I had a polygraph yesterday for the DOJ it went from 10:am until 3:00pm when the examiner stopped me and told be I had problems on two questions, "Was I evolved in espionage or terrorism" (no) and "Did I omit anything on my application"no) both honest answers. The examiner said I was exactly in the middle of lying and telling the truth. He stated I showed no emotion and wanted to know if I had anything to tell him to which I replied no because I was being truthful. He even showed me with his calipers that I was exactly in the middle on the graph. He then said he could go no further and that he was done and I would never see him again and if the agency wanted to retest me it was up to them...my test was over leaving me speechless.
I asked him if it didn't show I was lying then what was wrong and his reply was he wanted to see the graph in the truth area.
I still do not know what to think.
It sounds like an inconclusive result. Although not acknowledged by most polygraphers, it is my belief that an inconclusive can be detrimental to a candidate much the same as a deception indicated result. Your likely, only, recourse is to request a re-test. Granting of such a test will be at the discretion of the agency to which you have applied.
Proves the polygrapher couldn't tell the difference between truth and lie at least according to the charts produced by his voodoo machine.
Good luck.
Mr. Hall is very correct in the assertion that the inconclusive will be interpreted as you failing the test.
Your best bet is to ask for a retest and hope that this time (depending of course on the mood of the polygrapher and wheter or not he believes you) you will pass.
Then again the polygrapher may have been fishing for an admission to something.
the crack polygraph staff at the DOJ unearths another hidden terrorist. Please turn in your AK-47 and bomb belt and proceed to the nearest FBI field office.
I took a retest last week and it seemed to have gone ok. It was only an hour I was still inconclusive on the "did you ommit anything from you aplication" but the examiner didnt seem to worry about it because I passed the drug, serious crime, and terrorism questions.