Design and Pilot of a Polygraph Field Validation Study.
Abstract
This study was conducted to determine whether panel of individuals could accurately determine ground truth by reviewing case material contained in the files of individuals who underwent confession-verified polygraph tests. Panels were presented with all case material collected prior to the conduct of the polygraph exam. To determine how well panels could decide ground truth, the reliability with which panelists arrived at decisions of suspect-guilt and innocence was determined, and the validity of their decision was evaluated by tests. The study was based on selected specific-incident criminal investigative files requested from the military. Files were sanitized (removing all identifying information) with case material placed in chronological order and abstracted. Twenty-seven confession-verified multiple suspect criminal investigative files were then selected and reviewed by three six-member panels consisting of lay persons, police investigators, and attorneys. The results indicated that panelists, regardless of their professional backgrounds, could not decide which individuals committed crimes with high reliability. The decisions of the panelists were not accurate: their decisions did not match the ground truth criterion. These results indicated that it is unlikely that panels can be used to establish ground truth with any degree of confidence. Field studies of polygraph validity must use some other procedure to establish ground truth. (AN)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA305747
Entities
People
- Thomas E. Dohm
- William G. Iacono