Polygraphy (lie detection)

Prepared by YBCabbigat
• LIE DETECTION is sometime referred to as Deception Detection; this is simply the system or practice of
determining whether or not somebody is telling the truth during questioning. By the nature of this
definition, some authors prefer to use (scientific) Truth Verification instead of lie detection.
• Lie Detection is also called as Deception Detection and Scientific Truth Verification. As scientific lie
detection is now included as one area in forensic science. Forensic lie detection is better known in the
academe as Forensic Psychophysiology.
• Lie Detection and Psychophysiology
Lie detection test customarily involve the process of recording the psychophysionogical reactions of a person
while being questioned and scientific interpretation of person’s reactions by trained experts.
Scientific lie detection methods primarily and extensively utilize the combined knowledge of psychology and
physiology.
• WHAT IS TRUTH?
Microsoft Encarta Reference Library (2004)
-True quality of something
Something factual
-True statements that corresponds to fact or reality
-Obvious fact or something that is clearly true to it hardly needs to be stated.
-Something generally believed to be true.
• LIE
• Is a falsehood or false statement made deliberately. It is also false impression made deliberately.
( Microsoft Encarta reference Library)
• This refers to anything that deceives or creates a false impression. It could be something that gives
false or misleading impression with intent to deceive. In other words, is untruth or falsehood.( Webster
Comprehensive dictionary)
• DECEIT
• Is a dishonest practice. An act or practice of deceiving or misleading somebody. It is something that is
done to trick or mislead somebody. (Microsoft Encarta Reference Library)
• Aldert Vrij (2004) à A lie can be made consciously or unconsciously. On the other hand, deceit is an
intentional act, which is intended to foster in another person as false. Thus, an error of not telling the
truth is not a lie.
• Lie and deceit therefore is synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Based on these definition,
these are means of committing deception.
•
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
• The Nervous System ( Cornista and Luptao 2000)
-Is a complex combination of cells whose primarily function is to allow an organism to gain information about
what is going on inside and outside the body and to respond appropriately.
• Three Basic Functions of the Nervous System
• Receiving of information or input
• Integrating or processing that information
• Guiding Actions or output
• PARTS OF HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM
• Central Nervous System (CNS) – Consist of the brain and spinal cord.
Functions:
>Processes and coordinates all incoming sensory information and outgoing motor demands.
>The seat of complex brain functions such as memory, intelligence, learning, and emotion.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
• – includes all neural tissue outside the CNS. Responsible for providing sensory (afferent) information to
CNS and carrying motor (efferent) commands out of the body tissues.
• Subdivisions of PNS
• B1. Somatic Nervous system – controls voluntary motor commands such as moving muscles to walk or
talk.
• B2. Autonomic Nervous System – Controls involuntary commands such as digestion and heartbeat.
• Subdivisions of the autonomic NS
• B2a. Sympathetic Nervous System – Also called the fight flight mechanism, increases alertness,
stimulates tissue, and prepares the body for quick responses to unusual situations.
• B2b. Parasympathetic Nervous System – Also called the rest and repose system, conserves energy and
controls sedentary activities, such as digestion.
• NEURONS
• The basic unit of the nervous system. The nervous system is made up of billions of structural units
called as Neurons. Neurons are cells especially adopted to transmit messages form one part of the
body to another in the form of electrochemical impulses.
• Parts and functions;
• Cell Body – The central part of the Neuron which contains the nucleus. The nucleus is a dense area
within the cell body which contains structures necessary to the life and development of the neuron.
• Dendrites – These are small extensions on the cell body that receive messages from other neurons and
carry towards the cell body.
• Axons – Are relatively elongated part of a neuron that carry messages away from the cell body.
• Other parts:
• Myelin Sheath – A fatty, whitish substance that covers or insulates many neurons.
• Synapses – The tiny gaps between the axon terminals of one neuron and the receptive site (Dendrite,
Cell body, and axon) of other neuron. They are so small that it cannot be seen without the aid of
electron microscope.
• WHY DO WE LIE?
• To seek pleasure and avoid pain. ( Caruso, 2005)
• PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL SIGN/SYMPTOMS OF DECEPTION
• Gaze aversion is the most prevalent typical sign of deception. However, it does not always mean that
the person who can maintain eye contact is not lying.
