NCJ Number
76074
Journal
Journal of Applied Psychology Volume: 64 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1979) Pages: 323-330
Date Published
1979
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of increased motivation on the detection of concealed cards using the psychological stress evaluator (PSE) and the galvanic skin response (GSR).
Abstract
A group of subjects composed of 16 male and 16 female college students tried to have their card detected; an equal group tried to avoid detection. Two trained evaluators analyzed the PSE and GSR responses. Interrater agreement in PSE analysis averaged 65 percent. There was significantly greater detection of cards of subjects trying to avoid detection (26 percent), but hit rates did not significantly exceed chance levels in either group. Interrater agreement in GSR analysis averaged 76 percent. Hit rates in GSR analysis were higher for subjects trying to be detected, and in both groups evaluators' hit rates significantly exceeded chance expectancy. Offering rewards did not improve the detectability of these subjects; the results of this analysis were not significantly different from those found in an experiment where subjects were not rewarded. The results of PSE analysis did not suggest that detection of information improves when subject motivation is increased. Subjects' attempts to 'beat the test' appeared to account for differential detection between the two groups. Tabular data, six reference notes, and eleven references are included. (Author abstract modified).