CHAPTER 8.

PHASES IN CONDUCTING
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
1. PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW (Initial Interview with the investigator)
2. Pre-test Interview
3. Instrumentation/Actual Test/Polygraph Exam
4. Posttest Interview/Interrogation
All examinations will be administered by a professionally trained and certified polygraph
examiner (polygraphist) using state-of-the-art computerized polygraph technology.
5. PRELIMINARY INTERVIEW/Initial Interview with the Investigator
• Conducted to obtain accurate information regarding all available facts and circumstances
that form the basis for the suspicion or accusation directed against the person to be
examined.
• In case of several investigators working on the case, ask the one who is best informed to
supply pertinent information and then allow others to add necessary details.
• In certain cases where a large volume of written materials must be reviewed, it shall be
sent to the examiner before the investigator’s arrival
• A background investigation of suspects, witnesses, and victim/complainant is conducted.
Documents to be submitted by the investigator:
a. Sworn statement of the suspect, witness, and victim/complainant
b. Incident or spot report
c. A background investigation of suspect/s, witness and victim/complainant
d. Rough sketch or pictures of the crime scene and other facts such as:
- Specific article and the exact amount of money stolen
- A peculiar aspect of the offense or any strange situation
- The exact time the offense was committed
- Known facts about the suspect’s action or movement
- Facts indicating any connection between the suspect, victim and witnesses
- The exact type of weapon, tool or firearm used
- Result of the laboratory test
- Unpublished facts of the offense known only by the victim, suspects, and the
investigator of the case.
During this stage, the examiner must decide on which type of questions he will
be using. He shall discuss the relevant questions with the investigator or
requesting party. On his approval, the examiner shall proceed to the interview
room to start the pre-test interview.
2. PRETEST INTERVIEW
During this phase, the examiner will:
a. Inform the examinee of the specific purpose of the examination.
b. Advise examinee of his or her constitutional rights, of their right to retain legal counsel
and of their voluntariness with regards to the examination;
c. Appraisal of the subject that he must give his written consent to prove that he is willing
to voluntarily undergo the test. The taking of his data and explanation of the test
procedure follows for file and reference purposes.
Statement of Consent is proof showing that the subject has voluntarily undergone the test.
d. Determine if the examinee is suitable to take the polygraph examination;
e. Explain the procedure of polygraph exam to the examinee exam procedure, of the
instrumentation and its components;
f. Verify any medication take by examinee to ensure that it will not affect the outcome of the
exam
g. Take the version of the examinee of the facts regarding the specific issue;
h. Review together with the examinee, questions to be asked during the polygraph
examination.
This is done to prepare or condition the subject for the test. The pretest interview is essential
because, through it, extraneous fear, apprehension, nervousness, or distaste of the test’s idea is
overcome. It places the subject in a cooperative and objective point of view to willingly
approach the test, and at the same time, afford the examiner to see and evaluation of the
subject to form the basis for the type of test technique best applicable. A polygraph test’s
success greatly depends on the rapport between the examiner and his subject.
The pre-test interview absorbs 45 minutes of a pre-test’s approximately 90 minutes duration.
To start the pretest interview, the examiner will introduce himself to the subject and describe
what will happen during the polygraph examination. Then, the examiner lets the subject
explain his or her version of what happened. Discussion on questions that will be asked will
then follow. Surprise or trick questions are not asked during polygraph examination. The
examiner will also make sure that the subject answers all test questions confidently and
understandingly.
Written on “Truth Verification Tools, with a special study of Truster Pro, during the pre-test
interview, the examiner will do the following:
- Talk nicely with the subject and ensure that he is at ease,
- Give the subject a detailed explanation of what will happen during the actual testing phase,
and confirm his understanding.
- Define the subject’s legal rights
- Briefly explain to the subject what the polygraph is all about and how it works
- Write down all the subject’s details for the making of the identification sheet attached to the report
- Ask certain questions about the subject’s health, if he has eaten over the last 5-6 hours, if he had a
good rights rest and is not too tired
- Talk about the “incident” or the “issue.”
