Inconclusive Results

[kittyroars]

My question are, what exactly is an inconclusive result, and can it be used against you in court?  Also, I am doing my thesis on "Employees Privacy Rights in the Workplace", and would like your input on that as well.  Thanks
Kitty

[George W. Maschke]

My question are, what exactly is an inconclusive result, and can it be used against you in court?  Also, I am doing my thesis on "Employees Privacy Rights in the Workplace", and would like your input on that as well.  Thanks
Kitty

In CQT polygraphy, an inconclusive result means that the examinee's physiological responses to relevant and "control" questions are about equal. Polygraph results are generally not admissible as evidence of guilt in criminal cases, however there are exceptions. In some states, polygraph results may be admissible if both parties stipulate to it, and in some instances, judges have relied on polygraph chart readings in reaching decisions on sentencing.

The key federal law governing the use of lie detectors in the workplace is the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (which has created a double standard by excluding federal, state, and local governments from its scope):

http://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/polygraph/eppa.html

You might also find the American Polygraph Association's "Quick Guide to the Law" helpful for your research:

http://www.polygraph.org/intro.htm

[kittyroars]

So, inconclusive means that the examiner was unable to tell if the person was truthful or lying because the results are equal?  
I took a test a long time ago, and was never given the report, but was told the test was inconclusive.  I know I was telling the truth, but I was up all night long (working) and sat in the State Police Office building for six hours being tested.  I was very tired to say the least.  The examiner asked me questions, and left several minutes in between the next question, So, I began to fall asleep.  I startled when he asked the next question.  Could that be why it was inconclusive?  
Thanks for the information you provided for my thesis.

In CQT polygraphy, an inconclusive result means that the examinee's physiological responses to relevant and "control" questions are about equal. Polygraph results are generally not admissible as evidence of guilt in criminal cases, however there are exceptions. In some states, polygraph results may be admissible if both parties stipulate to it, and in some instances, judges have relied on polygraph chart readings in reaching decisions on sentencing.

The key federal law governing the use of lie detectors in the workplace is the Employee Polygraph Protection Act (which has created a double standard by excluding federal, state, and local governments from its scope):

http://www.fas.org/sgp/othergov/polygraph/eppa.html

You might also find the American Polygraph Association's "Quick Guide to the Law" helpful for your research:

http://www.polygraph.org/intro.htm

[George W. Maschke]

Although there is little point in speculating why an invalid test produced any particular result, it seems unlikely that your dozing off when the polygrapher left the room would have directly caused such an outcome.

[Bill Crider]

So, inconclusive means that the examiner was unable to tell if the person was truthful or lying because the results are equal?  

The examiner can't tell if you are truthful or lying no matter what the charts say. But, the examiner assumes you are lying of the responses to "relevant" questions are higher than "control" and vise versa. If yours are roughly equal, or inconsistent across sets of questions, he can't make any assumptions.

[LieBabyCryBaby]

George is right about the dozing off, Kitty. It probably didn't cause your test to come up inconclusive if you just dozed off that one time. If you dozed off throughout the exam and the examiner didn't see the obvious evidence on the polygraph, the examiner had to be sleeping too. Now, if there were other things going on in that room that you aren't telling us, it's between two consenting adults when they decide to sleep together.