PHASES INVOLVED IN THE CONDUCT OF POLYGRAPH TEST

 Initial Interview
 Pre-test Interview
 Actual Test
 Post Test Interview
 
Initial Interview
how it is conducted?

 This is usually conducted by the investigator handling the case or a polygraph

examiner who was given brief but significant details of the case & it is designed to
obtain pertinent information necessary for the conduct of the test.

 Test questions are prepared by the polygraph examiner based from the
facts and information. 
 The investigator on case should brief the examiner of the facts pertaining to:
 
o 1. Background information specifically previous police records and verified
facts which the subject denies;
o 2. Exact amount of money or specific articles stolen;
o 3. Exact type, make of firearm, weapon or tool used in the   commission of
the crime;
o 4. Exact place, date & time when the crime occurred;
 5. Un-usual aspects of the offense or any odd, strange or obscene acts
committed at the crime scene;

 6. Known facts pertaining to the suspects actions and 

   movements immediately preceding or after the incident;

 7. Facts indicating a connection between victims, suspects  and witnesses;

 8. Unpublicized facts of the offense known only by the 

     victim, the offender and the investigator;

 9. Results of the laboratory tests conducted like DNA, 

    blood type, firearm identification and the like.
 
 Pre-test Interview 
 This is administered by the polygraph examiner designed to condition or prepare
the subject for the actual polygraph test.
  Its duration usually lasts for 20 to 30 minutes. At this stage, the rights of the
subject are explained, his consent are obtained as well as personal data and the
determination whether  the subject is mentally, physically and psychologically
prepared to undergo the test.
 Prior to the Polygraph examination are taken into account:
 1. The subject must refrain from smoking at least two (2) hours prior to the test;
 2. The patient should avoid taking medication for at least two (2) days prior
to the examination;
 3. The subject should not be hungry;
 4. The subject must refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages for at least
twelve (12) hours prior to the actual test;
 5. The subject should not be suffering from physical or  emotional abuse;
 6. The subject should calm down and relaxed;
 7. If the female subject is pregnant or having menstruation, the test will not be
undertaken;
 8. The subject should not wear tight apparels or clothing as  this may cause
inference in the test results;
 9. The subject should have at least five (5) hours of sleep prior to the
examination.

Before the actual polygraph examination is administered on the subject, the

examiner must undertake the following necessary preparations:

 1. The appraisal of the subject’s constitutional rights;

 2. Obtain the subjects consent to undergo a polygraph examination;
 3. Take notes of the subjects personal data;
 4. Advise subjects’ involvement about the case;
 5. Evaluate subject’s psychological preparedness;
 6. Determine subject’s suitability to undergo the test

Actual Test

 This is the stage wherein the component parts of the polygraph machine are
actually installed on the body of the subject and the questioning process begins.
  The Ideal Examination Room
 1. The room must be spacious for two persons with a polygraph desk, subject’s
chair with arm rest and an examiner’s stool;
 2. The room must be devoid of pictures, paintings, ornaments and other decors;
 3. The room must be well ventilated & lighted;
 4. The room must be private and 90 percent soundproof free from outside noise
& distracting influence;
 5. Installed with a one way mirror and remote sound system or video device and
amplifier for monitoring and recording the test proceedings to authorized
observers;
 6. The polygraph machine should be tested and widely used by most Asian
countries, latest version, well maintained and in a well running condition.
 
Post Test Interview
 A method of interrogation is administered by the examiner to obtain admission or
confession. 
 An interview is conducted when the subject indicates innocent response while
interrogation is undertaken if symptoms of deception are indicated by the results
of the actual polygraph test. 
 The subject, when innocent is cordially released & thanks extended by the
examiner for  his/her consideration & cooperation.
 The interrogatory technique is applied to secure admission or confession using
the ff. procedures:

 1.Inform the subject that he cannot be cleared from his chart;

 2.  Convince the subject that the responses were  result of his emotion & not by 
means of any mechanical manipulations;
 3. Use sympathetic and persuasive attitude as well as perseverance in eliciting 
confession or admission;
 4. Point out recorded reactions with brief explanations of their importance as
objective, tangible & concrete evidence to be used against the subject;
 5.  Listen attentively to any implications; pursue a line of mild interrogation as to
the reasons why the criminal act was committed;
 6.  Rationalize the subject’s act by offering a way to 
     excuse his conduct or minimize the significance  or   
     swing the blame to someone or to some situation.
 7. If confession is coming allow the subject to relate it in 
  his own version;
 8.  Carefully listen to specific details & write it down at 
     first instance;
 9.  Never make any promise as to immunity, reward or leniency;
 10. Inform the investigator on case;
 11. If no confession was given, cordially release the subject;
 
