Quote from: Hunter on Nov 06, 2007, 11:03 AM
I posted a model policy statement from the APA and now we have the NAS report again posted. You are very much on the defense and I don't care to debate that report with you, it is history and advances have been made as a result of that particular report, and will continue to be made.
Quote
Do you have any studies to back up that statement? I have found none.
Quote from: Hunter on Nov 05, 2007, 11:35 PMthe polygraph examination is a valuable investigative aid as used in conjunction with, but not as a substitute for, a thorough investigation.
"I can only speak for myself, but I believe more people would accept the polygraph if it was used as an investigative aid and not the sole deciding factor for LEO applicants. "
What was quoted is the model policy advocated by the American Polygraph Association for all agencies, including private examiners. It is in fact part of my departments policy and I am sure other departments have adopted it also. I do expect it to become the standard in polygraph. Polygraph examiners don't hold themselves out to be perfect in most cases. We have a few, but very few that would say polygraph is 100%. That is why I don't understand all the posts on this board that label Polygraph Examiners as bad or corrupt persons that cannot admit to making a mistake. We are humans and our profession advocates the quoted policy. Only a few are opposed. So lets take a break and look a little closer at polygraph and what the Professional Associations advocate, rather than pick all examiners apart for a minority of examiners mistaken ideas.
QuotePolygraph is the best we have now, and it will get better, I'm sure as we continue to research and change methodology in our chosen profession.
QuoteAdvancements are made almost daily in all fields of psychology, physiology, medical and other fields, we are no different.
QuoteResearch Progress Research on the polygraph has not progressed over time in the manner of a typical scientific field. It has not accumulated knowledge or strengthened its scientific underpinnings in any significant manner. Polygraph research has proceeded in relative isolation from related fields of basic science and has benefited little from conceptual, theoretical, and technological advances in those fields that are relevant to the psychophysiological detection of deception.
QuoteWhat you believe is based on your own experiences and the reading and research you have done.
QuoteI've cited evidence too, but you don't believe the NAS research study was valid. You are free to believe whatever you wish. Kindly allow me the same courtesy.
QuoteI disagree with your assertion that you have demonstrated how any test that is better than chance is "more fair" in the end. You have not demonstrated any such thing.
QuoteHow is it fair to all the people who tell the truth and are still disqualified? How is it fair to the agency that hires a deceptive person who passed the polygraph?
QuoteAs I have mentioned before, in the vast majority of pre-employment polygraphs (whenever there is no disqualifying admission made by the applicant, and/or whenever there is no physical evidence to corroborate the DI or NDI) the examiner cannot possibly know for certain if their conclusion of truth or deception was correct.
QuotePolygraph examiners can cite specific studies that support their beliefs, and can claim that any study that does not is invalid.
QuoteIf neither side is going to accept any scientific evidence unless it supports that side's opinion, then we are left with nothing more than our personal experiences and anecdotal evidence. In such a circumstance, the only "expert" with regards to the results of a polygraph is the subject, because only the subject knows for certain if they were being truthful or deceptive. The examiner can render their opinion on the accuracy of any single polygraph exam, but only the subject can definitively state if the DI or NDI result was accurate.
QuoteIn my experience, I told the truth on four polygraph exams and in three of those exams neither the instrument nor its operator was able to determine that. Not only was the examiner unable to determine I was telling the truth, but they incorrectly concluded I was lying. I don't see how I could have been a victim of the "error rate" when I was judged to be deceptive on three separate areas. If I had some sort of issue about drugs, perhaps it would make sense if I kept failing because of drug-related questions. But I failed for three different reasons, and never for the same reason twice. I don't see how any reasonable person could go through that experience and not come to the conclusion that the polygraph is incapable of detecting deception. I think it would be completely unreasonable for someone to go through an experience like mine and conclude that the polygraph didn't detect anything for them, but that it probably detects truth or deception with a high degree of accuracy for everyone else in every other situation.
Your post seems to suggest that it would not be unheard of for a police applicant to be a victim of the "error rate". What makes you think that a large percentage of police applicants are not victims of the same error rate? Other than the testimony of the applicants themselves, how would you ever be able to determine the actual percentages that are victims of the error rate?
From your post, the "error rate" certainly does not seem to be a source of concern for you. But, inexplicably, at the same time you feel comfortable endorsing the pre-employment polygraph screening exam as being "more fair" in the end than not conducting a pre-employment polygraph screening exam. I don't see how you can do that. You are willing to acknowledge the "error rate" but you have no way of definitively knowing what that rate is. I realize you believe the error rate is low, but you don't really know that, so how can you believe that conducting pre-employment polygraph screening is "more fair" than not conducting pre-employment polygraph screening?
Quote from: Barry_C on Nov 04, 2007, 04:44 PM"I feel...." "I believe...." "I am of the opinion...." "I divined...." Who cares what you or I believe when there's scientific evidence to consider? I've given you the math. Did I err in my calculations? If not, I've demonstrated how a valid test (as long as it's better than chance), is more fair in the end. The only debate is now polygraph accuracy.
Sarge,
You took a screening exam. They are not as reliable as a single-issue test, which, I think, we all agree. If you took one and were a victim of the error rate, then taking the same test again and again is only likely to repeat the same "error." Did the fourth examiner do something different, or don't you recall?
I have tested people using a multi-issue screening exam, and yes, they have significant reactions to some questions. Follow-up testing has cleared them, but if I had just run the same screening exam, I'd likely have ended up with the same results. (I've never crunched the numbers, but most of those with SRs on a screening exam have later admitted to failing to disclose something. I'd venture a guess that it's closer to 100% than it is 90% who fall into that category, which is another reason agencies are willing to play the odds.)
Quote from: Barry_C on Nov 04, 2007, 04:44 PM" Seriously though, it's not likely those people are going to be put into positions in which they could be blackmailed, for example. It's hard to hang an offense over a guy's head when his employer already knows about the issue. That's just one reason though.
Quote from: 1904 on Nov 03, 2007, 10:02 AMDear Readers,
The statistical symbols, the psychobabble, the constant haranguing
is intended to deflect the reality of polygraph.
It's reality is simple. It is an antiquated contraption that has as much
to do with lie-detection as a man jumping off a building has to do with flying.
Examiners have a desperate need to come to this board, to try
and convince you that researching the p/g and reading TLBTLD
will actually be harmful to you if you believe that physical and mental
CM's can assist you to pass a p/g test.
The fact is, the more you know about the p/g system and the more you
know about the examiners verbal & other behaviours, so the p/g will
lose it's power over you. Destroy the myths and believe that it is a pseudo
science - and you are well on your way to passing.
P/g examiners like to quote the 'student-movie ticket study', which is about
the most pathetic project ever undertaken by anyone.
The statiscal and 'empirical evidence BS is just that, BS.
The human psyche is far too complex to predict with a set of statistics.
No two people react or respond the same in terms of psychophysiological
behaviours. There are no verified psychological theories, only hypotheses.
P/g examiners are dismissive of any research - and there is plenty of it -
carried out by suitably qualified academics - their knee jerk reaction is to
immediately rubbish, disregard and disrespect any such research - but they
will babble on incessantly about a silly project such as the movie-tickets for students study.
The polygraph is a prop utilised to elicit admissions and confessions.
Most p/g examiners have developed investigative skills and together
with their intuition, should be able to discard their p/g and elicit confessions
in the course of an investigative interview.