AntiPolygraph.org Message Board

Polygraph and CVSA Forums => Polygraph Procedure => Topic started by: CornHusker1974 on Jun 18, 2007, 01:02 PM

Title: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: CornHusker1974 on Jun 18, 2007, 01:02 PM

Good afternoon all. I am new to the forum , but this site has been a great resource to me in other areas. I have a pre-employment polygraph soon that I am almost certain will be a control question test format. I downloaded the pdf that goes into extensive detail about these, as well as countermeasures but I have a question. It says to employ countermeasures when answering control questions, so they have a stronger reading than relevant questions. But do you employ the same countermeasures when answering the relevant questions? Or should I just answer them normally? If you don't understan what I'm talking about...it comes from pg 145 of the lie behind the lie detector. Please help! This job is very important to me and it has taken a lot of time, money and hard work to get this far...any advise is appreciated.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Jun 18, 2007, 02:01 PM
I'm not sure precisely what at p. 145 led you to believe that perhaps you should also produce reactions to relevant questions, but no, you should not. The key to passing the CQT is to exhibit stronger reactions to the "control"/comparison questions than to the relevant questions. Thus, augmenting reactions to the "control" relevant questions would be counterproductive.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: someoneunimportant on Jun 19, 2007, 05:31 AM
Don't listen to what anyone has to say. just tell the truth. that's all they want. an honest person. is that so hard???
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: dizz on Jun 19, 2007, 09:46 AM
Listen to George, he knows what he's talking about!!
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jun 19, 2007, 11:54 AM
Quote from: someoneunimportant on Jun 19, 2007, 05:31 AMDon't listen to what anyone has to say. just tell the truth. that's all they want. an honest person. is that so hard???

Hmm. Cute and a putz.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: decisions on Jun 20, 2007, 03:13 PM
Yes tell the truth I agree. But let's hope the polygrapher tell's the true.  we need polygraphs to screen out the bad but you need to be very honest and just relax. It is true what is so hard about the truth everyone makes mistake in life just be honest no matter what we are not perfect
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jun 21, 2007, 10:41 AM
Quote from: decisions on Jun 20, 2007, 03:13 PMYes tell the truth I agree. But let's hope the polygrapher tell's the true.  we need polygraphs to screen out the bad but you need to be very honest and just relax. It is true what is so hard about the truth everyone makes mistake in life just be honest no matter what we are not perfect


Hmmm. The Cute Putz has a twin.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: Lethe on Jun 24, 2007, 06:38 PM
Why do you need to take a polygraph exam to become a firefighter anyway?  Sure, look at the person's references and do a basic background check.  But if that comes up clean, why spend all that money on polygraphing applicants?  Are there that many qualified people willing to put their health and lives on the line that we can afford to winnow them down like this?

Does anyone have an answer for this?  That is, an answer besides "the polygraph lobby thought it'd be a good idea since it's more money for them"?
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jul 03, 2007, 12:10 PM
Quote from: Lethe on Jun 24, 2007, 06:38 PMWhy do you need to take a polygraph exam to become a firefighter anyway?"

Good Question. I guess some of the RQ's to use would include:
"Have you ever stolen a fire truck?"
"Do you know how to hotwire a REO Speedwagon?"
"Does your brother own a REO Speedwagon?"
"Have you ever smoked weed through 100 yards of fire hose?"
"Does your brother own a very long canvass garden hose?"
"If you were dousing a marijuana fire, would you inhale?"

The obsession with p/g pre-employment examinations is as absurd
as the people who advocate its continued use.

Used in that arena, between the years of 1994 - 2000, I found that
55% of pre-employment subjects failed - according to their charts;
but passed according to actual and detailed background checks.
So, despite the p/g result, approx 90% of the 55% 'failures' were
passed for honesty and background screening.

If there is only ONE area where polygraph should be banned, it is
in the arena of pre-employment screening.



Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: Lethe on Jul 09, 2007, 02:35 AM
Quote from: 1904 on Jul 03, 2007, 12:10 PM
Used in that arena, between the years of 1994 - 2000, I found that
55% of pre-employment subjects failed - according to their charts;
but passed according to actual and detailed background checks.
So, despite the p/g result, approx 90% of the 55% 'failures' were
passed for honesty and background screening.

1904, where are you getting that information?  Can you cite your source(s) for us?

I concur that the first place the polygraph should be banned is in employment screening.  Somehow it's not good enough for the private sector but it's good enough for government work.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jul 09, 2007, 08:59 AM
Quote from: Lethe on Jul 09, 2007, 02:35 AM
Quote from: 1904 on Jul 03, 2007, 12:10 PM
Used in that arena, between the years of 1994 - 2000, I found that
55% of pre-employment subjects failed - according to their charts;
but passed according to actual and detailed background checks.
So, despite the p/g result, approx 90% of the 55% 'failures' were
passed for honesty and background screening.

1904, where are you getting that information?  Can you cite your source(s) for us?

From work undertaken by my firm. In that period we processed some 1400 candidates.
The process involved p/g, personal interview, pen/paper tests, personal background check,
employment history check, crim records check, civil debt bureau check, IRS check.

Happy ? :-*




Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: PussyLiquor on Jul 11, 2007, 02:55 PM
can a test have control, relevent, and irrelevent all in one???   also, what type of question is "have you ever lied to get out of touble"
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Jul 11, 2007, 02:59 PM
Quote from: PussyLiquor on Jul 11, 2007, 02:55 PMcan a test have control, relevent, and irrelevent all in one???

