Is this a control question?

[cooper]

 Is this a Control ?
When the Polygrapher asks the applicant if there is anything important he or she has withheld, either on the application or otherwise.  

[George W. Maschke]

In the FBI's pre-employment polygraph "test," this is a relevant (not a "control") question. Presumably, such would likely be the case with regard to other federal agencies as well.

You'll find some discussion of the relevant questions used by the FBI here:

https://antipolygraph.org/forum/index.php?topic=421.msg1958#msg1958

[cooper]

 Thank you for the quick response, I encountered this type of question with a P.D. polygraph.  

[The_Beaver]

   I'm running over my recent polygraph test in my mind for a position with the local Sheriff's Office.  Would the following two questions be considered "relevant" or "control"?

Q - Have you minimized any of your answers on your application for the purpose of gaining employment?

Q - Do you plan to lie to me today?

Finally - In the event I failed the poly, (as I've not been informed), and I am permitted to re-test, is it likely I would be asked the same questions?

[George W. Maschke]

Beaver,

The first question was likely a relevant one in the context of a pre-employment polygraph interrogation. The second question is very commonly used as a "sacrifice relevant" question (see Ch. 3 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector).

Although I have no way of knowing what questions you might be asked in any "re-test," it seems likely that either the same questions (perhaps rephrased) would be asked again, or, alternatively, a new question series focusing on any relevant question(s) to which you reacted in the first series might be asked.

[The_Beaver]

George,  

Thank you for your reply to my inquiry as to whether the following are control or relevant questions....

Q - Have you minimized any of your answers on your application for the purpose of gaining employment?

Q - Do you plan to lie to me today?

You indicated that the above read like a relevant and sacrifice relevant questions.  I am attempting to zero in on the control questions used during my test.  The only other questions, I can remember, that could be control questions are, "Have you ever done anything for which you could get in trouble?" (This seems like a clear control question.) And, "Have you ever done anything immoral?"  Keeping in mind that this is for a law enforcement position the morality question seemed relevant but...?   Other than the sample questions listed, in The Lie Behind the Lie Detector, can you, or anyone else reading this post, think of any favorite law enforcement pre-employment polygraph control questions?  

Thanks for your input!
The Beav

[George W. Maschke]

Beav,

The only other questions, I can remember, that could be control questions are, "Have you ever done anything for which you could get in trouble?" (This seems like a clear control question.) And, "Have you ever done anything immoral?"  Keeping in mind that this is for a law enforcement position the morality question seemed relevant but...?

Both clearly seem to be probable-lie "control" questions.

[L72cueak]

Another good example of the problems faced by people trying to engage in countermeasures - inability to recognize the "control" questions...  

[George W. Maschke]

Another good example of the problems faced by people trying to engage in countermeasures - inability to recognize the "control" questions...  

Identifying "control" questions is arguably the most difficult aspect of employing countermeasures. Nonetheless, it is not particularly difficult.