POLYGRAPH TECHNIQUES AND TEST QUESTIONS

Nature of Test Questions

Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 

Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 
Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 
Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 

Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 
Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the
whole test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 
Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the whole
test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends
on the subject’s understanding of the language used. 
Formulating the questions to be used in the polygraph test is a critical part of the whole
test procedure. Let us bear in mind that all questions must be framed in words or
terminology that are most familiar to the subject. Hence, medium of the test depends on
the subject’s understanding of the language used.
 General Rules on Question Formulation

 Questions must be simple and direct.

 Not involve legal terminology like murder, rape, etc. 
 Be answerable by YES or NO.
 Be clear and phrased in a language the subject can easily understand.
 Never contain an inference that presupposes knowledge on the part of the
subject.
 Must not be in a form of accusation. 
 Refer to one offense only.
 Not contain influence to one’s religion, race or belief. 

Test Question Techniques

 Irrelevant questions are those pertaining to basic data and information

regarding the background of the subject not related to the case but are ask to
establish the normal response of the subject.
 Relevant questions are those queries related to the issue which may be
classified as strong relevant or weak relevant which indicate deception on the part
of the subject.
Relevant Questions

Strong relevant or crucial questions These questions are intended and created to
test for direct participation only and specifically designed to produce an emotional
response in guilty subject.

Secondary or weak relevant questions.

A question concerned secondary elements of the crimes and deal mostly on

guilty knowledge and partial involvement.

Weak Relevant Questions

 Sacrifice Relevant or DYAT questions Do You intend To Answer Truthfully)
are designed to absorb the response generally generated by the introduction of
the first relevant question in the series. Reaction to these questions gives the
examiner a clue as to Subject’s attitude of willingness or voluntariness to submit
to the test. 
 
  Knowledge Questions – This type of question is propounded to the subject to
prove whether he possesses the information leading to the identification of the
offender or the location of the stolen property. 
 Evidence Connecting Questions – this has to do with inviting subject’s
attention on the probability of incriminating proof that would tend to establish his
guilt, by linking him and his predicaments to the fingerprints, footprints, tool
marks, etc. collected at the crime scene. 
 Control questions which refers to queries which may either be relevant or
irrelevant designed to establish & obtain response from an innocent subject. It is
sometimes referred to as a probable lie. It provides a basis for evaluating the
subjects perceptual set.
 
  Knowledge questions which is given for the purpose of determining 
information known to the subject; 

GUILT COMPLEX QUESTIONS -  This refers to the questions which safeguard against
mistaking relevant question response of the guilt complex reactor as deception
responses, and is based on a fictitious crime situation closely parallel and equal in
weight to the actual crime under investigation. 
SYMPTOMATIC QUESTION – Its function is to detect and evaluate the presence of
outside issues which may suppress response to relevant questions. This is often true
that subject fear they might be asked about another cases in which they are involved,
but are not the subject matter under investigation.

“SKY” QUESTION – This SKY questions are three questions group together in order to
detect suspicion, knowledge and  direct participation of the subject:
S – stand for suspect
K – means knowledge
Y – You

