POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

• A form of PVE involves the examination of a subject using the polygraph instrument that officially
covers the moment the subject enters the polygraph suite until he leaves.
• Include the time when the examiner officially accepted the case and commenced gathering information
from the requesting party.
POLYGRAPH TEST

• The specific part of the polygraph examination that transpires from the moment the chart drive
(kymograph) is turned on until it is turned off
• The actual test whereby the reactions of the subject on a specific stimulus are being recorded using the
polygraph instrument
EXAMINER

• The expert in polygraph science who uses polygraph instrument to verify the truthfulness of a subject's
statement or testimony
• Other description: polygraphist, forensic psychophysiologist, polygraph examiner
QUALITIES OF GOOD EXAMINER
1. Impartial seeker of truth (Batalang)
2. Always examine professionally and ethically (ibid)
3. According to (Calima, Manwong, San Diego, 2012)
a. Backster:
1) To make himself understand and not to resented by subject, by his very exposure to him
2) Ability to establish or create a rapport with the subject
3) Much investigative experience as possible
4) Interrogation experience
5) Must be deeply involved in his work (even beyond the call of duty)
b. Fred Inbau
1) Good educational background
2) Intelligent and some degree of maturity
3) Possessed with a sense of values

REQUESTING PARTY
• Refers to the person or persons who ask for the services of the examiner to help verify the truthfulness
of a subject's statement or testimony
• Usually, the investigator of the case that requires the polygraph examination
CHECKLIST ON REQUEST FOR POLYGRAPH
a. An investigator on the case should first consult the polygraph examiner on the following:
i. The necessity of the test
ii. The requirement for the test
iii. Selection of subject
iv. A specific area to be resolved
v. Scheduling of the test and the subject
b. A written request for the test accompanied by pertinent statements and complete facts of the case to include
background information on the subject
c. The investigator should hand-carry the request to the polygraph examiner so he can personally inform the
latter of the details and verified facts of the case
d. The investigator shall accompany the subject on the date and time of the test and stay there until the
examination is completed
PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER DURING INVESTIGATION
AND INTERROGATION
1. The determination whether the subject is telling the truth regarding the crime index investigation
2. Obtaining information or confession from a suspect after his guilt has been established
3. Witnesses, informers, and informants have helpful information but are afraid or reluctant to disclose it to the
interrogator.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINER TO HIS SUBJECT (Batalang)

1. Recognize the fact that his primary responsibility must be to the person who voluntarily submitted himself to
a polygraph test
2. Never conduct polygraph examination without first advising the subject of his constitutional right against
self-incrimination
3. Never examine unless the instrument is in good working condition
4. Never render a certain/conclusive verbal opinion unless there are two or more charts
5. Familiar with the techniques and procedures in a polygraph

SUBJECT

• refers to the person to be (or being) examined, usually a suspected criminal

• aka examinee

SUBJECTS IN LIE DETECTION TEST

1. A suspect of a crime
• Whose guilt is definite or reasonably certain
• Emotional offender
• A person who commit crimes in the heat of passion
• A person whose offenses are accidental
• Non-emotional offender
• A person who commits crimes for financial gain
• Those whose guilt is doubtful or uncertain
2. A complainant to elicit the truth of his complaint
3. A job applicant of candidates for promotion in business establishments
Note: Not all subjects can be examined in the lie detection test. They must possess first the following:
a. Mental fitness
b. Physical fitness
c. Voluntary admission
d. Experience

3 GENERAL TYPES OF SUBJECTS

1. Victims of Complainants
2. Witness
3. Suspects

ACCURACY AND RELIABILITY

Reliability refers to the ability to replicate or duplicate diagnostic opinions. Replication can occur by (Damme,
n.d.):
a. Test-Retest Reliability
This refers to the consistency of opinion when an individual is examined and then reexamined by the same or a
different examiner
b. Intra-Rater Reliability
Refers to the consistency of opinions formed when evaluating a series of polygraph charts and at a later
date/time reevaluating that same chart (blindly by the same examiner)
c. Inter-Rater Reliability
This refers to the capability of two or more examiners to evaluate data and to form a similar opinion

Reliability is a necessary part of establishing validity. The examination can be reliable but lack validity
(accuracy). However, a necessary part for establishing validity is the additional requirement to demonstrate
reliability.
Therefore, to meet the scientific test for diagnostic accuracy, polygraph diagnostic procedures must enjoy both
validity and reliability.
The US Department-funded experiments conducted by three psychology doctors from 1975 to 1976 at the
University of Utah showed the polygraphy to be 90% accurate. Only 10% of the results were declared
inconclusive. However, in more recent research, the confirmed average validity was shown to be 96%.
Polygraphists produce very high rates of agreement (96%-100%) based on numerical scoring of charts.
According to the American Polygraph Association, 80 research projects were listed since 1980 involving more
than 6000 polygraph examinations. Researchers conducted 23 studies on the validity and reliability of
polygraph examinations in field settings, which provide an average accuracy of 95%. Fifty-seven studies were
conducted in laboratory simulation, which provided an average accuracy of 81%.
Polygraph is an accurate, reliable, and scientific method to exonerate the innocent and detect the guilty when
properly administered by a professionally-trained and competent polygraph examiner, using a standard
procedure and instrumentation.
Like any other instrument used to measure human physiology to form professional opinions, the polygraph is
not infallible. However, the scientific community agrees that polygraph examinations, as they are being used
today, have great probative value in detecting truthful persons and deceptive ones (The Questions, n.d.).
The accuracy of the result of the polygraph examination is dependent on the following factors:
FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACCURACY OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION RESULT (Calima,
Manwong, San Diego, 2012)
1. The instrument must be reliable
2. The condition of the subject
3. The condition of the examination room must be well planned
4. The qualification and skills of the examiner
5. Good teamwork by the investigator, polygraph examiner, and their superiors (Batalang)
Errors of lie detection depend on the following circumstances:
1. Nervousness or extreme emotional tension experienced by a subject who is telling the truth regarding the
offense in question who is nevertheless affected by:
a. Apprehension induced by the mere fact that suspicion or accusation has been directed against him
b. Apprehension over the possibility of an inaccurate lie detector test result
c. Over-anxiety to cooperate in order to assure an accurate test result
d. Apprehension concerning possible physical hurt from the instrument
e. Anger or resentment over having to take a lie detector test
f. Over-anxiety regarding serious personal problems unrelated to the offense under investigation
g. Previous extensive interrogation, especially when accompanied by physical abuse
h. A guilt complex or fear of detection regarding some other offense which he had committed
2. Physiological abnormalities such as:
a. Excessive high or excessively low blood pressure
b. Diseases of the heart
c. Respiratory disorder
3. Mental abnormalities such as:
a. Feeblemindedness as in idiots, imbeciles, and morons
b. Psychosis or insanities, as in manic-depressives, paranoids, schizophrenia, etc
c. Psychoneurosis and psychopathic, as among the so-called "peculiar" or emotionally unstable persons-
those who are neither psychotic nor normal
4. Unresponsiveness in a lying or guilty subject because of:
a. No fear of detection
b. Apparent ability to consciously control response through mental sets of attitudes
c. A condition of "sub-shock" or "adrenal exhaustion" at the time of the test
d. Rationalization of the crime in advance of the test to such an extent that lying about the offense
arouses little or no emotional disturbance
e. Extensive interrogation before the test
5. Attempt to "beat the machine" by controlled breathing or by muscular flexing
6. Unobserved application of muscular pressure produces ambiguities and misleading indications in the blood
pressure tracing.