• Verbal Symptoms of deception
• Manner of answering questions
• Repetition of question
• Incomplete statements of fragmented sentences
• Overly polite
• Swearing truthfulness of assertion
• Use of “I don’t remember”,” Not that I don’t remember” expression is often used by lying suspects.
• Vague response
• Assertiveness
• Inconsistencies
• Slip of the tongue
• Tirades – long story
• Pause
• Speed of speech
• Non-Verbal Symptoms of Deception
• Emblems
• Manipulators
• Breathing
• Sweating and flushed face. ( may indicate anger, embarrassment or extreme nervousness. Sweating
with pale face may indicate shock or fear.
• Dryness of mouth
• Frequent swallowing
• Facial muscle twitching
• Gazed aversion closed eyes
• Hesitates to think
• Shakes head
• Fidgeting
• Shifts/crosses legs
• TYPES OF LIES
• Direct Denial – is a lie that results to emotional disturbance. The disturbance is caused by conflict of a
person’s conscience in his attempt to deceive. This lie is manifested by the response- I DID NOT DO IT –
to evade inner conflict while seeming to answer the question.
• Lie of Omission – The type of lie commonly used because it is easy to tell. The act of telling what
transpired but omitting details that are incriminating.
• Lie of Exaggeration – Is the type of lies used by a person who overplays what actually happens. This
could be in the form on a testimony where details are added to intensify the impact of the story.
• Lie of Minimization - Involve acceptance of a person that something happen but downplays the
implication or seriousness of the offense.
• Fabricated Lie – Also called “lie of fabrication” – the type of lie that is most difficult to use. This
involves the act of creating a story or series of events that never transpired.
• OTHER TYPES OF LIE
• White Lie – is also called: benign lie, honest lie, harmless lie. It is the type of lie perceived or intended
not to harm, but told in order to avoid distress or embarrassment. It is usually in the form of a remark
or comment that is not true however it must be uttered to maintain friendship or harmony at home or
in workplace.
• Red Lie – Sometimes called misinformation. This is a line of information that is seemingly valuable but
is intended to destroy a political belief or ideology. This can also be better known as Politics
Propaganda.
• Strictly speaking, propaganda refers to an information or publicity put out by an organization or
government to spread and promote a policy, idea, doctrine, or cause. However, most propaganda are
misleading publicity since these are in the form of deceptive or distorted information that is
systematically spread.
• Malicious Lie – Is chronic & constant –lie that is intended to mislead justice. It is usually in the form of
pure dishonest statement for the purpose of obstructing justice.
• LIES CAN ALSO BE CATEGORIZED IN 4 (FOUR) TYPES
• Pro-Social – Lying to help someone
• Self Enhancement – lying make you look better while not hurting another
• Selfish Lie – Lying to personally benefit at the expense on another
• Anti-Social Lie – Lying to deliberately damage another.
• TYPES OF LIAR
• Panic Liar – This is a person who panics when questioned about his involvement concerning a crime
but immediately denies the truth to avoid shame or humiliation that it might cause to his family. A
panic liar decides to circumvent the truth in order to avoid humiliation consequences of his confession
to himself or to his family.
• Occupational Liar – This are individuals whose job is to tell lie and deceive other people. One who is
being paid to tell lies. He is practical liar – he will tell lie if doing it provides a higher pay-off than telling
the truth.
• Tournament Liar – is a person who uses the act of lying to test his lying ability and prove to him that he
is capable of deceiving the police authorities. One who is gratified by telling lies to mislead others. His
view is that telling lies is one form of contest.
• Ethnological Liar – is a person trained to lie.
• Psychopathic Liar – is an individual who has no conscience thus capable of lying to the point of causing
death to other people.
 • Pathological Liar – Is a sick person who tells a lie simply because he cannot distinguish what is right
from what is wrong.
• Black Liar - Is one who enjoys pretending and better known as hypocrite.
• EARLY METHODS OF DETECTING DECEPTION
• Primitive methods of detecting deception were usually in the form of fortune the trial by ordeal. Some
author takes trial separately from ordeal. Trial by ordeal involves the practice of setting a dispute using
divine intervention or Judicum Dei (God’s Judgment).
