UNIT 1- THE POLYGRAPH EXAMINER
• A polygraph examiner is one who is skilled and
capable to detect deception or verify truth of
statement through instrumentation or the use
of mechanical device. The instrument or device
utilized to detect deception or verify
truthfulness of the statements must meet the
basic
• instrumentation requirement of being capable
of recording simultaneously on a moving chart
the physiological responses.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND
QUALITIES EXPECTED OF A POLYGRAPH EXAMINER:
• 1. He must remember that he is an impartial
seeker of the truth, conducts his examination in
a professional and ethical manner, and never
allow his personal feelings, sympathies, or
prejudice influence the result of the
examination.
• 2. He should constantly bear in his mind his
primary responsibility to his subject to give
them all possible safeguards against error and
must never accept for polygraph examination,
any subject whose physical or mental health or
state makes him unfit.
• 3. Technically, he must have a complete
knowledge of the instrument and its potentials
and limitations, the most modern polygraph
technique, proficiency in the conduct of the
polygraph examination, test construction and
chart interpretation.
• 4. Morally, he must have a sincere desire to be
a polygraph examiner in its strictest sense, by
devoting himself to the polygraph profession
through maintenance of a high personal
integrity and increasing personal proficiency
through constant study and research.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINER TO HIS
SUBJECT
• 1. The polygraph examiner recognizes the fact
that his primary responsibility must be the
person who has voluntary submitted himself to
a polygraph examination.
• 2. He should never conduct examination on a
person without first the appraisal of the
subject’s constitutional rights, rights against
self- incrimination.
• 3. He should never perform examination to any
person unless the instrument he is going to
utilize is in good working condition and makes a
continuous permanent recording on a moving
chart of at least two physiological tracings.
• 4. He should never render a certain or
conclusive verbal or written opinion based on
the chart analysis without having administered
at least two or more charts.
• 5. He should not suggest testimony concerning
the charts or conclusions presented by another
examiner unless he is methodically familiar with
the techniques and procedures employed.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE INVESTIGATOR TO THE
SUBJECT
1. He must not wait until the last minute, after all
investigative methods and techniques have
failed, the test should never be used as a last
resort;
2. He must not fail to investigate the case before
seeking assistance. The polygraph examination does not
establish whether a crime has been committed or not.
Faulty or incomplete investigation places the examiner
3. He should not depend on the mass screening of
possible suspects to produce the guilty party except
when no reasonable amount of investigation had
produced a likely suspect or materially narrowed down
the number of possible suspect;
4. Not to stop investigation if polygraph examination is
deferred or temporarily delayed;
5. He must not ask the test to bolster the evidence
submitted to the court.
6. He must not use polygraph as a props, ruse or
trickery to secure confession or for the evaluation of the
mental and physical state of the suspect;
7. He should not tell anyone that the polygraph would
decide whether the subject or suspect is innocent or
guilty. The court makes the decision.
8. He must not think that investigation is over if the test
indicated that the subject lied or confessed.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF INVESTIGATORS TO THE SUBJECT
1. Be knowledgeable about the polygraph so that he can
talk openly and freely to the person about the test. The
subject may know very little or may have been
misinformed about it;
2. Not to divulge detail of an offense which may be
utilized in application of a “peak of tension test”;
3. Recommend the test as a means for the subject to
indicate his innocence;
4. Stress the test’s capacity for indicating through the
recorded response whether a person is telling the truth;
5. Guarantee the subject that the examiner is qualified
and impartial to all persons involved in the case;
6. avoid any claim for the instrument or examiner that is
not backed by fact.
UNIT II- EXAMINATION ROOM
• Ideally, polygraph test should be performed in a
quiet, private, 90% soundproof roof. Unusual
noise, such as the ringing of the telephone or
conversation of persons outside the
examination room or presence of investigators
or other spectators in the room itself, would
bring disturbances and
• distractions that in turn would distort the
different physiological recordings and seriously
interfere with a satisfactory polygraph
diagnosis.
