L IE D E T E C T IO N T E C H N IQ U E S Page 1 of 9

Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

Topic: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

Welcome Notes:

W E L C O M E C R IM IN O L O G Y S T U D E N T S

I. IN T R O D U C T IO N :
This module presents the modern technology and methodologies employed in the detection of deception to aid in the
investigation of crimes. The contemporary and scientific approach in lie detection uses modern polygraph and other
testing techniques.
II. O B J E C T IV E S :

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. Identify the contemporary methods of detecting deception;
2. Differentiate the contemporary methods of detecting deception; and
3. Determine the tools for lie detection.
III. P R E L IM IN A R Y A C T IV IT IE S :

Before you proceed to the main lesson, complete this activity.

Direction: Read the Journal about Lie Detection.

The polygraph, often portrayed as a magic mind-reading machine, is still controversial among
experts, who continue heated debates about its validity as a lie-detecting device. As the nation takes a
fresh look at ways to enhance its security, can the polygraph be considered a useful tool? The Polygraph
and Lie Detection puts the polygraph itself to the test, reviewing and analyzing data about its use in criminal
investigation, employment screening, and counter-intelligence. The book looks at: The theory of how the
polygraph works and evidence about how deceptiveness-and other psychological conditions-affect the
physiological responses that the polygraph measures. Empirical evidence on the performance of the
polygraph and the success of subjects ‘countermeasures. The actual use of the polygraph in the arena of
national security, including its role in deterring threats to security. The book addresses the difficulties of
measuring polygraph accuracy, the usefulness of the technique for aiding interrogation and for deterrence,
and includes potential alternatives-such as voice-stress analysis and brain measurement techniques.
Source: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=9f2748d4-a9c4-4456-ad5c

G R E A T !!!
You may now proceed to the main lesson.
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

Based on the preliminary activity, what do you think the picture is about?
________________________________________________________
CONGRATULATIONS!
You may now proceed to the lesson.

