FACTORS THEORETICALLY AFFECTING THE INCIDENCE OF DECEPTIVE RESPONSES DURING PREEMPLOYMENT SCREENING PROCEDURES

• NCJ Number: 146327
• Journal: Polygraph Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 229-244
• Author(s): H W Timm; W K Hughes
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 16 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: This article is based on a paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Midwestern Criminal Justice Association, Chicago, October 1988.

Annotation

The effect that perceived likelihood of detection of falsehood has on responses during preemployment screening is examined.

Abstract

Thirty-nine criminal justice students (34 male, 5 female) at a large midwestern university completed the written Inwald Personality Inventory (IPI) and took a polygraph test in a manner as if applying for a job. Each subject's results on the two instruments were not connected until all testing was done. The polygraph test elicited more derogatory admissions than did the IPI. For example, on a question of past cocaine use, while the IPI elicited eight or nine admissions (one was questionable), the polygraph test elicited 11. On a question of having sold drugs, the respective instruments elicited five and nine admissions. Apparently, the subjects had greater respect for the polygraph than for the IPI; they found it easier to lie when not having to verbalize it directly to a person, and when not having to worry about giving nonverbal cues. 6 tables and 19 references