Well, I spoke to my background investigator and he told me that I will have to retake the polygraph . :'( He told me that they feel that there could have been deception in a question. He didn't tell me which one it was. The question will be focused on at my next test. I dont know what went wrong? I do have a question though, if I dont do any breathing patterns and just do the anal sphincter, could that work good enough? Is it mandatory to manipulate the breathing. I was thinking that I could keep a nice breathing pattern and just manipulate the anal sphincter. This stuff is just fustrating me and it could ruin my dream of getting into lawenforcement. Any suggestions would help thanks. Oh by the way, my best friend is a female that took the poly the same day as me and she lied on the poly w/out countermeasures and passed it.She told me the guy was sweet on her. Go figure. ???
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I do have a question though, if I dont do any breathing patterns and just do the anal sphincter, could that work good enough? Is it mandatory to manipulate the breathing. I was thinking that I could keep a nice breathing pattern and just manipulate the anal sphincter.
It is not absolutely necessary to show a physiological response on any one specific channel (i.e., the thoracic and abdominal respiration channels, galvanic skin response or electrodermal channel, or on the cardio channel) when answering the "control" questions.
If you maintain your baseline breathing pattern (as described in Chapter 4 of
The Lie Behind the Lie Detector) while answering the relevant questions and apply the anal sphincter contraction to augment your physiological responding on the cardio channel as you answer the "control" questions, this may well be enough to ensure that your chart is scored as "no deception indicated."
Pay attention also to the behavioral countermeasures described in
The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, as factors other than what is recorded on your polygraph chart may influence the opinion ultimately rendered by your polygrapher.
Also, when doing any king of breathing (such as the baseline pattern), be sure to make the transition between each inhale-exhale-inhale nice and smooth. One helpful analogy that we omitted in The Lie Behind the Lie Detector is that of a "California Stop." This is where a vehicle almost comes to a halt at a stop sign, but does not come to the full stop that actually makes the vehicle rock back and forth on its suspension. Think of this when practicing your breathing.
Best,
Will I have to go through the whole process again;(filling out the questionaire, be asked all those same questions, etc)or do they just focus on that one problem?
The question you ask is an administrative one, and I don't know the answer to it. You could call the department with which you're applying and ask.
It seems plausible that the relevant questions in your follow-up polygraph interrogation might pertain solely to one particular area where the polygraph examiner thought you were having "trouble," but again, I don't know.
I've recieved a letter stating that I have to go in to clear up a problem area on my first poly. The weird thing is that the place I have to go to is on the opposite side of town from the first place I went. I figured that I would go to the same place. They seem to be two completely different companies. Is that usually what happens when you have to go in for a second time? Should I use the same counter measures I used the first time?(I've read the Sting Technique) Will they most likely not be as nice as they were the first time? Oh, I cleared my throat and coughed a few times during the test, could that have changed things on my poly exam? Thanks.
BUSE1,
I don't know whether it is common for agencies that use contractors to administer polygraph examinations to have re-tests done by a different contractor. The fact that you've been told to report to a different polygrapher does not seem to me to be any cause for alarm.
Regarding the use of countermeasures, I highly recommend that in addition to Doug Williams' "How to Sting the Polygraph," you also download and read Chapters 3, 4, and 5 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. (http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml) (It's free.) We discuss several countermeasures not mentioned in Doug Williams' manual which you may wish to consider (if you do decide to employ countermeasures). I also think we do a better job of explaining how to recognize "control" questions (which is key to the successful employment of countermeasures).
Regarding whether your polygrapher will be as pleasant as the first time, again, it's impossible to say. Be prepared.
When you cleared your throat and coughed during your first polygraph interrogation, you may have created physiological responses that in the polygraph trade are referred to as "artifacts." My understanding is that when artifacts such as might be caused by coughing or other movement occur, it is common for the polygrapher not to score the question on which the artifact occured. Instead, the polygrapher will ask an irrelevant question (to serve as a buffer), and then re-ask the question on which the artifact occured. Under these circumstances, the artifact(s) would not affect the scoring of the polygraph chart.
BUSE1,
You should heed Goerge's advice. Read "The Lie Behind The Lie Detector". You will gain a considerable amount of useful knowledge to what a polygrapher does and how to "counter" certain tactics they employ.