• Whenever it is possible to do so, a special
equipped and furnished room should be set
aside for polygraph examinations. Such room
should be very conventional as to painted walls
and furniture. It should contain NO decoration,
pictures or other objects that would distract the
attention
• of the person being examined, or which would
allow him capitalize on their existence for
psychological avoidance efforts of the types to
be subsequently described. If Venetian blinds,
decorations, pictures or other ornamental
objects are desired, they should not be placed
in nay part of the faced by the subject during
the course the test. The subject should not face
a glass window or another room during the test
because possible outside distractions
• which may affect the test responses. The
lighting condition of the room should be
arranged in such a way as to supply good but
not too much brightness.
• It is essential that the examination room be
adequately ventilated with an even comfortable
temperature. If existing facilities permit, there
should be an “observation room” adjoining the
examination room, in the wall of which there is
an inserted “one way mirror”and
• a concealed microphone so that a person or
persons in the observation room may hear as
well as see what occurs in the examination
room.
UNIT III- TEST PROCEDURE IN POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
• THEORY OF POLYGRAPH
“When a mentally normal person tells a lie,
physiological changes occur within his/ her body that
could be recorded by a polygraph machine and
evaluated by polygraph examiner”.
WHAT TAKES PLACE DURING POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION?
• The nervous control of the human body
includes the central nervous system ( the brain
and the spinal cord) and the autonomic or
regulating nervous system which has two
complimentary branches: the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous system acting
opposite each other.
PUROSE OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
• To determine truth or deception based on the
presence of emotional disturbance of the
subject as appearing on the recorded
physiological responses to question relative to
the case under investigation.
USES OF POLYGRAPH
• 1. It is an investigative aid for the investigators
to:
▫ A. Confirm the statements of victims;
▫ B. Ascertain the credibility of the
witness;
▫ C. Assess truthfulness of the suspects.
2. It speeds up the process of investigation.
3. It eliminates the innocent subjects.
4. The investigator can focus to one subject to
determine the truth or deception.
OBJECTIVES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
1. Determine if the subject is telling the truth by
verifying statements an/ or comparing conflicting
statements.
2. Acquire additional investigative leads to the facts
of an offense.
3. Locate fruits or tools of crime or whereabouts of
wanted persons.
4. Identify other persons involved.
5. Gain valuable information from unwilling subject.
LIMITATIONS OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
1. It is an invaluable aid, but not a substitute for an
investigation;
2. It is not a lie detector, but it is a scientific diagnostic
instrument;
3. It does not determine facts, it records responses to
the subject knows to be true;
4. It is as accurate as the examiner is competent;
5. The test should not be given until enough facts of the
case have been established to permit an examiner to
prepare a complete set of suitable question.
6. A test should not be administered without the
voluntary consent of the subject.
7. No indication should will be given to any person or
written in any report that a person is guilty because he
refuses to take the test.
8. A test should not be administered until the
accusations have been explained to the subject.
9. No attempt to use polygraph for mental or physical
evaluation of any person.
10. Examination should not be conducted to an unfit
subject.
LIMITATION OF THE SUBJECT WHO WILL UNDERGO
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
1. The subject must have a goodnight sleep at least five
(5) hours prior to the test.
2. He must refrain from smoking for at least two (2)
hours.
3. He should not undergo prolonged interrogation prior
to the test.
4. The subject must not have been subject to physical
abuse or body contact.
5. He must refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages,
taking sedatives, or capsule or syrup for at least twelve
(12) hours prior to the test.
6. He must not be suffering from any temporary illness
like headache, toothache, stomachache, fever,
menstruation (for female), severe colds and coughs.
7. He must not be hungry; and
8. He must not have sex indulgence prior to the test.
HOW DOES THE TEST PROCESS WORK?
A. The examiner receives and reviews the facts of the
case.
B. The examiner explains the test process to the subject
and review facts of the case during pretest interview.
C. The examiner designs the specific responses and read
each question to the subject to make sure each one is
easily understood.
D. The polygraph instruments attached on the subject’s
body and he is given an additional instruction.
E. The questions are read to the subject several times
while the polygraph sensors are attached on the
subject’s body.
F. After charts (polygram) have been run, the examiner
analyzes the charts and develops a numerical score for
the test. This score results in a conclusion of truthful,
deceptive or inconclusive.
G. The examiner will transmit the test result to the
client verbally and a written report may be requested.
NOTE: Polygraph examinations are conducted in a
private with no other person permitted in the
examination room during the test except if an
interpreter is needed.
