indication you might have failed

[guest]

Based on my experience and others from the board, its seems that if the polygrapher starts to question you about anything after the test is over you are screwed. Is there anyone that has taken the polygraph, been questioned and passed? Once they tell you, it seems there is a reaction to a question i think you are screwed, what does the board think?

[Skeptic]

Based on my experience and others from the board, its seems that if the polygrapher starts to question you about anything after the test is over you are screwed. Is there anyone that has taken the polygraph, been questioned and passed? Once they tell you, it seems there is a reaction to a question i think you are screwed, what does the board think?

I believe it depends upon the agency or department.  Some (such as NSA) seem to use the polygraph mainly as a context to do a high-pressure interrogation to elicit confessions.

My own experience seems to hold this up -- I went through three polygraphs, was interrogated thanks to "reactions" on questions for all three, and was still in the running a month and a half later (I understand 2-3 weeks is typical for getting a "DQ" letter if you fail the background check/polygraph with the NSA).  The fact that NSA uses R/I testing would seem to back up the idea that they're not really interested in "truth" or "false" results -- R/I generates tremendous numbers of false positives.  It's the method I'd use if I wanted an excuse to interrogate.

Skeptic

[triple x]

Guest,

A post-test interrogation is definitely a "good sign" that you may have already failed the polygraph exam. Usually, if you are deemed truthful [NDI] there is no post-test interrogation.  



Respectfully,
Triple x