In my opinion, you will probably have a different examiner, What this examiner will focus on is anybody's guess. If you have to fill out the forms again, just do it. Being on top of the game is the key to success. One question I want to ask is are you required to sign a "release of liability" that frees the "examiner" from any retribution?
The bottom line is being prepared and having insight. Read the material on this site, it's free and will only cost you a few dollars if you want to have it bound. By using Mr. Williams material and this sites material, you increase your chances of passing.
Good Luck
Fred F. :D
Fred, I did sign a release of liability. And their not just using a different polygrapher, their using a different agency. They must be using alot of the tax payers money for this bull.Its funny that I acually have to worry about some stupid machine which holds the fate of my career. I feel that I'm worrying like if I did something or like if I'm hiding something when in reality I haven't done anything wrong. Its ridiculous! I know that I will make a great police officer and will serve my community right. By the way, I've tried to download the book and all I get is exel with a bunch of codes. Tell me what I'm doing wrong. Thanks.
Didn't log was me. ;)
To view and print The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free. You'll find a link to Adobe's download site at the bottom of the AntiPolygraph.org publications page (http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml).
When I took the polygraph I was told I passed, but then it got kicked back by the person who does quality control. Polygrapher told me that my charts were "no comment" or something along those lines, but that I had to re-take it. Second time he said again that I passed. And I am now awating for the results. Any of you been in the same situation and what was the outcome?
:-X
FRED:"One question I want to ask is are you required to sign a "release of liability" that frees the "examiner" from any retribution?"
During my last polygraph test in which I passed, when presented with the "release of liability" I jokingly asked, "do I have to sign this" the examiner said no, but whispered "you and I both know what the police department will do if you don't so......". He was probably right. I know some say to refuse to sign this but I can see the examiner failing you anyhow or the Police Department not hiring you do to lack of cooperation problems/inability to follow orders. My advice (and my advice only) is to just play the game, but better than they do!
Nate,
You are absolutely correct!
The point I am making is that the "release of liability", in my opinion, gives the polygrapher "carte blanche" to do whatever their hearts desire because you have no way of directly seeking retribution against them.
Theoretically, if the polygrapher finds soemthing in your jacket that he deems to be"unsuitable", he has "failed" you before you ever get strapped in. This might be far-fetched but you never know.
The whole idea of this "professional" making you sign a paper that basically gives someone that unconditional freedom makes me wonder.
Fred F. ;)
Has anyone had to re-take their polygraph and at the same time have their background investigation going?
I dont want to give too much info, but this gentlemen that I met today made a phone call and found out for me what the problem with my poly was. His buddy told him that it was inconclusive. Thats probably why they're sending me to another agency. Is that a good thing and will I most likely have to retake the whole thing again? ???
It's good for you that the outcome of your first polygraph interrogation was "inconclusive" and not "deception indicated." You can expect to have a pre-test interview in your re-test. I have no way of knowing whether you will have to fill out a lengthy pre-test questionnaire a second time. You may well have to, but this should be the least of your concerns at this point.
Buse1
I certainly hope you have studied "The Lie Behind The Lie Detector" before you go to agency #2.
Being knowledgable and informed are key to passing your "exam".
Wheather or not you choose to employ countermeasures is up to you. Nate passed because the "examiner" wasn't able to employ any "extraction tactics" because Nate let him know that he was informed.
Be on top, knowledge is power.
Good Luck
Fred F. ;)
Well, I just took my second poly today and I PASSED! Thank God. I'm finally back on the track towards my goal. I barely used counter-measures. I used the anal puck once or twice and it worked like a charm. ;D
Quote from: Fred F. on May 16, 2001, 10:24 PM
The point I am making is that the "release of liability", in my opinion, gives the polygrapher "carte blanche" to do whatever their hearts desire because you have no way of directly seeking retribution against them.
Fred, in my experience having dealt with "release of liability" forms over the years, the things are not worth the paper they are written on. Polygraph examiners (maybe a few exceptions) are required to be bonded as part of their licensing procedure. The bond is for protection stemming from a lawsuit brought against the examiner, etc., the way I understand it. The release merely is another part of the mind game to convince the examinee that they must "submit" and regardless of the outcome can do nothing about it. America doesn't work that way... at least not all of it... yet. Polygraph needs to be in the museum, not in the tax funded police agencies.