PHASE I- INITIAL INTERVIEW WITH THE INVESTIGATOR
HANDLING THE CASE
• It is essential for the examiner to obtain
accurate information concerning all the
available facts and circumstances that form the
basis for the suspicion or accusation directed
against the person to be examined in order to
conduct a satisfactory polygraph examination. If
victim or eyewitnesses to an occurrence is
available, he or she should be interviewed.
• Whenever several investigators have been
working in the case, they should be
interviewed, otherwise the examiner may
obtain only garbled version of the facts of the
case.
• For better polygraph examination purposes
than more verbal description or even
photographs, a crime sketch prepared by the
investigator is preferred. Unless the examiner is
fully informed about the case, he will not be in
the position to conduct a sufficient pretest
• interview with the subject. It is during this
phase that the relevant, irrelevant, control and
sometimes the guilt complex questions are
formulated. It is also helpful for the examiner to
know as much about the subject and his
background as is available. Such information
facilitates the pre-test interview as well as post
test interrogation of a lying subject.
THIS PHASE INCLUDES:
1. Acquiring and evaluating the facts;
2. Determining the areas the subject needs to be asked;
3. The investigator must furnish the examiner the
following;
A. Sworn statement of the suspect, witness and victim/
complainant;
B. Incident or spot report;
C. Background Investigation (BI) of suspects, witnesses,
and victim/ complainant;
D. Rough sketch or picture of the crime scene and other
facts such as:
D.1. Specific article and exact amount of money stolen.
D.2. Peculiar aspect of the offense or any strange set.
D.3. Exact time of the offense committed.
D.4. Known facts about the suspect’s action or
movement.
D.5. Facts indicating any connection between the
suspects, victim and witnesses.
D.6. Exact type of weapon, tool or firearms used.
D.7. Result of the laboratory test.
D.8. Unpublished facts of the offense known only by the
victim, suspects and the investigator of the case.
PHASE II- PRE-TEST INTERVIEW
• The examiner pre-test interview with the
subject prior to the test is considered essential
both for the purpose of conditioning the subject
for the examination and also to provoke and
observe indications of guilt or innocence. The
examiner should not hold back any information
from the subject about the instrument its
attachment or recording. This will serve to
increase a lying subject concerned over possible
detection.
• The examiner should be friendly to the subject
but reserve during the pre-test interview. No
accusatory approach is made in this phase. The
subject himself is usually the best source of
information about his behavior.
• The primary purpose of this phase is to
prepare or condition the subject for the test.
THIS PHASE INCLUDES:
1. The appraisal of the subject’s constitutional right.
2. Obtain subject’s consent to undergo polygraph test
by signing statement of consent.
3. The taking of personal data of the subject.
4. Determine his suitability as a subject.
5. Clinical observation of the subject.
6. Evaluating the psychological preparation of the
subject.
7. Informing the subject of his involvement of the case.
RIGHTS OF THE SUBJECT
1. To be examined by a qualified examiner;
2. To be determined if fit for examination;
3. To be informed of the reason for the lie detector test;
4. To have an explanation of the lie detector machine
and what it does;
5. To give consent to the lie detector test;
6. Not to be compelled to undergo prolonged
questioning;
7. Not to be expose to oral criticism or abuse
8. Not to be exposed to physical, mental or
psychological abuse, and
9. To refuse to submit to the lie detector test.
PHASE III- THE CONDUCT OF INSTRUMENTATION OR
ACTUAL TEST
• After the pretest interview the examiner should
proceed to place the attachment of polygraph
components on the subject. In practice the first
to be attached is the Pneumograph, followed by
Cardiosphymograph and the Galvanograph.
Review all the questions being prepared with
the subject before the actual examination is
made. The examiner
• should discourage any lengthy comments or
statement by the subject respecting the matter
of incident under investigation or his disclaimer
of responsibility for it.
• Test instruction is given to the subject. Any
movement of the body will have an effect on
the results on the chart paper. The answer of
the subject is limited to YES or NO in order to
avoid distortion of tracing on the chart.