HOW TO SEQUENCE TEST QUESTIONS

 Polygraph examination does not only prescribe or limits its application to a
particular type of questions formulated. There are various types of test
construction developed by the foremost scholars and scientists of the polygraph
such that incriminating types of questions must be safeguarded. 
 TEST PROCEDURE AND DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUE
 No test should ever be conducted without a pre-test interview,
during which the subject is conditioned for the test and questions to be asked
have been carefully formulated by the examiner. 
 The pretest interview also involved the casual  asking of a series of
questions which are pre designed to elicit verbal and non-verbal responses that
will give the examiner an indication of the subject’s truthful or deceptive status
without unnecessarily releasing his tension or engaging in any accusatory
interrogation. 
The Pretest Interview and Preparation of  Test Questions
 Greetings must be cordial but reserved. 
 Request the subject to sit down on the chair alongside the instrument.
 Subject is requested to sign a form stating that he is voluntarily agreeing to
submit to the test. 
 The “Miranda Rights” be enumerated and explained to him. 
 General Question Test- answerable by  “Yes” or “No”, questions in which the
subject knows it to be true.
 Peak of Tension Test – refers to the series of questions in which only one has a
bearing on the matter under investigation. This is conducted where there is a
widespread knowledge pertaining to a crime but the intimate details are known
only by the offender. It is answerable by “No” only.
 Silent Answer Test -is a confirmatory test because the subject is afraid of the
unfamiliar and the unknown. It is an examination in which the subject is
instructed by the examiner to avoid audible response to the questions being
asked. 
 Guilt Complex Test – in cases where the subject is overly responsive, this test
is given which consists of a test pertaining to a purely fictitious incident of a
similar nature to the one under query.
 Mixed Question Test- This is consists of an arrangement of first and third test
questions, administered for the purpose of discounting possible factor of
accidental responses and to compare the degree of reaction between control and
relevant questions. The objective of such changes in question choice of words is
to direct the subject’s attention to certain particular items or
ZONE COMPARISON TEST
 ZONE- a twenty to thirty five seconds block of polygraph chart time initiated by a
question having a unique psychological focusing appeal to a predictable group of
examinees. The color coding according to Bacster are the following:

 Green zone- for the Control questions

 Red zone- for the Relevant questions &
 Black zone- for the Symptomatic questions

The Reid and Inbau Techniques. 

The Reid and Inbau Techniques. 

1.  Have you ever been called by the name Gary?

2.  Do you drink water?
3.  Were you in the vicinity of Pedro”s house between 7:00 and 9:00 last night? 
4. Are you sitting down now?
5. Did you steal the watch of Pedro?
6. Before reaching the age of 25, have you ever stolen anything?
7. Do you smoke cigarette?
8. Were the footprints outside the house of Pedro yours?
9. Do you know for sure who stole the watch of Pedro?
10. Have you ever stolen anything from the neighborhood?
11. Have you ever lied answering any of my questions     
      now?
The Reid and Inbau Techniques.

1.  Have you ever been called by the name Gary?

2.  Do you drink water?
1.  Have you ever been called by the name Gary?
2.  Do you drink water?

Backster’s Zone Comparison Test. 

1. (Irrelevant) Have you ever called by the name Gary?
2. (Sacrifice Relevant) Regarding the stolen watch, do you intent to answer truthfully
each questions about that?
3. (Symptomatic) Are you completely convinced that I will not ask any question on this
test that has not been reviewed?
4. (Control) Can you remember stealing anything before you were 25 years old?
5. (Strong relevant) Did you steal Pedro’s watch?
6. (Control) Other that what you told me, did you steal any other things from the
neighborhood?
7. (Strong Relevant) Did you steal Pedro’s watch from his house?
8. (Symptomatic) Is there something else you are afraid I will asked you, though I told
you I would not?
9. (Guilt Complex) Did you steal that gold coin collection?
10. (Weak Relevant) Do you know where the missing watch of Pedro now?
11. (S) Do you suspect anyone in particular of stealing the Pedro’s watch?
12. (K) Do you know for sure who stole Perdo’s watch?
13. (Y) Did you steal Pedro’s watch. 
 
CHART MARKING AND INTERPRETATION

The Descriptive Types of Breathing

CHART MARKING AND INTERPRETATION

The Descriptive Types of Breathing

 Normal
 Rapid
 Slow
 Shallow
 Deep
 Serrated inhalation or exhalation or both
 Deviations caused by coughing or mechanics of answering

POLYGRAPH TRACINGS

 PNEUMOGRAPH TRACINGS INDICATIVE OF DECEPTION

 Change in amplitude or volume; 
 Change in rhythm or regularity; Ex. Shallow
 Change in the inhalation and/or exhalation ratio;
 Change of baseline;
 Loss of baseline;
 Hyperventilation; (deep breathing)
 Suppression;
 Respiratory block.

 GALVANOGRAPH TRACINGS INDICATIVE OF DECEPTION

 The galvanograph tracing is located at the center portion of the chart when
properly balanced takes the form of a slightly wavering line across the middle portion
of the chart with a minor response to spoken stimuli. The ff are the tracings:
 a) Vertical rise at point of deception;
 b) Double saddle response;
 c) Plunging galvo tracing;
 d) Long degree and/or duration of response following point of deception.