• Ordeal
• refers to the antiquated trial rooted on the practice of referring disputes to God’s Judgment,
determine either by lot or by certain trials. It is usually placing suspect or accused to life threatening
danger. Whatever the outcome, it reflects divine judgment. Today, ordeal basically regarded as a
physically test that usually involves painful experience.
• The most prevalent kinds of ordeal involve fire, water and the wager battle.
• Red Hot Iron Ordeal
>Practiced in North Bengal. The accused had to carry a bar of red-hot iron in his hands while he walked nine
marked places. In the unlikely event of no burns appearing on his hands, he was adjudged innocent. Otherwise
he was promptly hanged.
• Wager of Battle – The judgment of God was thought to determine the winner, and the defeated party
was allowed to live recreant, that is, on retracing the perjury that had been sworn. Similar in the
concept is the Burmese ordeal buy divination, which would involve two sides in a dispute holding
lighted candles. Whoever’s candle lasted longest was pronounced the winner.
• Ordeal by Balance – Practiced of the Institute of Vishnu, India. A scale of balance is used, in one end of
the scale is placed and in the other end is a counter balance. The person will step out of the scale and
listen to the judge to deliver an exhortation on the balance and get back in. If he found lighter than
before, then he should be acquitted.
• Ordeal by Water – The water was symbolic of flood of the Old Testament, washing sin from the face of
earth, allowing only the righteous minority to survive.
• 4a. Boiling Water – According to Athelstan, the first King of England, the ordeal of boiling water
consisted of lifting a stone out of the boiling water, with the hand inserted as deep as the wrist. More
serious offense demanded that the arm was submerged up to the elbow. The burn was bandaged for
three days before fateful examination.
• 4b. Ordeal by water – In the code of Hamurabi, where a man accused of sorcery is to be submerged in
a steam and acquitted if he survives. The practice occurred in Frankish law and was abolished by Loius
the Pious in 829. In 1338, a man accused of pouching is to be submerged in a barrel three times, and to
be considered guilty if he sinks to the bottom
• Ordeal by Rice Chewing – It is performed with a kind of rice called sathee, prepared with various
incantations. The person on trial eats the sathee, with the face to the east and then spits upon a pea of
leaf. If saliva is mixed with blood or the corner of his mouth swells or he trembles, he is declared to be
a liar. Indians practice this ordeal.
• Ordeal of the Red Water – The ordeal of the “sassy bark” or red water is used in the wide region of
Eastern Africa. The accused is made to fast for twelve hours, and then swallows a small amount of rice.
He is then immersed into dark colored water. The water is actually emetic and if the suspect ejects all
the rice, he is considered innocent of the charge. Otherwise, the accused is guilty.
• Ordeal by Combat – The aggrieved party claimed the right to fight the alleged offender or to pay a
champion to fight for him. The victor is said to win not by his own strength but because of supernatural
powers that had intervened on the side of the right, as in the duel in the European Ages in which the
“Judgment of God was thought to determine the winner.” If still alive after the combat, the loser might
be hanged or burned for a criminal offense or have a hand cut off and property confiscated in civil
actions.
• Ordeal of the Corsnaed – (Ordeal by Blessed Bread)- A priest puts the corsnaed or hallowed bread into
the mouth of the accused, with various imprecations. If the accused swallowed he will be freed from
punishment.
• Test of the Eucharist – This was applied chiefly among the clergy and monks. When they took the host
it was believed that God would smite the guilty with sickness or death. Others believe that if the
accused is innocent, when given a poisonous drink for him to take in, Angel Gabriel will descend from
heaven to prevent the accused from taking in the poisonous drink.
• Odeal of Bier – It was an ancient belief that the slain dead could point out their killer. In England, it was
customary for the accused to approach the bier where the corpse lay. In the view of the witness, the
wounds of the victim were observed to see if they began to bleed again. They believe that murderer is
near, which causes the blood to flow out from the wound of the victim. The ordeal was recorded by
Shakespeare in “Richard III”.
• Ordeal of the Needle – A red-hot needle was made to pierced the lower lip of the alleged criminal and
if blood flowed form the wound, he was deemed guilty, but if none he is innocent. Wanaka, practiced
this ordeal.
• Ordeal by Heat and Fire – The accused walked bare footed over a red hot coals, or was made to walk
through fire, if he was unharmed by fire he was considered innocent.
