posted 09-07-2009 02:57 AM            

In the past I have sat thru some interesting talks during training and I was hoping someone out there has a PowerPoint presentation with interesting, humorous and fascinating facts that I will be able to Plagiarise and present as my own work leaving the students amazed at the wonder of Polygraph and my knowledge regarding it! (being serious I will of course give credit for any help)

posted 09-07-2009 11:33 AM            

The slide with word "son" on it is used to explain the concept of "inconclusive". Ask the audience to tell you the word on the screen. They will say "son". You ask are you sure? then click the space bar the word gets "per" added to the front making it "person". Ask again and again are you sure? Hit the space bar and the letters "al" gets added making the word "personal". Ask again and then click again adding the letters "ity" now the word is "personality". Then you ask if they are sure? Could it be anything else? Then tell them that now, based upon their training in English and their knowledge of spelling and prefixes and suffixs they can state with expert confidence that nothing else can be added to the data to make the word change to anything else. In other words they now have sufficient data to form an opinion. Up to that point, their decision was inconclusive.

There is also a slide on reserach of comparing polygraph to fingerprints, handwriting and eye witness testimony as well as the Crewson study comparing polygraph to several medical and psychological tests in common use.

posted 09-07-2009 12:18 PM         

Any chance I can get a copy?

Thanks

posted 09-07-2009 03:51 PM            

Instructing them about the polygraph makes about as much sense as teaching them about retention and concealment when carrying a weapon.

The fact that they are kids means, by default, that they often have lots of abilities, little knowledge, and poor judgement. If this weren't the case, they'd be aforded the priveledges of young adults, not juveniles.

You could emphasize the interrogation aspects of the polygraph, and try impress all the impressionable youth with how great we are. There undoubtedly people who will be impressed and people who will not be impressed.

Or, you could teach them all about the operation of the test. And there will be some present who will be tempted or capable of misusing the information.

You could attempt to offer them a sales-job and schlep a bunch of confidence and mis-information onto them. However, anyone with half-an ounce of curiousity, which will be those who are intelligent and those who would misuse the information, will get on the internet and check for themselves. For those intelligent youth, disseminating misinformation will not help with the long-term credibility of the science and field practice of polygraph testing. For those youth who would attempt to test the polygraph or misuse the information, their eventual discovery of good information on the Internet will fuel their arrogance and recklessness, and will foster only disdain and disbelief in the credibility of the polgyraph.

I suggest you emphasize the science aspects of the polygraph. Signal detection theory, decision theory, inferential statistics, and physiololgy. Stay away from the psychology aspects of the polygraph - it's far too complex a rabit hole and our tendency to overemphasize fear as a basis of response unlikely to provide any benefit with a youthful audience. Save that schpiel for an actual polygraph test.

Some high school students will undoubtedly compare whatever you tell them to what they see online.

Juveniles will eventually grow up, and the long term credibility of our science will be improved if you provide good accurate information. The challenge is to provide information that is useful to both them and to us. That means, stick to the facts. Just like in court: credibility is not gained by denying the obvious or misstating things.

I would be more interested in the opportunity for long-term credibility improvement for the profession than the short-term wow-factor. I'm also concerned about short term disruption, when the silly kids grow up a little and may find themselves needing to take a polygraph or two.

Go for the science emphasis.

.02

r

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"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 09-08-2009 02:27 PM            

As explanation, I spent a lot of years working in residential treatment with severely disturbed children and youths. When I think of kids, that is the first concept I access - chaos + rage + impulsivity + hormones.

Before Nick was born I remember thinking at times that it was gonna be hell. Thankfully he's easy going and low-maintenance. His worst day ever, and I can't really remember a bad day, cannot compare to the fuss that kids in residential centers experience.

Nick is 17 now, in his last year of high school, and recently informed me that he'd been sneaking his girlfriend into his mother's house at night all summer, supposedly staying up until the wee hours watching horror movies. Mark and I debated whether or not I should lecture him up and down with a parental shit-fit, or just have a calm discussion about things. We had the calm discussion and he agreed to consider himself lectured. He's a good kid - taking AP literature, AP statistics, and AP psychology - but all kids are capable of misuing the information and resources made available to them.

r

------------------
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 09-09-2009 08:17 AM            

I'm teaching an upcoming citizens police academy....can you shoot me a copy please?

posted 09-09-2009 08:39 AM         

twheeler@sheriff.douglas.ga.us

posted 09-09-2009 09:03 AM            

I am presenting to a group of prosecutors next month, and it sounds like this presentaion may fit the bill. could you send me a copy please.

Thank you for all you do for the profession.

Willis

posted 09-09-2009 09:18 AM            

I am presenting to a group called NAMBLA who are very, very interested in polygraph. They are particularly interested in how we score charts. Could you send me your presentation as well? Just kidding... It appears that your presentation is very popular! Great discussion...

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Ben

posted 09-11-2009 04:56 AM            

Ray I appreciate your advice you make good sense, however unfortunately you have moved my psychological set from mild confidence to complete terror. I don't suppose you are available Monday to fly to the UK and do the presentation for me?

Once again thanks for the help!

posted 09-12-2009 07:04 AM         

Please send me a copy of the material you have, I have both High School Students and Back Ground Investigators I will be presenting to in the near future. Trying to put together a good presentation without confusing the participants.

Thanks