NCJ Number
81015
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1981) Pages: 63-76
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study was designed to compare two types of stimulation tests in the polygraph technique, identified as the standard card test (SCT) procedure (in which the subject is unaware of the fact that the examiner knows the identity of the chosen card prior to the administration of the test) and the known card test (KCT) procedure (in which the subject reveals the chosen card to the examiner prior to the administration of the test.)
Abstract
The study assessed the responsiveness of each subject to their chosen card under both conditions. The study also evaluated whether or not subjects attempted to distort their responses to the chosen card under one test more than the other. Finally, the study concerned itself with whether or not examiner accuracy, in evaluating truth, deception or indefinite decisions on the issue questions, was affected by the stimulation test. The results indicated no significant difference in the responsiveness of subjects to their chosen card between the two techniques. The study indicated that deceptive subjects attempted to distort the known card test to a more significant degree than deceptive subjects who were administered a standard card test. There was no significant difference between the two test conditions for truthful subjects distorting their responses to their chosen card. Finally, while overall examiner accuracy decreased in evaluating issue tests given after both stimulation tests, there was no significant difference between the two techniques in either the accuracy of the decisions or the rate of inconclusive decisions. (Author abstract)