• Trial of the Cross – The accuser and the accused were place under the cross with their arms extended
or crosswise and the first to move his hands or suffer them to fall was held guilty. Or the accused was
placed before relics and two dice were then produced, one marked with a cross. Of these, one was
taken up hazard. If it happened to bear the sign of the cross, the accused was acquitted.
• Trial of the Waxen Shirt – The accused was dressed in cloth covered with wax and walked bare footed
over burning coals. If he was unhurt by the fire and the wax did not melt, he was considered innocent.
• Hereditary Sieve Method – Hans Gross, The Father of Criminalistics, in his famous book in criminal
investigation in which beans thrown into a sieve as the name of the accused was called, mentioned this
ordeal. If the beams jumped out the sieve, the owner of the sieve is innocent. If the beans remained in
the sieve the person named a thief.
• Donkey’s Tail Ordeal – As a psychological theory, a donkey is place in a room alone and observed. If
the donkey cried, a judgment of guilt in crimes is pressured. It is believed that the deep inside one’s
conscience, he is guilty.
• Ordeal of the Tiger – Practiced in Siam, the accused and the accuser are place in a cage of a tiger spare
one of them he is considered innocent.
• OTHER COUNTRIES PRACTICING ORDEAL
• Burma – The ordeal by divination is being practiced in this country, whereby the two contesting parties
are furnished with candles of equal size and lighted simultaneously, the owner of the candle that
outlast the other is adjudge to won his case.
• Madagascar – Legal authorities practiced trial by Ordeal. The supposed suspect is requested to drink a
juice comes from a poisonous fruit “tangena”, a small dose can be fatal. By managing the size of the
dose, those who administer it can decide result.
• Borneo – The accuser and the accused were presented shellfish placed on a plate. An irritiating fluid
was then poured on the shellfish and the litigant, whose shellfish moved first, was adjudged the
winner.
• Greece – A suspended axe was spun at the center of a group of suspects. Soon as the axe stopped,
whoever was in line with the axe blade was supposed to be guilty out by the divine providence.
• Nigeria – The priest greased a cock’s feather and pierced the tongue of the accused, If feather passed
through the tongue easily, the accused was deemed innocent. If not, the accused is guilty. Another
method practiced in the same country is the pouring of corrosive liquid into the eyes of the accused
who was supposed to be unharmed if innocent. Pouring of boiling oil over the hand of the accused
with usual requisites for guilt or innocence is also practiced.
In the middle of the 13th century the ordeal had died out in England and in other countries.
• Definition of Terms
 • Stimulus
Is the force or motion reaching the organism from the environment and excites the preceptors.
• Reaction
Is any activity aroused in an organism by a stimulus, which is of mental process.
• Response
Is any reaction, usually of muscular or glandular processes that depends upon stimulation.
• Specific Response
Is one that is exhibited by a subject to a particular question, which is a deviation from his norm.
• Subject
Refers to any person undergoing polygraph examination.
• Polygraph Examiner/Polygraphist
One conducting the polygraph examination.
• Polygraph Test/Polygraph Examination
Is the whole process of questioning or taking of one chart from a series of questions or all of the charts
and questions sheet used in the test,
• Polygraph Chart/Polygram
Refers to the recorded tracing of all the emotional patterns permanently on the charts of graphs from
series of questions.
• HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF POLYGRAPH
• Angelo Mosso - 1878 
• Studied fear and influence on the heart and his observations subsequently formed the basis for the
technique;
• Developed the Sphygmomanometer and the Scientific cradle, which he used in studying fear and its
influence on the heart.
• Cesare Lombroso - 1895
Employed the first scientific instrument to detect deception – Hydrosphymograph that measured
changes in pulse and blood pressure when suspects were questioned about their involvement in or knowledge
of a specific response.
• William Moulton Marston -1915
He dealt with the Sphygmomanometer, which was used to obtain periodic discontinuous blood
pressure readings during the course of an examination.
He also experienced with the helped to developed the Pneumograph, which records breathing
patterns, and the Galvanograph, which registers changes in the skin resisitance.
• John Larson – 1921
The polygraph instrument that he developed was described as polygraphic apparatus in a portable
form.
Developed polygraph, an instrument capable of continuously recording blood pressure, pulse rate and
respiration.
