I was asked these questions...help please

[joeschmoe]

i was asked these questions on my poly this month ( which i was told i failed) and i have a question about some of them and theyre type - mainly which are the control questions? these are only 7 of the 10 asked, as i remember the others i will post them as well. If you could please point out the type of each queston i would appreciate it - these are not in order i was asked -

1.are we currently in the state of xxxx?
2.are you completely trustworthy?
3.are you the type of person that would betray your family?
4.are you withholding any information about your involvement with illegal drugs?
5.have you ever cheated in school?
6.are you intentionally lying or withholding any information about your application?
7.are you going to lie to me?

any help would be appreciated

[George W. Maschke]

1. Irrelevant
2. Control
3. Control
4. Relevant
5. Control
6. Relevant
7. Sacrifice Relevant

[joeschmoe]

Im not sure if I undrstand why #3 is control - why would most peple lie about that one? also why would #7 be sacrifice rel and not just relevant?

[George W. Maschke]

I don't think #3 is a particular good control question (to the extent that there is such a thing -- none of this has any scientific basis to begin with). However, it is very clearly a control question.

A sacrfice relevant question is one that isn't scored. It's often the first relevant question in a polygraph question series. It's expected that it might cause a reaction just because it's the first relevant question. Typically, the sacrifice relevant question is about the subject's intent to answer all questions truthfully. Another reason for not scoring this question is that it's secretly expected that the subject's answers to the control questions won't be completely truthful.

[joeschmoe]

so to employ countermeasures during question #3 would be advisable? it just seems kinda wierd cause i know i would never intentionally betray my family..thank you for the advise..I have to retake the exact same test in a few weeks -also they had the butt monitoring pad on the chair so ill have to use another way of cm.

[George W. Maschke]

Yes, it's important that you react more strongly to question #3 than to the adjacent relevant question(s).

[joeschmoe]

remembered this on:

Have you ever lied to make yourself look better?

i started off by telling the polygrapher yes, she asked me what i meant? I said i have lied to my parents growing up to make my self look better...she said no nothing like that, i mean professionally?

what tyoe of question is this and soes her explaination of the question change the type?

[George W. Maschke]

Have you ever lied to make yourself look better?

That was a control question, and remained so even after your polygrapher moved to exclude your admission from its scope.