 CARDIOSPHYGMOGRAPH TRACINGS INDICATIVE OF DECEPTION

 The tracing is usually found at the bottom of the chart & it records the activity of
the heart which is made up of three physiological phenomena: a systolic rate; a
diastolic stroke & a diacrotic notch. The normal pulse rate of an average individual
is  69 to 73 beats per minute. The tracings are the following:
 Increase or decrease in amplitude;
 Increase or decrease in pulse rate;
  Increase or decrease in blood pressure;
  Change in the position or disappearance of diacrotic notch;
  Extra systoles –which is the premature contraction of an auricle or ventricle 
while the fundamental rhythm of the heart is maintained.

EFFORTS TO BEAT THE TEST 

(COUNTERMEASURES)

Countermeasures are deliberate attempts by a subject to change or disguise his

physiological responses or to deceive the examiner. These techniques are well known
to the examiners, and most can easily be detected. Countermeasures fall into the
following categories:
INGESTION. Eating, inhaling or drinking something to alter bodily responses. 

INJECTION. Introducing drugs or medication into the blood to alter bodily responses. 

EXERTION. Attempting to alter bodily responses by exercise or fatigue. 

PAIN. Attempting to alter bodily responses by self-inflicted pain. 

MENTAL TECHNIQUES.  Forced concentration, fantasy, yoga, hypnosis, meditation,
rationalization or similar methods to alter the mental responses to questions that cause
the physical responses measured in the examination. 
PHYSICAL TECHNIQUE. Tension or relaxation of certain muscle during the
examination in an attempt to alter or disguise involuntary bodily responses to
questions. 
When countermeasures are encountered, it is clear evidence of an intent to deceive.
Even when  countermeasures are not detected, the structuring of the examination and
the means used to evaluate responses make it all impossible for a subject to
successfully deceive the examiner. 

INVESTIGATOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES 
Better results may be obtained when the investigator has an
understanding of the polygraph instrument, polygraph examination techniques, and the
limitations involved. Maximum effectiveness depends in large measure on how the
subject is handled by investigators prior to the examination, and by carefully informing
the examiner of all the case facts, the subject’s prior criminal history, and all statements
(written or verbal) already obtained from  the subject or from  the investigation. 

The subject should have his background, alibi, etc., checked before he is brought to the
examiner, as this will aid the examiner in preparing the various test questions. All facts
should be ascertained prior to the examination so the examiner can evaluate them and
from valid questions. Regardless of how minute the information may seem it may be
extremely important to the examiner. 
It is vital the investigator neither downplay the possible admissibility of polygraph
examination evidence, nor create unnecessary anxiety on the part of the subject by
attempting to explain the nature of the instrument and testing process. Simply inform the
subject the examiner will explain all the procedures. 

The primary purpose of the polygraph examination is to determine if a subject is

being truthful. Investigators can facilitate the effectiveness of the test by the following
certain standard procedures. If truthfulness can be determined, the investigator can
proceed accordingly. Admission or confessions obtained during or as a result of,
polygraph examination obviously aid the investigator. 

The examination is a supplement to investigation, not a substitute for investigation. 

1. Have you ever been called by the name

Gary?
2.  Do you drink water?
3.  Were you in the vicinity of Pedro”s house
between 7:00 and 9:00 last night? 
4. Are you sitting down now?
5. Did you steal the watch of Pedro?
6. Before reaching the age of 25, have you ever
stolen anything?
7. Do you smoke cigarette?
8. Were the footprints outside the house of
Pedro yours?
9. Do you know for sure who stole the watch of
Pedro?
10. Have you ever stolen anything from the
neighborhood?
11. Have you ever lied answering any of my
questions     
      now?
The Reid and Inbau Techniques. 
1.  Have you ever been called by the name
Gary?
2.  Do you drink water?
3.  Were you in the vicinity of Pedro”s house
between 7:00 and 9:00 last night? 
4. Are you sitting down now?
5. Did you steal the watch of Pedro?
6. Before reaching the age of 25, have you ever
stolen anything?
7. Do you smoke cigarette?
8. Were the footprints outside the house of
Pedro yours?
9. Do you know for sure who stole the watch of
Pedro?
10. Have you ever stolen anything from the
neighborhood?
11. Have you ever lied answering any of my
questions     
      n