- Verify the readiness of the subject to undergo a polygraph test
- Invite the subject to sit in the interviewing chair.
During this phase, an attachment of the polygraph accessories is made with a brief explanation of
the function of each. The examiner shall ask the subject to sit still during the whole time of each
chart recording, which is approximately 4-5 minutes.
Procedures“:
1. Power on
2. Attach systematically (GSR, Pneumo, Cardio)
3. Vents Close
4. Pump bulb (60/70)
5. Adjust sensitivity and centering knobs at the same time (gradually increase/decrease
until subject’s tracings are normal)
6. Start test (X)
• Observe 20 seconds before proceeding on the next question
7. The test has ended (XX)
8. Chart off
9. Turn the sensitivity to zero
10. Open vents
11. Detach sensors (cardio, Pneumo, GSR)
Purpose of the Pretest Interview:
1. To condition the subject psychologically for the test
2. To determine whether the subject is fit to take the test
3. To afford the examiner to make an observation and evaluation of the subject in order to
be able to determine the type of test technique best applicable to the case
4. For the examiner to be able to establish rapport with the subject
5. For the examiner to determine whether the subject voluntarily submit himself to the test.
PURPOSE OF LETTING THE SUBJECT KNOW IN ADVANCE WHAT TEST
QUESTIONS WILL BE ASK
To dispel any apprehension on his part about being asked many questions dealing with some
other unrelated matter that may be disturbing to him.
Moreover, by acquainting the subject with the questions, the examiner will also assure him that
the subject understands the questions and their importance. The subject’s clear understanding of
the questions will also minimize the risk of false meaning conveyed by various infections or
pauses that may occur as the examiner propounds the questioning during the test.
3. INSTRUMENTATION/ACTUAL TEST
During this second phase, the examine will:
• Place the components on the examinee’s body, thereby connecting him or her to the
polygraph instrument;
• Conduct a calibration test to ensure that the polygraph is in good working order at the time of
the examination;
• Proceed with the actual polygraph examination. The examiner will ask the set of questions
that were formulated and reviewed during the pre-exam interview.
The set of questions will be asked a minimum of three times with a pause in between series.
A polygraph examination lasts about two hours. However, every examination is different;
some can last more or less depending on the complexity of the issue.
4. POST-TEST INTERVIEW/INTERROGATION
During this last phase, the examiner will:
• Analyze the examinee’s physiological data collected during the examination phase;
• Inform and discuss the results with the examinee, which will be one of the following:
No Deception Indicated(NDI)The Examinee is telling the truth
Deception Indicated(DI) The Examinee is not telling the truth
Inconclusive No Opinion can be rendered
Incomplete Insufficient Data collected
 During the post-test, the subject’s response to the questions will be analyzed and scored by
the forensic psychophysiologist. Each channel of the polygraph is scored individually. For any
channel, if the control response is larger than the relevant response, the score is +1 to +3,
depending on the magnitude of the difference. If the relevant response is larger, the score is -1
to -3. The scores are summed over all channels and all questions repetitions to get to the total
score. If the final score is sufficiently large and positive, the subject must have made truthful
statements. If the final score is sufficiently large and negative, then the statements are
considered deceptive. If the result is close to zero, then the test is inconclusive.
While recording the response tracing with the polygraph instrument, they evaluate the
results to determine whether the individual has been deceptive. Suppose the polygraph
examination results indicate that the examinee was telling the truth. In that case, the individual
is thanked for participating in the test and leaves. But, if the examination results indicate that
the individual appears to be deceptive, the examiner will begin the third phase of the test.
 The questioning, or interrogation, allows the examinee to clarify or allows the
Polygraph Science Center examiner to help the examinee overcome denial and tell
the truth. While acting professionally and understandingly, a skilled examiner may
use effective questioning techniques to make the examinee comfortable telling the
truth. After all, that is the purpose of entire proves. This is conducted when
significant fluctuations show up on polygraph primarily to obtain admission or
confession.
Suppose the chart indicates that the subject is innocent. In that case, the
examiner will release the subject cordially and thank him/her for his/her
cooperation.

END OF TOPIC 3…