posted 07-05-2009 07:07 AM            

They are saying that they keep thinking about and getting nervous about the relevant questions when I am asking it.

Specifically, a couple of weeks ago I ran a missing persons test on a step-father where we think the victim was abducted and most likely dead. The test was a no call, but I still noticed a reaction to a relevant question.

During the data collection, the examinee kept telling me during the charts that he keeps picturing about the mother crying about the kid being missing and it makes him feel (I dont remember the exact wording--nervous, upset, like he is reacting etc).

This is not new for me, as in the middle of tests, I have heard people tell me that they keep getting nervous every time I ask a relevant. I do beleive that I am setting up my controls correctly and I have had great success in the past with my controls.

Any thoughts on how to combat this---is it a sign of deception. I know its tough to answer this without seeing the whole test and charts.

posted 07-05-2009 12:34 PM            

Nothing in a polygraph examination indicates deception except for a careful evaluation of the charts and a deceptive score.

Most examiners I know, go through occasional periods where their confidence factor backslides and they begin to question their abilities in one way or another. The best cure that I have ever found for this is attendance at a polygraph seminar or training session. This seems to rejuvenate and reestablish the skills we depend upon to do our work. This is especially important if you are the only examiner in your agency.

Caring how an examination comes out, before you conduct it, seems to breed inconclusives. If you can't make a convincing argument for both innocence and guilt fro the information available before the exam, you may be biased.

Also, while computerized scoring is far from perfect, if you have OSS 3 you can use it to guage whether or not you are drifting away from good scoring practices.

posted 07-05-2009 02:33 PM            

I agree that after I leave a seminar, I feel refreshed with 24 hours of polygraph arguments and chart anylsis, among peers, on the brain.

However, for the purpose of this post--I am curious to those comments.

posted 07-05-2009 04:06 PM            

You stated that your last test was inconclusive due to movement. I find it difficult to believe that most people are unable to remain still for data collection, absent some medical reason. Was your acquaintance test artifacted by excessive movement? If not, you probably have someone just trying to trash your charts with purposeful non-cooperation.

Just shooting from the hip here, but If someone wants to discuss a particular relevant question between charts in the manner you described you might counter with a similar discussion about a comparison issue.
For example
Subject: Boy that question about having sexual intercourse with my neighbors beagle is sure bothering me.
Examiner. Really, How about the question about excessive masturbation?

This re-emphasizes the importance of the comparison questions. I think if you just let their question concerning an RQ hang there without a response of some kind, it might cause problems.

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Ex scientia veritas

posted 07-05-2009 04:31 PM            

This re-emphasizes the importance of the comparison questions. I think if you just let their question concerning an RQ hang there without a response of some kind, it might cause problems.
________________________________________

As obvious as this may sound to you--I did not do this and yes I did worry about comparisons after hearing this.

I talked over the test with Sackett already and yes it is problematic that he was moving this much.(alot)I tried to explain this to the Detective, but he is convinced that an outside issue (his involvement in drugs) caused all of this. I can't prove he is wrong, but I do explain thoroughly that there will be NO SURPRISES on the test.

Here is the case:
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/cape_may/article_7d6fab1d-87fb-5874-8a3e-fffbdc923698.html

Maybe I'll have Nelson put those horrible charts up. I really worked hard to keep those electrodes on, but I could not due to excessive sweat. I ran one chart without them.

A couple of years ago I ran them on the back of someones hands due to sweat--I was not happy with the results of that.

posted 07-05-2009 08:47 PM            

I know...sounds hokey as hell, but I've found that people understand the parallels and it tends to reduce anxiety.

You might also tell the examinee that when he hears the question, he already knows what his truthful answer is and if he uses that answer, the nervous system is simply not affected. If he has made a decision to lie on the question, his reaction will be instantaneous. He shouldn't even have to think about a question that he knows he's answering truthfully.

I've found that these explanations help the NDI person and really kick the rear end of the DI person, but it needs to be done during the pre-test and during the explanation of the physiology and F3. If you're not fully explaining physiology then you may well be causing the examinee to become overly excited at the relevant questions. I've found that failing to explain the physiology properly is the biggest failure in experienced examiners who begin having problems. They get bored with the explanation and begin to shorten it to the point of losing it altogether.

