Control Questions - Help!

[truthseeker]

When a polygrapher ask's a control question, such as, Have you ever cheated in school?   Have you ever broke the law?  Have you ever stolen anything?

Everyone can answer yes to these questions, but is he expecting you to answer no?

I am somewhat confused as how to answer these questions.

[beech trees]

When a polygrapher ask's a control question, such as, Have you ever cheated in school?   Have you ever broke the law?  Have you ever stolen anything?

Everyone can answer yes to these questions, but is he expecting you to answer no?

I am somewhat confused as how to answer these questions.

Yes, a polygrapher expects you to lie to those questions, or at least be uneasy as to the ambiguity of the question and your subsequent, black-or-white, yes or no response. There may be some back and forth dialogue between you two as you attempt (as any honest person who is trying to understand what is happening to them would do) narrow down the definition. The question would then be posed something like, "Other than what we have discussed, have you ever....?" or "Other than minor office supplies, have you ever stolen...?" etc.

Dave

[treetop]

Are these control questions on a pre employment poly for a LE agency?

Did you in any way deliberately falsify any information on your employment application or background questionnaire?

Have you in any way attempted to defeat this polygraph?

[George W. Maschke]

Are these control questions on a pre employment poly for a LE agency?

Did you in any way deliberately falsify any information on your employment application or background questionnaire?

Have you in any way attempted to defeat this polygraph?

No. These are relevant questions.

[n0mad]

so, as you're narrowing down on a contol question, you keep using the CM's until you move on to the next question so they get a response the whole time or do you say "yes I've stolen" using cm's, but stop when asked "besides the one time..."?

[George W. Maschke]

lawdog,

From your question, it appears to me that you are confused about polygraph procedure. You'll find it explained at length in Chapter 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. Countermeasures are explained in Chapter 4.

[n0mad]

Yes, I could see why you'd think that. I re-read that myself and had a hard time!