IV . L E S S O N P R O P E R

CONTEMPORARY METHODS OF DETECTING DECEPTION

1. Physiological Lie Detection
The polygraph is used to accurately records and measures physiological changes which include respiratory,
electrodermal, cardiovascular, and vasomotor activity. These parameters are monitored by the sensors connected on
a particular part the body of a person being tested.
a. Deception Test – Is an approach in polygraph testing that is conducted to determine the involvement of an
examinee to a known incident or to a multiple issue of concern: The following are some of the types of
deception test:
 Backster You-Phase
 Federal Zone Comparison Test
 Federal You-Phase
 Utah Zone Comparison Test (PLC and DLC)
 Integrated Zone Comparison Test
 Matte Quadri-Track Zone Comparison Test
 Air Force Modified General Question Test
 Directed Lie Screening Test
b. Recognition Test -This approach in polygraph testing is intended to determine if the examinee has
knowledge about the case/issue which he denied during the investigation.
Example:
 Known Solution Peak of Tension Test
 Searching Peak of Tension Test
 Concealed Information Test
 Acquaintance Test
2. Non-Verbal Lie Detection
There are several concepts considered to determine the non-verbal indicators of deception. This approach includes
the following:
a. Multifactor Model - There are elements that may influence cues to deception and each has distinct effect
on the non-verbal behavior of liar.
 Emotional Reactions - According to Ekman, (1985) telling a lie is most commonly associated with different
emotions such as fear, guilt, or delight. A lying person may feel guilty, afraid to discover his lie, or elated
about fooling someone. The strength of these emotions depends on the personality of the liar and the
circumstances under which the lie takes place.
 Cognitive Load - Liars who engaged in cognitively complex tasks experiences speech hesitations and
errors, speaks slower, and takes time to give answer. It also resulted in less hand and arm movements. It
further resulted to more gaze aversion due to difficulty in maintaining eye contact.
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception
 Attempted Behavioral Control - Liars are aware that they must appear convincing in the eyes an
investigator, thus they will try to control their behavior. They must subdue their nervousness while trying to
hide their difficulty of answering questions. Liars need to act and appear honest and keep away from
dishonest behavior. These effort of controlling behavior increases on high stakes situation.
b. Self-Presentational Perspective – According to Zuckerman et al, 1981, this approach predicts that as liars
experience one or more factors in multifactor model, it is plausible that signs of deception will occur.
However, DePaulo et al argued that emotions, cognitive load, and behavioral control may also influence the
behavior of truth-tellers. Liars and truth-tellers will succeed in their social interaction goals only if they
appear sincere and convincing.
c. Interpersonal Deception Theory - This theory suggests that liars must performed several simultaneous
communication tasks during a face-to-face encounter. Their verbal message must be credible while
projecting plausible non-verbal behavior. Liars must control their behavior, while maintaining smooth
conversation with their partner. The response is in accordance of what they say, and must conceal any
intent to deceive their partner. IDT embraces the three multifactor model of Zuckerman as fundamental
reasons for cues of deceit.
Tools for Non-Verbal Lie Detection
a. Facial Emotional Expression – According to Ekman, the aspect of facial communication is beyond control
and can be betray a deceiver’s true emotion via micro expressions of that emotion. However, researchers
have found out that micro expressions of emotions are common to both liars and truth-tellers.
b. Behavioral Analysis Interview (BAI) - The procedure involved in BAI includes asking of non-threatening,
investigative, and behavior-provoking questions. The guilty suspect is supposed to probably display nervous
behaviors such as crossing their legs, shifting seating position, and preforming grooming behavior when
giving answer to the questions. Innocent suspects are expected to lean forward, maintain eye contact and
use illustrators to supplement confidence in their statements.
Non-Verbal Cues of Deception (DePaulo et al.,2003)
1. Verbal and vocal immediacy
2. Pupil dilation
3. Discrepant/ambivalent
4. Verbal and vocal uncertainty
5. Nervous tense
6. Vocal tension
7. Chin raise
8. Pitch frequency
9. Lip pressing
10. Illustrators
11. Facial pleasantness
12. Changes in foot movements
13. Pupillary changes
14. Genuine smile
15. Indifferent, unconcerned
16. Specific hand and arm movement
17. Intensity of facial expression
18. Direct orientation
3. Verbal Lie Detection
The basic premise of verbal lie detection is that liars have to think harder to fabricate a lie and will try to make more
convincing impression than truthful persons. Verbal lie detection is a memory-based approach, regarded as a unique
sign of deception. It is presumed that people remember differently the events that he experienced from the events
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception
that are fabricated. Hence, they talk about them in different ways.
Tools for Verbal Lie Detection
a. Statement Validity Assessment (SVA) – This tool is designed to verify the accuracy of the testimony of
child witnesses during the trial of a sexual cases. There are times that an investigator encountered difficulty
in determining the facts of sexual offense involving children due to unavailability of evidence. Also, because
of the absence of possible witness that could provide independent version of the events to validate
contradicting statement of victims and accused. The SVA assessment are accepted as evidence in some
North American courts and in criminal courts in several West-European countries, including Germany, the
Netherlands, and Sweden.
b. Reality Monitoring (RM) -This method is used only for scientific research and said to have strong
theoretical support. It is based on memory theory and is centered on the concept that memories of
experienced events differ in quality from memories of imagined events.
c. Scientific Content Analysis (SCAN) – Developed by Avioam Sapir, a polygraph examiner and a former
Israeli police lieutenant. It supposed in this approach that truth-tellers and liars differ from each other.
However, no theoretical support is available to support the said assumptions. The procedure requires an
examinee to write down in detail his/her activities on a crucial period of time. Handwritten statement is then
analyzed based on the criteria set for this tool. SCAN criteria like denial of allegation and use of self-
references mostly occur in truthful than deceptive statements, while other criteria like change in language
and missing information are likely to appear in deceptive than truthful statements.
d. Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception (ACID) - The process of Assessment Criteria Indicative of
Deception, involves detailed examination of the length of response, admitting potential errors, and use of
Reality Monitoring (RM) criteria to distinguish the differences due to memory and impression management
or control of information. This extended approach to RM corresponds to the unique external, contextual, and
internal details as observe during the process of investigative interview for detection of deception. The first
experiment with this approach indicates 95% of the statements of honest and deceptive participants were
determined accurately.
4. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Lie Detection (fMRI)
The method of monitoring brain activity has been employed by several researchers in an attempt to detect deception.
The fMRI approach involves measurement of changes in regional cerebral blood flow cause by the activity of the
nervous system. The activity of the brain in response to a specific type of events is measured through fMRI
procedures.
5. Optical Motor Detection of Deception
The idea of measuring the size of pupil can be traced from the theory suggested by Charles Darwin that pupil dilation
was associated with fear and other emotion. It was speculated based on research that sympathetic nervous system
influenced the pupillary changes which could be used to measure the value of interest and pleasure on visual stimuli.
Succeeding researches suggests that cognitive effort can be related to pupil dilation.

Visit the link for additional information about the lesson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwpTPAzgWjE

We had just finished the discussion on Contemporary Methods of

Detecting Deception. Let’s move on to the next higher level of activity/ies or
exercise/s that demonstrate your potential skills/knowledge of what you have
learned.
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

V . A N A L Y S IS , A P P L IC A T IO N A N D E X P L O R A T IO N

ACTIVITY 1

Name: _______________________________________ Course & Section: ___________________

DIRECTION: Write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if the statement is incorrect.

______1. The polygraph is used in physiological detection of deception to records and measures psychological
changes during the period of test.
_____ 2. It is presumed in non-verbal lie detection, that people remember differently the events that he experienced
from the events that are fabricated.
_____ 3. Charles Darwin suggested that pupil dilation is associated with fear and other emotion.
_____ 4. The Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception is one of the tools in verbal lie detection.
_____ 5. The activity of the brain in response to a specific type of events is measured through fMRI procedures.

ACTIVITY 2
DIRECTION: Choose the correct word from the box that corresponds to the statement.