PHASE IV- POST-TEST INTERVIEW/ INTERROGATION
• This phase includes all consideration that bears on
the examination just after the instrument are
turned off. If there are significant fluctuations that
show up on the polygraph test result this may signal
that the subject has been deceptive, specially if the
person displayed similar responses to the question
that was repeatedly asked, the examiner will then
• The examiner will then proceed to conduct short
interrogation. The purpose of which is to obtain
confession or admission. However, if the chart of
the polygraph indicates that the subject is innocent,
the examiner will just release the subject cordially
and thanks him/ her for his/her cooperation.
CAN A PERSON BE COMPELLED TO UNDERGO LIE
DETECTOR TEST?
• In as much as the test requires the subject to
answer the question either by “yes or no”, it
infers the use of intelligence and attention or
other mental faculties which is self-
 incriminatory. Therefore, you cannot compel a
person to be subjected to the test.
IS THERE A BEST TIME OF A DAY TO CONDUCT A
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION?
• YES. Since it is important that the person tested
be capable of the maximum reactions (for
scoring purposes), that person should be well
rested prior to the examination. In other words,
testing conducted in the morning will be more
productive than those examinations conducted
in later in the day and in the evening, these
significantly increases the risk of an inconclusive
result. The person also should not be tested
right after the argument, interrogation or long
day of work if possible.
CAN SOMEONE BELOW THE AGE 18 TAKE A
POLYGRAPH?
• YES, but the examiner must have first the
written consent of the parent or guardian of the
child. However, most examiners will not test
anyone who is less than 12 years age except for
extraordinary purposes.
CAN MEDIACTION AFFECT THE TEST RESULT?
• YES, any drug or medication that suppress
normal activity of the Central Nervous System
will reduce the strength of reactions found on
the polygraph charts, resulting in a higher
likelihood of inconclusive results. Examples of
these drugs are sedatives, anti- anxiety meds,
blood pressure stabilizers, etc. The medication
will not change the outcome of an examination
it only serves to reduce the chances of resolving
problem.
WHAT IF A PERSON HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION?
• The polygraph examination does not cause any
direct injury to the person being tested. The
only discomfort is a s standard blood pressure
cuff, which is place on the arm (typically) and is
inflated for less than five minutes at a time.
There are increase stress level during the
testing process that should be considered.
Some medical conditions are sensitive to
increased stress
• levels., such as some heart conditions.
Depending on the medical conditions are
sensitive, most examiners would require an
approval from treating physician prior in the
administration of the examination on someone
with such condition. It is suggested that a
person who is using these types of drugs or
under medication be subjected on a
computerized polygraph, which is capable of
greater sensitivity.
CAN A PREGNANT WOMAN BE TESTED?
• It does not affect the outcome of a polygraph
examination to test a pregnant woman unless
the fetus is making excessive movements or
causing pain to the mother during the test.
Most examiners will not test pregnant woman
after the first tri- mester. Some examiners will
only test if there is a note from the woman’s
physician starting that there are
• No complications from the pregnancy and the
stress of taking a polygraph test would not have
an impact on the health of the mother or the
fetus.
THE GENERAL RULES IN QUESTION FORMULATION:
• It must be simple and direct.
• They must nt involve legal terminology, such as
rape, assault, murder killed. ect.
• They must be answerable by yes or no only and
should be as possible.
• Their meaning must be clear and phrase in a
language the subject can easily understand.
• They must not be in the form of accusation.
• Questions must never contain inference
(opinion).
• All questions must refer to one offense only.
• They must not contain inferences to one’s
religion, race or belief.
“WHAT TAKES PLACE ON A POLYGRAPH CHART
DURING THE TEST?”
During the test, the examiner asks question,
this question becomes verbal stimulus, and the message
is received by the ear and transmitted to the brain. The
brain analyses the question, if the question is not a
threat to the well being of the subject the thought
central center discards it and the body continue to
function normally. However, when the question is
important to the subject, physiological chain reaction
takes place within his/her body, which is recorded by
the polygraph instrument and can be evaluated by the
polygraph examiner.
TYPES OF QUESTIONS
Irrelevant Questions – without relationship to the case
under investigation which tend to establish the
psychological norm of the subject and to lessen the
excitement produced by the relevant questions.
Evidence Connecting Questions – intended to arouse
the guilty subject and focus his attention on the
probability of incriminating proof that would establish
his guilt.
