Module: Lie Detection Techniques (3/1)

CHAPTER VIII
TEST QUESTIONS: TYPES AND PURPOSES

At the end of this chapter the students should be able to learn:

 Assess the types of test questions used in lie detection examination; 
Determine the three phases of polygraph examination.

Types of Test Questions

1. Irrelevant Questions – These are questions formulated from information that
do not relate to the matter under investigation and deals with a known fact about
which the subject cannot lie.

Purpose: To establish and re-establish the subject’s normal tracing plus response
capability (excitement level) with verbal stimuli.

2. Relevant Questions – are questions formulated from the information

pertaining to the subject of the examination and pointed at determining the
subject’s knowledge of complicity in, or truthfulness or deception regarding the
issue in question.

Purpose: To produce a change from the subject’s norm tracing plus excitement
level plus stimulus.

To detect deception as a result of physiological changes in subject’s norm

To resolve objectivity of the polygraph examination via chat probe and further
testing on potential reaction that result.

Classes:
a. Strong or primary relevant – having an intense and specific
relationship to the offense or problem being considered.
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b. Secondary or weak relevant – deals with secondary elements

of the crime and probe mostly on guilty knowledge and partial involvement.

Types:
a. Sacrifice or DYAT – designed to uncover the subject’s attitude,
cooperation towards the test. DYAT – Do you intend to answer the question
truthfully?

b. Knowledge or DYK – designed to probe whether the subject’s possess

information regarding the identity of the offender, the location of the
evidence or other necessary elements of the case facts, DYK – Do You
Know?

c. Evidence Connecting questions – are questions about some specific

piece of evidence found at the scene of the crime, to focus the subject’s
attention on the probability of incriminating proof that would establish his
guilt.

d. LTQ Questions – are questions used for protection against loss of

psychological control as approaching the end of the question series.
LTQ – Lied to any Questions.

3. Control Questions – are questions regarding a wrongdoing, unrelated but is

of similar and less serious nature to the investigation, and to which the subject will
lie or if he does not really lie he will think about it at the time it is asked or be unsure
of the complete truthfulness of his answer.

Purpose: To produce greater stress than offense (relevant) questions in the

subject’s responding truthfully to queries about the offense.
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To evoke less stress than the offense (relevant) questions in deceitful subjects.

4. Guilt Complex Questions – are questions about the fictitious crime which is
almost similar in nature and equal in weight to the offense under investigation.

Purpose: To determine if the subject is a guilt complex reactor with an abnormal

mental association.

To ascertain if the subject is giving reflected reactions due to knowledge of a

complicity in crime with similar situation.

To determine if there is deception in answering the relevant questions pertaining

to the offense under investigation.

5. Symptomatic Questions – are questions that relates about the subject trust in
the examiner regarding confinement to the original issue under investigation.

Purpose: To ascertain presence of subject’s hidden fears or apprehension

unrelated to the issue.

6. SKY Questions - S = Suspect ex. Do you suspect anyone in particular who

committed the offense? K = Know or Knowledge and Y = You.

Pupose: To confirm specific response from previous charts taken.

To detect indirect/direct involvement or guilty knowledge.

A. TEST PROCEDURE (ACTUAL)

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1. Preliminaries – the mere observation made by the examiner to the

subject upon his/her arrival until the subjects is brought to the examination
room.
2. Pre-Test or Interview – an initial interview made upon the subject
before the actual test or polygraph examination is made.
3. Test/Question Preparation – question formulation

4. Attachment – the placement of the instrumental attachment upon the

body of the subject for polygraph test.
5. Review of the test question upon the subject.

6. Actual or activation of the instrument, actual questioning and

deactivation of the instrument.
7. Diagnosis, reading and chart evaluation and interpretation.

8. Post- Interview.

9. Release of the subject.

NOTE: a polygraph tracing can be dissected into four (4) classifications or

segment.

a. Average Tracing Segment – a segment within a tracing that shows no

physiological evidence in the emotional level within the stress area on the
polygraph chart – polygrams. (no value)

b. Reaction Tracing Segment – a segment within a tracing that shows

physiological evidence that the sympathetic subdivision of the autonomic
nervous system has become more active indicating a psychological change
from the subject’s average emotional level. (with Value)

c. Relief Tracing Segment – a segment within a tracing that shows

physiological evidence that the parasympathetic subdivision of the autonomic
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nervous system has become active, following the stress area on the polygraph
char, indicating a psychological return to the subject’s exhibited average
emotional level. (With Value)

d. Distortion tracing Segment – a segment within a tracing that departs

from the average emotional level but lacks physiological evidence of either
sympathetic or parasympathetic activation within the stress area on the
polygraph chart, indicating a lack in psychological origin. (Conditional)

CHARACTERISTICS OF QUESTIONS TO BE ASKED:

1. They should be as much as possible answerable by mere “yes” or “no”.

2. The question should be clearly understood.

3. The question may either be shown before the subject.

4. The question must have only single unambiguous meaning.

5. Lengthily question should be avoided.

6. Avoid legal terminology such as rape, murder, embezzlement, because

they are sufficiency precise in meaning.
7. It should cover factual information; they should no9t be based on
opinion.

8. It must not be in a form of accusation.

9. Question must be clear and phrase in language that the subject can
easily understand.
10. They must not contain interference in one’s relation or practical belief.
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TOPICS VIDEO LINKS

Types of Questions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4waBR5tfA
How to Pass a Lie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4NrEw9GZhA&t=441s
Detector Test and
Prepare for It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoWfxyqm_UE
Types of Questions in
Polygraphy (Relevant,
Irrelevant, Control
questions, etc.)

References:
King-eo, Chester (2006). Introduction to Specific Lie Detection. Unpublished notes
from the University of the Cordilleras: Baguio City
http://www.truthverifier.com.html
http://wwwpolytest.org/polyfaq.htm