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Posted by George W. Maschke
- May 12, 2006, 03:07 AMIn probable-lie CQTs, the question, "Do you intend to answer truthfully on these security questions?" is commonly used as a "sacrifice relevant" question and is not scored. However, according to the Federal Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Examiner Handbook, in the relevant/irrelevant screening test it is considered an "overall truth" question and seems to be used for comparison purposes:
QuoteC12.3.2.3. Overall Truth. This is an optional question which may be used in an R/I question format. It is similar to the sacrifice relevant question in comparison question formats. It is intended to elicit a physiological response which may be indicative of the examinee's overall response capability. This question may be asked near the beginning and/or at the end of a PDD chart. (See figure C12.F4.)
Figure C12.F4. Samples of the Overall Truth Questions for the Relevant/Irrelevant Test
Do you intend to answer truthfully all of the questions on this test?
Have you truthfully answered al of the questions on this test?
Posted by chinesestudent
- May 11, 2006, 07:05 PMThanks for the advice, I passed.
One strange thing though, this time around they threw in "do you intend to answer truthfully on these security questions?" or something like that. Would that be a control or relevant (though I didn't think they would switch formats especially when that would have been the only control question)? I just thought it was strange that they didn't ask me that the first time around.
One strange thing though, this time around they threw in "do you intend to answer truthfully on these security questions?" or something like that. Would that be a control or relevant (though I didn't think they would switch formats especially when that would have been the only control question)? I just thought it was strange that they didn't ask me that the first time around.
Posted by George W. Maschke
- May 05, 2006, 12:51 PMIf your polygraph is with the NSA or CIA, which commonly use the relevant/irrelevant technique, then no, your chances on a re-test are not necessarily significantly worse. It is not uncommon for applicants with these agencies to be subjected to as many as three polygraph sessions. (By contrast, the FBI ensures that virtually all of its applicants who are offered a re-test "fail" it.)
It seems that with the relevant/irrelevant technique, the key to passing is to make no substantive admissions and to appear cooperative and sincere. I recently had the opportunity to review an NSA polygraph report, and interestingly, it included no mention of the chart readings: it was all about admissions obtained (some of which were alleged by the examinee to be mischaracterizations).
If I were in your shoes, I would focus primarily on behavioral countermeasures (regarding which, see Chapter 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector) and having pre-planned, non-derogatory explanations for any reactions your polygrapher may accuse you of showing.
In addition, to familiarize yourself with the procedure, you may wish to review the chapter on the relevant/irrelevant screening "test" in the Federal Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Examiner Handbook.
It seems that with the relevant/irrelevant technique, the key to passing is to make no substantive admissions and to appear cooperative and sincere. I recently had the opportunity to review an NSA polygraph report, and interestingly, it included no mention of the chart readings: it was all about admissions obtained (some of which were alleged by the examinee to be mischaracterizations).
If I were in your shoes, I would focus primarily on behavioral countermeasures (regarding which, see Chapter 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector) and having pre-planned, non-derogatory explanations for any reactions your polygrapher may accuse you of showing.
In addition, to familiarize yourself with the procedure, you may wish to review the chapter on the relevant/irrelevant screening "test" in the Federal Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Examiner Handbook.
Posted by chinesestudent
- May 05, 2006, 02:27 AMI'm going back for a retest soon for an R/I pre-employment poly and I was wondering if anyone had any advice to share. I assume I was deemed inconclusive the first time...do they re-test people who fail? Anyway, I feel like I understand the control question counter-measures but the R/I seems trickier. I have nothing to hide but that obviously didn't matter the first time - apparently I showed a reaction to the drug question. Is trying to produce different reactions to different relevent questions in each set the only way to go? I feel like I would have difficulty remembering which I reacted to each time.
And are my chances much worse now, since this is a retest? Though I've heard re-tests are common, it makes me nervous...
And are my chances much worse now, since this is a retest? Though I've heard re-tests are common, it makes me nervous...