Nervous System
pupillary changes
nervous tense
fabricated
involvement
cognitively tasks
visual stimuli

1. It is speculated based on research that sympathetic nervous system influenced the __________ which
could be used to measure the value of interest and pleasure on visual stimuli.
2. It is presumed that people remember differently the events that he experienced from the events that are
__________.
3. The fMRI approach involves measurement of changes in regional cerebral blood flow cause by the activity
of the _________.
4. Liars who engaged in ___________experiences speech hesitations and errors, speaks slower, and takes
time to give answer.
5. Deception Test is an approach in polygraph testing that is conducted to determine the ______ of an
examinee to a known incident or to a multiple issue of concern

Finally, let us summarize the lesson of what we had

discussed today.
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

V I. G E N E R A L IZ A T IO N

Name: _______________________________________ Course & Section: _______________________

DIRECTION: In 5 to 7 sentences, differentiate the types of contemporary methods in detecting deception. See Rubric
for reference.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Basis for Grading
Level Description Score
 Well written and very organized.
 Excellent grammar mechanics.
OUTSTANDING  Clear and concise statements. 9-10
 Excellent effort and presentation with detail.
 Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the topic.
 Writes fairly clear.
 Good grammar mechanics.
GOOD 7-8
 Good presentation and organization.
 Sufficient effort and detail
 Minimal effort.
 Good grammar mechanics.
FAIR 6
 Fair presentation.
 Few supporting details.
 Somewhat unclear.
 Shows little effort.
POOR  Poor grammar mechanics. 5
 Confusing and choppy, incomplete sentences.
 No organization of thoughts.

KUDOS!
You have come to an end of Module 4
O O P S ! Don’t forget that you have still an assignment to do.
Here it is….
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

V II. A S S IG N M E N T

Name: ________________________________ Course & Section: __________________

Direction/Instruction: Match column A with column B. Write the letter of your answer on the box provided.

Answer No. A B
1. Non-Verbal Cues of Deception A. Reality Monitoring
2. Tools for Non-verbal Lie Detection B. Deception Test

3. Known Solution Peak of Tension Test C. Facial pleasantness

4. Tools for Verbal Lie Detection D. Behavioral Analysis

Interview
5. Federal Zone Comparison Test E. Recognition Test

After your long journey of reading and accomplishing

the module, let us now challenge your mind by answering
the evaluation part of this module.
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception

V III. E V A L U A T IO N

Name: __________________________________________ Course & Section ______________________

Direction/Instruction: Read each sentence/situation carefully and select the letter of the correct
answer among the choices.

1. Who developed the Scientific Content Analysis tool for verbal lie detection?
A. Avioam Sapir
B. Paul Ekman
C. Zuckerman
D. DePaulo
2. Which among the following is NOT a deception test?
A. Air Force Modified General Question Test
B. Federal You-Phase
C. Concealed Information Test
D. Utah Zone Comparison Test
3. _________ is designed to verify the accuracy of the testimony of child witnesses during the trial of a sexual
cases
A. Scientific Content Analysis
B. Statement Validity Assessment
C. Reality Monitoring
D. Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception
4. It is presumed in this approach that people remember differently the events that he experienced from the events
that are fabricated. Hence, they talk about them in different ways.
A. Non-verbal Lie Detection
B. Verbal Lie Detection
C. Optical Motor Detection of Deception
D. Physiological Lie Detection
5. This approach involves measurement of changes in regional cerebral blood flow cause by the activity of the
nervous system.
A. Physiological Lie Detection
B. Non-verbal Lie Detection
C. Factional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
D. Optical Motor Detection of Deception
6. The following are tools for verbal lie detection, EXCEPT __________.
A. Reality Monitoring
B. Scientific Content Analysis
C. Facial Emotional Expression
D. Assessment Criteria Indicative of Deception
7. _________ is an approach in polygraph testing intended to determine if the examinee has knowledge the crime
which he denied during the investigation.
A. Recognition Test
B. Single- Issue Test
C. Deception Test
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Module 4: Contemporary Methods of Detecting Deception
D. Screening Test
8. He suggested that telling a lie is most commonly associated with different emotions such as fear, guilt, or
delight
A. DePaulo
B. Ekman
C. Zuckerman
D. Charles Darwin
9. The guilty suspect is presumed to probably display nervous behaviors such as crossing their legs, shifting
seating position, and preforming grooming behavior when giving answer to the questions.
A. Facial Emotional Expression
B. Reality Monitoring
C. Behavioral Analysis Interview
D. Interpersonal Deception Theory
10. __________ suggests that liars must performed several simultaneous communication tasks during a face-to-
face encounter test is conducted to a person suspected of involvement on a particular issue under investigation.
A. Behavioral Analysis Interview
B. Emotional Reactions
C. Interpersonal Deception Theory
D. Self-Presentational Perspective

C O N G R A T U L A T IO N S on reaching the end of this module!

You may now proceed to the next module.
Don’t forget to submit all the exercises, activities and portfolio
on ___________________.
KEEP UP THE GOOD W ORK.
Well Done!!!