Knowledge Questions – designed to discover on the
information of the subject regarding the identity of the
offender.
Sacrifice or DYAT Question – divulge the subject’s
norm plus stimulus and excitement stage before the
first relevant question.
Control Question (Probable Lie) intended to generate a
response in an innocent subject and as basis for
assessing the subject perceptual set.
a. Primary Control Question – known lie
about the same or similar case but not connected to
the present case that happened 2 years from the
present date.
b. Secondary Control Question – the same
with primary but not related to the present case and
has connection with his present job or activities.
Symptomatic Question – designed to identify and
assess the occurrence of outside issued that has the
possibility of restraining the subject responses.
SKY Question – designed to verify the indirect
participation or guilty knowledge of the subject such
as S for suspect, K for know, and Y for you. Did you
suspect, did you know and did you steal?
TEST TECHNIQUW
 Relevant/Irrelevant – composed of 5 set of test
1. General Question Test -
a. Irrelevant Q
b. Irrelevant
c. Weak Relevant
d. Irrelevant
e. Strong Relevant
f. Primary Control
g. Irrelevant
h. Evidence Connecting
i. Knowledge
j. Secondary Control
2. Cards or Number Test – intended to ensure the
accurateness of the test on the innocent subject and to
arouse the guilty subject.
3. Spot Responder Test – designed to eliminate the spot
responder subject who illicit reactions to numbers and
not to questions and to determine the responsiveness
of the subject.
4. Mix Question Test – intended to compare the degree
of reaction between relevant and control question
5. Silent Answer Test – the subject is given the same
order of question in Spot responder but instructed to
answer the questions in his mind without utterance.
Peak of Tension Test – applicable only to a case where
other persons, aside from the offender, victims and
investigator, do not have knowledge on facts of the
case. It is composed of 7 questions first 3 are padding,
the 4th relevant questions, and the 3 are also padding.
Five Variations of the Zone Comparison Technique
The Matte Quadri – Track Zone Comparison Technique
- technique in single issue test, composed of basic test
structure and qualification system of Backster with
some refinement and addition of another spot (inside
track) consisting of control relevant questions.
2. Backster Tri – Zone Comparison Technique or Zone
Comparison Test (ZCT) – OTHERWISE KNOWN AS Zone
of Comparison Test - used for polygraph interrogation
particularly in criminal investigation.
3. Department of Defense Polygraph Institute (DoDPI)
composed of 2 Zone Comparison Technique containing
all Backster Zone Test (BI – ZONE TEST)
4. Integrated Zone Comparison Technique – developed
by Nathan Gordon, William Waid, and Philip M. Cocheti
with the most departure from original Zone Comparison
Technique by Backster
5. Utah Zone Comparison Technique – basically the
same with single – issue test utilized for multiple issue
test.
Chart Interpretation – is the most
important single factor in polygraph testing in
polygraphy. Its accuracy is dependent on the
examiner’s ability to diagnose truth or deception.
• General Rules in Chart Interpretation
1. There must be specific response.
2. To be specific, it must be a form of
deviation from the norm.
3. It must appear in at least two charts.
4. The best indication of deception is the
simultaneous responses in the three
tracings of the subject.
• Theories in an Attempt to Detect Deception
1. Guilty subject reacts on relevant
questions and inhibits no reactions on
irrelevant questions.
2. If the responses on relevant questions
are greater than that of control
question, the subject is lying.
 3. If the responses on the control
questions are greater than relevant
questions, the subject is telling the
truth.
4. If the reactions to strong relevant
questions and primary control
questions are the same, the subject is
telling inconclusive.
5. If the subject reacts on control
questions, he is disturbed by another
offense – subject is innocent.
6. If the subject reacts on questions nos.
3, 5, 8, and 9 even after the same has
been in the mix question test where
the relevant questions are found on
different numbers, the subject is spot
responder.
• Admissibility of the Results of Polygraphy

Generally, the result of polygraph

examination is not admissible as evidence in court,
unless the parties have stipulated in writing duly
signed in the presence of counsel allowing the
introduction of polygraph results in the trial of the
case. However, admission or confession obtained after
or based on polygraph examination is admissible as
evidence as long as it is in accordance with the legal
requirements or constitution.