• Leonard Keeler – 1926
• Continued research and development of Polygraph;
• In 1949, he invented the Keelers Polygraph with components that simultaneously records changes in
blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration, as well as the newly developed galvanic skin reflex;
• He devised the chart roll paper, a better method of questioning and he incorporated the Kymograph.
• Development of Pneumograph
• Vittorio Benussi – 1914
>Successfully detected deception with a Pneumograph – an instrument that graphically measures an
examinee’s inhalation and exhalation.
>He demonstrated that changes in breathing patterns accompany deception.
• Harold Burtt – 1918
• Determined that respiratory changes were indicative of deception;
 • Found out that changes in systolic blood pressure were of greater value in determining deception than
changes in respiration.
• Major components of the polygraph
• 1. Pneumograph
The pneumograph records changes of breathing of the subject. It consists of transducers and
pneumograph tubes which are fastened around the subject’s abdominal and thoracic part of the body. The
pneumograph tube contains certain of a volume of air. As the subject inhale and exhale, the tube is an
accordion like expand and contract causing changes of pressure within the tube. The changes are drive to the
recording bellows causing a forward and backward movement of the pivot shaft to which the recording pen is
connected.
• Galvanograph
Records the skin resistance of the subject to a very small amount of electricity. The GSR (Galvanic Skin
Reflex) comprise of finger or palm electrodes that is attached on the subject’s finger primarily the index and
ring finger or the palm to check and detect skin resistance towards a small of electricity, to operate the
galvanometer supply a current and the mechanical movement of a seven (7) inches recording pen will take
place.
• Cardiograph or Cardio-sphymograph
The cardiograph records the changes of blood pressure and pulse rate which consists of arm cuff. The
arm cuff is placed around the subject’s arm with the covered rubber part centered at brachial artery about an
inch above the elbow and must be inflated by a pump bulb to put air into the system recorded in a
sphygmomanometer in millimeters of mercury (generally 60-80mm)
• Blood pressure refers to pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the arteries. It is read at two
points: the high point at which the heart contracts to empty its blood into the circulation, called
systole; and the low point at which the heart relaxes to fill with booid returned by the circulation,
called diastole.
• Kymograph (Chart-Drive)

It is sometimes referred as a chart module. This is the motor that pulls or drives chart paper under the
recording pen at the same at rate of six (6) to twelve (12) inches per minute. A chart is roll about 100 feet long,
6 inches width with ½ inch margin apart. Paper is imprinted with horizontal line spaced at ¼ inch interval (20
divisions) and vertical lines at 1/10 inch interval with heavy lines at ½ inch interval. Pulse rate per minute may
then be calculated by multiplying the number of beats counted in one division by 12.
• STAGES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
• 1. Preliminary preparation
• 2. Pre-test interview
• 3. Instrumentation
• 4. Post-test question
• PRELIMINARY PREPARATIONS
• FP must obtain accurate information regarding all available facts and circumstances.
• Whenever several investigations have been working on the case, FP should ask the best-informed
investigator.
• FP should request a crime scene sketch prepared by the investigator on the case.
• FP should receive and study written materials prior to the investigator’s arrival.
• If FP is well informed the case, there is no need to conduct extensive pre-test interview. Background
interview about the subject and the case facilitates the pre-test.
• THE PRE-TEST INTERVIEW
• Pre-test interview involves the formal but systematic asking of a series questions designed to elicit
verbal and non-verbal responses of the subject. Through this initial questioning, the examiner will have
idea about the subject’s truthful or deceptive status without necessarily releasing the subject’s tension
or engaging in any accusatory interrogation.
• Pre-test interview is essential before actual test because extraneous fear, apprehension, or
nervousness of the subject can be minimized. This interview places a subject in a cooperative and
objective point of view to willingly take the test. At the same time, this questioning provides the
examiner time to observed and evaluate the subject. Thus, chose the type of technique best
applicable. The success of polygraph greatly depends on the rapport between the examiner and his
subject.
• INSTRUMENTATION
• After the interview the examiner should proceed to attach the detector of polygraph components to
the subject; such as; the pnuemograph, cardiosphymograph, and Galvanograph components. Review
all the questions being prepared with the subject and determine his answer for every question asked.
Test instruction should be given to the subject.
• THE GALVANOGRAPH OR GSR CHANNEL
• GSR is the change in the body’s resistance to the passage of the minute electrical sensing current.
