars, designed to better reveal polygraph's real-world accuracy and expose the troubling variations in examiner competence
3. Equality for all APA members regarding their participation in APA politics (as office seekers), and access to educational materials presented at APA events
What, if anything, do you find objectionable about my election platform?
1. Bill of Rights for Polygraph Test Subjects
I do not know what the rules for polygraph examiners are in your State. In my State, and in several other states that I have looked at, there are Licensing Guidelines or Rules which apply to polygraph examiners. They must be licensed by the State. There are specific rules, one of which is actually called a Bill of Rights, paraphrased as follows:
* Must be voluntarily taken
* Has the right to know the nature of the examination
* May terminate the exam at any time
* Questions must be reviewed with the examinee and cannot be changed during the test
* The examinee must have a reasonable opportunity to explain reactions to pertinent questions
* The examinee is entitled to a thorough explanation of what to expect in the exam
* Minimum number of charts must be rendered
* No questions regarding the examinee’s sexual orientation, religion, race, political beliefs or affiliations
* Right to know the results of the examination in a timely manner if requested
Therefore, I believe you mean that the APA should have such a policy. If there are states which do not include such things in their licensing rules or if they do not have licensing rules, I wholeheartedly agree that the APA should have a Bill of Rights for Polygraph Test Subjects.
2. Countermeasures – I understand what countermeasures are but as I said before, I am not a polygraph examiner. Therefore, I would certainly agree that training polygraph examiners to recognize countermeasures would be a necessity. As far as “real-world” accuracy goes, I have a strong belief that accuracy cannot be determined by comparing one examiner’s testing outcome on a general level to another examiner’s testing outcome unless they are testing the same person. How can you accurately compare examiners’ outcomes outside of a control group? The examiner has no control over who he going to test and certainly not over whether they WILL or WILL NOT be telling the truth or whether they WILL or WILL NOT be using countermeasures. And then there is that “variation in examiner competence.” In my research I have discovered that there are polygraph examiners who falsified their credentials in order to become licensed. They were not qualified but were allowed to attend polygraph school, go through the licensing process, and are now licensed polygraph examiners. And, there is no way to get their licenses revoked based on this information. So, therein lies the “variation in examiner competence.”
3. Equality for all APA members. I am very much in favor of a balance between equality and liberty. But as far as that concerns the APA, I have no opinion.
Finally, what do I find objectionable about your election platform ... Well, it was not so much that I found it objectionable, I just questioned your choice of forums. However, I have considered your answer that “Nothing else in cyberspace even comes close.” And I must agree that George Maschke certainly does have a large following.