- Welcome to AntiPolygraph.org Message Board.
A forum for free and open discussion of polygraph-related topics
Posted by George W. Maschke
- Nov 22, 2001, 05:58 AMBy prefacing a question with, "Other than what you told me..." the polygrapher limits the scope of a question so as to exclude previously-made admissions. Both relevant and control questions may be modified in this way.
For example, suppose you are employed by a local police department, where you've worked counternarcotics and have "sold" drugs in sting operations. You apply to become an FBI special agent, and during your polygraph interrogation, when the polygrapher asks you, "Have you ever sold any illegal drugs?" you mention the sting operations. Your polygrapher will then re-word this very relevant question as "Other than what you told me, have you ever sold any illegal drugs?"
With regard to probable-lie "control" questions, the fact that you've made some minor admission and the question has been re-phrased as "Other than what you told me, did you ever...?" does not change the "control" question into a relevant one.
See Ch. 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for a fuller discussion of "control" questions.
For example, suppose you are employed by a local police department, where you've worked counternarcotics and have "sold" drugs in sting operations. You apply to become an FBI special agent, and during your polygraph interrogation, when the polygrapher asks you, "Have you ever sold any illegal drugs?" you mention the sting operations. Your polygrapher will then re-word this very relevant question as "Other than what you told me, have you ever sold any illegal drugs?"
With regard to probable-lie "control" questions, the fact that you've made some minor admission and the question has been re-phrased as "Other than what you told me, did you ever...?" does not change the "control" question into a relevant one.
See Ch. 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector for a fuller discussion of "control" questions.
Posted by Anoemus
- Nov 22, 2001, 05:22 AMWhat is the significance of prefacing a question with 'other then what you've told me, have you ever....'?
Does it change the question from a control to a relevant question?
Or does it not matter, it depends on how a particular question was worded or defined in the pretest.
For example:
You admit to stealing minor things as a kid or some minor office supplies from work in the pretest.
During the test you are ask, 'other then what we talked about, have you ever stolen or have you ever stolen from an employer?'
Does this remain a control with the explanation being that one couldnt possible remember exactly what or how much one stole? Thus the pollygrpaher would still assume you are lying (thus making it a control)?
Do I have this right?
Does it change the question from a control to a relevant question?
Or does it not matter, it depends on how a particular question was worded or defined in the pretest.
For example:
You admit to stealing minor things as a kid or some minor office supplies from work in the pretest.
During the test you are ask, 'other then what we talked about, have you ever stolen or have you ever stolen from an employer?'
Does this remain a control with the explanation being that one couldnt possible remember exactly what or how much one stole? Thus the pollygrpaher would still assume you are lying (thus making it a control)?
Do I have this right?