Physically; the GSR sensor consists of two contacts, having Velcro Fastening Straps ;( VFS) and a flexible
cord that connect to the GSR module.
• Mount the finger electrodes at the center near the tip on the index and drinking finger of the arm not
having the cardio cuff. Alternate fingers are recommended to prevent the metal plated from touching
each other and posing an erratic recording.
• Secure the contacts by wrapping the VFS “band aid” tight around the fingers. Too tight wrap will result
in subject’s discomfort and the appearance of the heart beats on the GSR tracing. A very loose wrap
can cause large shift in the tracing if the subject moves.
• A brief period is required for the finger attachments to stabilize, so it is advisable to connect them first
before the other sensor
• THE PNUEMOGRAPH CHANNEL
• The pnuemograph tubes (convoluted rubber tubes) are the designed to detect and transmit breathing
patters to the puemograph component. It is very flexible in order to detect and trace all phases of
respiration. There are two common attachments;
• Thoracic attachment- one tube for upper chest.
• Abdominal attachment- one tube for the lower chest just above the stomach.
• Two placements are necessary because subjects can either chest (shallow) or stomach (deep)
breathers and even switch under stress. Generally, men are stomach breathers while women are
chest breather. If only one pnuemo channel is used, the convoluted rubber tube should be placed in
the location of the greatest respiration movement.
• THE CARDIO CHANNEL
• The subject’s blood pulsation causes within the cuff system to rise and fall. Increasing pressure
cause the pen to rise and decreasing pressure cause it to drop. The cardio channel provides a record of
the four cardio vascular components; Relative blood pressure/volume, pulse amplitude, pulse rate, and
dicrotic notch.
• The most common cuff placement is the upper arm. The cuff is normally applied to the “handedness”
arm at heart level, and the size chosen to the cuff neat and flat, avoid folds which will result subject’s
discomfort when the cuff is inflated.
• THE POST-TEST
• After returning the jewellery and/ or clothing of the subject, inquire if he has any of his questions
• Based on initial evaluation of the Polygram’s, if the subject appears to be truthful, apply pos-test
interview. Inquire if he wants to say anything about the case under investigation.
• If he has nothing to say, express gratitude for the subject’s cooperation while shaking his hands. Tell
that he will be informed ASAP about the result of the test.
• If he provides admission of confession, take note of it. After his admission, call the investigator on the
case for purposes of legal documentation.
• 2 FORMS
Post-test interview
 Post-test interrogation
• WHEN IS THE POST-TEST INTERVIEW APPLIED?
• The last stage of polygraph testing if the subject is a witness who appears to be truthful during the
examination proceeding.
• It could also be the last phase of the test even if the subject is a suspect, provided that the subject’s
chart does not exhibit strong criteria of deception.
• WHEN IS POST-TEST INTERROGATION APPLIED?
• The last phase of polygraph testing if the subject appears to be deceptive during the test.
• It is applied when the PE/FP is convinced that the subject is a deceptive or is hiding criminal
information significant in solving the case.
• PURPOSE:
• To secure a confession from a deceptive subject.
• If unable to get confession, it is used to secure an admission.
• GENERAL TYPES OF QUESTIONS FOR POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
• IRRELEVANT QUESTION: THIS IS ALSO CALLED NEUTRAL OR NORM QUESTION.
Have no relation to the matter under investigation and deals on known facts that the subject cannot be
denied and answerable by YES. It is design to absorb the initial response ask to the question sequence
commences and to produce little or no emotional change in the subject.
• NATURE:
• It is of a non- stimulating matter. (produces little or non- emotional change)
• It does not relate to the matter under investigation
• It must deal with known fact that the subject cannot lie.
• USES of irrelevant question
• Used as the 1st question designed to absorb the subject’s initial response and reduce general nervous
tension. (subject’s last / first name, b-date, place).
• Used to create a norm pattern at the beginning and end of the chart.
• Used between relevant questions.
• Relevant Question:
• This could either be weak or strong.
• A test question related to the crime at issue that caused the test.
• These are the primary key questions asked by the examiner in order to resolve a specific subject
matter.
• PURPOSE
• Its purpose is to detect deception as a result of this change on subject norm and to resolve the
objectivity of the polygraph examination via between chart probe or interrogation.
• Weak Relevant (secondary):
• A question concerning some secondary element of the crime of problem being considered.