I agree, however that if you are doing a FULL, PROPER pre-test and you get consistent reactions to the relevant questions then BYFC!

posted 07-06-2009 08:29 AM            

I find it difficult to believe that drug involvement is going to interfere much in a test about a missing person as long as your comparison questions don't touch drug issues.

Even if you believe that outside issues wreck properly conducted tests, I don't see them increasing reactions to relevant questions. When and where did your detective graduate from Polygraph School? It sounds to me like the invesigator's opinion is set in stone.

You have a no call test, it happens. Rerun the guy. Do your best pretest again. Use the velcro plates on his fingers (staple them in place if necessary...just kidding). Use a format that has an outside issue question if you think it will help, but tell this guy that only 5 year olds, people with parkinsons, and guilty people can't sit still for five minutes at a stretch. Then ask him, Do you have Parkinson's? Are you older than five? Do you plan to sit still while we do this exam?

It sounds to me like this guy is intentionally jerking you around.

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Ex scientia veritas

posted 07-06-2009 05:29 PM            

I am not even sure if we have the finger plates.

posted 07-06-2009 07:47 PM            

I had a guy I was testing regarding whether he ever touched his niece's (cousin's, sister's or something like that - and who knows, she could have fit a couple of those choices) genitals or something along those lines. After chart two (I think), I asked, as I often do, if any questions were bothering him any more than others. He said the RQ were - because he knew all the others weren't as important!

I have no idea how I failed to communicate the importance of all the questions - I did all as usual, and I'm long-winded - and I began a monologue in which I told him if he lied to anything he was toast; however, it wasn't enough to save us from the dreaded INC (even after five charts).

I brought him back in and ran a DLCQT (for reasons I'm too lazy to type). He passed with flying colors. I'm sure it had to do with habituating to the process somewhat as opposed to the change in technique.

I've said this before, but murder cases are easier than child-sex cases. The truthful focus on the CQs with ease there (murders), but with sex cases, I think the stigma, anger, fear, disgust, etc, is so strong that the questions are very salient, which reminds us of the need to do as Skip and others have suggested.

We presume that a person gets stuck on the "I don't want to look like the type of person who would do this" questions (the CQs), when I think some say, "I guess I do fit the profile, but I don't care, I just want to show I didn't do the relevant issue." In other words, and this is just speculation on my part, I think we have to try harder and repeat ourselves to make our points clear (and I like the stories - I think they work well with many people).

posted 07-07-2009 12:51 PM            

I've had almost the same thing happen to me only it was very oily skin. I keep a set of plates in my case for just such an occasion. I find a quick switch to plates keeps from wasting gel pads and they will even work on someone so slimy that glue can't stick.

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Ex scientia veritas

posted 07-07-2009 08:39 PM            

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Ex scientia veritas

posted 07-08-2009 08:16 AM            

Not only that but they come 5 to a package and you can actually move them once applied if you are unhappy with the tracing (or lack thereof)

They are made in Canada by 3M Health Care Products & Services Division, Post Office Box 5757, Londo, Ontario N6A 4T1

posted 07-08-2009 09:05 AM            

I am certain your polygraph manufacturer would like the feedback, and especially the information provided to you by Skip. Let them know of your issues with the pads. Examiners in the field will benefit from the manufacturer making this (and other) improvement(s).

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Ben

posted 07-08-2009 01:05 PM            

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Ex scientia veritas

posted 07-11-2009 05:40 PM            

I guess everyone's experience is different. I don't run many tests (only major crimes- criminal specific)and the pads in my bag are starting to stick together too.

I got mine from Medex Supply and don't think I had to buy 1,000--but I do not remember.

posted 07-20-2009 10:34 AM            

If the subject is sweating so much so that you cannot get the tabs to stick, you can have them wash their hands well with soap and warm water. After their hands are dry, next apply isopropyl alcohol. Let the alcohol dry. This usually solves the problem for me and sometimes just the alcohol is needed, but sometimes I have to use tape.