Yes, and it's standard procedure in the "Control Question Test" (CQT), the most commonly employed polygraph technique.

Quotealso, what type of question is "have you ever lied to get out of touble"

Probable-lie "control" question.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jul 12, 2007, 04:05 AM
Quote from: PussyLiquor on Jul 11, 2007, 02:55 PMcan a test have control, relevent, and irrelevent all in one???   also, what type of question is "have you ever lied to get out of touble"

Good Day PL,

A decent question today !!
Sounds like you're out of your chemical haze.
How was the trip to planet Roche then ?
;)
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: PussyLiquor on Jul 12, 2007, 08:57 PM
the alien people were very welcoming...

so then what are questions such as is the room blue... and are examinees always supposed to lie to these???
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Jul 13, 2007, 12:53 AM
Quote from: PussyLiquor on Jul 12, 2007, 08:57 PMso then what are questions such as is the room blue... and are examinees always supposed to lie to these???
That's an example of an irrelevant question, and a truthful answer is expected. See Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector (https://antipolygraph.org/lie-behind-the-lie-detector.pdf) for a detailed explanation of polygraph procedure.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: 1904 on Jul 13, 2007, 06:10 AM
Quote from: PussyLiquor on Jul 12, 2007, 08:57 PMthe alien people were very welcoming...

so then what are questions such as is the room blue... and are examinees always supposed to lie to these???

"Is the room blue?" - Is an Irrelevant Question (IQ) aka a 'Known Truth'
question. IE - you are obviously sitting in the room, so you know whether its
blue or whatever colour. Your answer to that Q will be a known truth to both
you and the examiner.

However, it sounds more like a VSA IQ than a P/G IQ.
VSA IQ's and CQ's (as practised by VSA only examiners)
are generally bordering on the ridiculous.

Lastly, I think you are simply having a bit of fun here.
Methinks you are an examiner.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: PussyLiquor on Jul 16, 2007, 12:08 AM
No no guys... I am no examiner... I am trying to learn as much about the poly as possible because after reading georges story and many others I decided to support the movement toward the obliteration of these terrible devices!!!!

All three polys I have taken... 2 serious... once practice with no consequences I have beat... but only barely. I want to learn more. I could swear that on my first (administered by a state LE agency for a sworn position) I heard him tell me to lie to the color in the room to see how my lies look on paper.... you guys are telling me the opposite... please explain
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: Administrator on Jul 16, 2007, 12:04 PM
Off topic replies have been moved to This Thread (https://antipolygraph.org/cgi-bin/forums/YaBB.pl?num=1184601869)
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: jkf1007 on Mar 12, 2009, 02:25 PM
took a polygraph for an opening with a local fire department.  the results showed a deception which was not true!  this info was included in the Civil Service Commission's meeting minutes which were posted on-line.  are they allowed to do this?
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Mar 12, 2009, 02:36 PM
Quote from: jkf1007 on Mar 12, 2009, 02:25 PMtook a polygraph for an opening with a local fire department.  the results showed a deception which was not true!  this info was included in the Civil Service Commission's meeting minutes which were posted on-line.  are they allowed to do this?

How did this come about? Did you have an appeal hearing before the commission?
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: jkf1007 on Mar 12, 2009, 02:39 PM
Poly was part of the pre-employment testing.  the minutes listed applicants that were to be removed from the eligible list due to "deception on the polygraph."  minutes were posted on-line
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Mar 12, 2009, 02:48 PM
jkf1007,

It seems highly inappropriate to me for a civil service commission to publicly brand job applicants as liars in this manner. (Whether it's legal is another question, the answer to which I do not know.) Of course, it's inappropriate to begin with that applicants for any job should be required to "pass" such a thoroughly discredited and invalid "test" as the polygraph to begin with. This is an issue that you might want to take up with your city representatives and the local news desks of newspapers, radio, and television stations in your city.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: nopolycop on Mar 13, 2009, 10:23 AM
Quote from: jkf1007 on Mar 12, 2009, 02:25 PMtook a polygraph for an opening with a local fire department.  the results showed a deception which was not true!  this info was included in the Civil Service Commission's meeting minutes which were posted on-line.  are they allowed to do this?

I thought the poly was allowed for only law enforcement and national security purposes, not firefighters.
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: George W. Maschke on Mar 13, 2009, 11:08 AM
Quote from: nopoly4me on Mar 13, 2009, 10:23 AMI thought the poly was allowed for only law enforcement and national security purposes, not firefighters.

The federal Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 incudes a blanket exemption for federal, state, and local governments. So any state, county, or municipal agency can require polygraph screening of any and all employees, unless otherwise restricted by law (for example, under Minnesota law, state and local agencies are prohibited from polygraph screening of applicants and employees).
Title: Re: Firefighter Pre-Employment Poly Soon:CQT
Post by: G Scalabr on Mar 13, 2009, 05:29 PM
Quote from: George_Maschke on Mar 13, 2009, 11:08 AM
The federal Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 incudes a blanket exemption for federal, state, and local governments. So any state, county, or municipal agency can require polygraph screening of any and all employees, unless otherwise restricted by law (for example, under Minnesota law, state and local agencies are prohibited from polygraph screening of applicants and employees).

George is correct as usual. Any government employee or applicant for such a positions can be polygraphed legally.

This means that barring a local union contract with a stipulation prohibiting the practice of polygraphy, even the public works guys who fix holes in the street and plumb leaky faucets can be put "on the box" for any reason at the whim of management.