• The type of question that elicits response from the subject with guilty knowledge of partial
involvement in the crime.
• Examples: do you know who took the 20,000 from Jen’s drawer?
• CATEGORIES OF WEAK RELEVANT QUESTION
• A1. Preparatory/ Sacrifice Relevant Question
• It is question that acts as safeguard
• It allows for warning of excessive general nervous tension.
• It also serves to prepare the subject for the introduction of 2 primary relevant questions.
• It should not exceed the precise scoop of its related relevant questions.
• This is design to absorb the response generally generated by the introduction of the firm relevant
question the series.
• Reaction in this question gives clue as to the attitude of the subject’s acceptance or voluntariness.
• Example: Regarding the stolen money, do you intend to answer truthfully each question about that?
• A.2. Inside-Issue relevant Question:
 • It is designed to elicit a response from a guilty/deceptive subject who hopes that an error will be made
on his/her test that their deception to the target issue will not be detected.
• Example: Are you hoping an error will be made on this test regarding that target issue?
• A.3. Evidence Connecting Question
• This is design to stimulate the guilty subject and focus his attention on probability of criminating proof
that would tend to establish his guilt.
• Irrespective of weather or not the pieces of evidence were identified, provided such is not known to
the subject, the examiner proceeds in asking the questions.
• Examples: Was the footprints found at the crime scene yours?
• a. 4. Knowledge Question
• This is the question designed to probe whether the subject possesses in information regarding the
identity of the offender or as to the location of evidence or other secondary elements of facts of the
case under investigation.
• Example Do you for sure who committed the offense? In the formulation of the question and
review with the subject, the examiner inquires about the suspicion of the subject: In the final
formulation of the question, the examiner represses it to “Do you know for sure who_____?”. The
phrase “for sure” eliminates suspicion.
• Strong Relevant/ primary relevant/ crucial question:
• . A direct question having an intense and specific relation to the crime or problem being considered.
• . Design to test for direct involvement only.
• Example: Did you steal the 20,000?
• Control Question: also called probable- lie question.
NATURE
• Designed to produce a significant response from an innocent subject.
• Serves as basic for evaluating the subject’s psychological set.
• In ZCT, it is designed to offer a threat to the well-being of the subject who is expected to lie. This is
then compared to the relevant question contained in the same test.
• Example:
• Do you remember stealing anything before you were 20years of age?
• Beside what you have told me about, did you ever steal anything else before you were 20?
• When you were in the PNP, did you do anything sexually improper?
• TYPES:
• Non-current exclusive control question
• . Formulated in the same category of offense or matter as the relevant question or issues.
• Separated in time from the relevant issue with the use of time bar.
• It excludes the period in which the crime was committed, usually be at least 2 years or more.
• Example: Between ages 18-25, do you remember ever stealing anything? (if subject is ages 30)
• Current Exclusive control question
• Formulated in the same category of offense or matter as the relevant question or issues.
• It is not separated from relevant issue with the use of a time bar.
• Exclude the specific crime or matter contained in the relevant questions.
• Example: Not connected with the theft from your office, did you ever steal anything?
• Non- Excluded Control Question
• Formulated in the same category of offense or matter as the relevant question or issue.
• It is not separated in time from the relevant issue nor does it exclude the crime or matter contained in
the relevant question.
• It is an inclusive control question but has been named by its users as such.
• Example: Did you ever steal anything Where?
• Inside Issue Control Question
• A type of question designed to elicit a response from the innocent/ truthful subject who is fearful that
an error will be made on his/her test.
• Example: Are you afraid an error will be made on this test regarding the target issue?
• During the first 18 years of your life, do you remember ever doing any thing sexually that you are
ashamed of?
• Symptomatic Question:
• Known as outside issue question. This was developed by cleve bAckster.
• NATURE:
• It determines whether the subject is truly convincing that the FP will not ask a un- reviewed question
during the PV test.
• Determines if there’s something else the subject is afraid the FP will asked him/her even if the FP
promise not to ask question about outside issues.
• It is use to detect and evaluate the presence of outside issues that may suppress response to relevant
questions
• Example: Are you completely convince that I will not ask you a question on this test that was
reviewed /s
• Is there something else you are afraid I will ask you a question about; even though I have told you I
would not?