POLYGRAPHY

POLYGRAPHY

C H E R RY M A E A . B A RT E
What is Polygraphy?

 It is the scientific method of

detecting deception with the use of a
polygraph instrument.

 Also known as instrumental

interrogation/ lie detector test
What is Polygraph?

 is a scientific instrument capable of

simultaneously recording changes in
several physiological variables while the
subject is asked a series of questions
pertaining to a specific issue under
investigation.
Types of
Lie
 Lie of Fabrication
- is something made up or a misrepresentation of a truth.
It is often used by the subject in an interview.
- a lie where the liar invents or makes up a false story
rather that distorting or omitting the truth.

 Lie of Omission
– a lie used by omitting an important fact, deliberately
leaving another person with a misconception.

 White Lie or Benign Lie

– a lie that would cause only relatively minor discord if it
were uncovered and typically offers some benefit to the hearer.
It is often used to maintain harmony of friendship in the home
or in the office.
 Red Lie
- The kind of lie of a person that has something to do with
communist propaganda that is against the government of the
country.

 Malicious or Judicial Lie

– The kind of lie that has the purpose of misleading the
justice in favor of himself or towards other persons.

 Black Lie
– a lie accompanies pretensions and hypocrisies, intriguing
to cause dishonor or discredit one’s good image.
 Puffery or Promotion Lie
– is an exaggerated claim typically found in advertising
and publicity announcements. Such statement is unlikely to be
true but cannot be proven false and so do not violate trade
laws.

 Pathological Lie
- this is a lie made by persons who cannot distinguish right
from wrong.
TYPES OF LIAR
 Panic Liars - one who lies in order to avoid the consequences
of a confession, He/She is afraid of embarrassment to love ones
and it is a serious blow to his / her ego, He/She believes that
confession will just make the matter worst.

 Occupational Liars – Is someone laid for spare years, this

person is a practical liar and lies when it has a higher “pay off”
than telling the truth.

 Tournament Liars - Loves to lie and is excited by the

challenge of not being detected, this person views an interview
as another contest and wants to win, this person realizes that
he or she will probably be convicted bur will not give anyone
the satisfaction of hearing him or her confesses, he wants that
people will believe that the law is punishing an innocent
 Psychopathic Liars - the most difficult type, this person has
no conscience. He shows no regret for dishonestly and no
manifestation of guilt.

 Ethnological Liars – is one who is taught not to be a

squealer,
*squealer – to cry or to shrill voice, used by underworld gang
in order for their member not to reveal any secret of their
organization.

 Pathological Liars - A person who cannot distinguish

right from wrong (his mind is sick.), Is an insane person.

 Black Liars - A person who always pretends, (What he thinks

of himself, what kind of person he is, and what he is.)
MAJOR COMPONENTS OF
POLYGRAPH
PNEUMOGRA
- PH
Records breathing changes of subject which
consists of the ff:
a. Rubber Convoluted Tube = about 10 inches
corrugated rubber attached to the body of the
subject.
b. Beaded Chain = used to lock the rubber
convoluted tube.
c. Recording Pen Unit = consisting of two 5
inches recording pen
d. Centering Knob = used to center the pen
e. Sensitivity Knob = used to adjust the desired size of
tracings

f. Vent = used to release excess pressure from the

system

g. Pneumo Module = located inside the instrument that

receives the reactions detected by the corrugated tube
and moves the pen to record the reactions on the
chart

Pneumo 1 – pneumatic connection for upper (thoracic)

pneumograph.
Pneumo 2 – pneumatic connection for lower (abdominal)
GALVANOGRAPH
- Designed to detect changes in skin resistance of
the subject. Consists of:

a. Finger Electrode Assembly consists of:

a.1. Finger Electrode Plate and Retainer Bond
= attached to the index and ring finger of the
subject.
a.2. Connecting Plug = attached the system to
the instrument

b. Recording Pen Unit = usually 7 inches

c. Amplifier Unit = designed to support the
galvanometer in converting electrical to mechanical
current.

d. Sensitivity Control = used to adjust the desired

size of tracings

e. Centering Control = designed to center the pen on

the chart

f. GSR Module = located inside the instrument that

receives the reactions detected by the finger
electrodes and moves the pen to record the
 CARDIOSPHYGMOG
- RAPH
Designed to detect changes in the cardiovascular
activity/ changes in blood pressure and pulse beat of
the subject. It consists of:

a. Blood Pressure Cuff = attached to the upper right

arm of the subject, above the brachial artery.

b. Sphygmomanometer = used to indicate the

amount of air pressure inflated to the system.
c. Recording Pen Unit = five (5) inches length

d. Air Pump/Pump Bulb = designed to supply air to the

system

e. Cardio Module = located inside the instrument that

receives the reactions detected by the cuff and moves
the pen to record the reactions on the chart

f. Sensitivity Control = used to adjust the desired size of

tracings

g. Centering Control = designed to center the pen on

the chart
 KYMOGRA
- PH
Sometimes refer as the chart drive module of the
polygraph

- The component that drives the chart paper.

- Pulls the chart paper at rate of 6-12 in/min.

- One roll of chart paper may reach 100 feet long. It

has 6 in width, ½ in margin apart.
 PEN AND INKING
SYSTEM
- The one that provides for the permanent record
of the test

 Capillary Ink = a water-based ink intended for

polygraph instruments
 PNEUMO
PNEUMO 2
1

PNEUMOGRA
PH

GALVANOGRAP
H

CARDIOSPHYGMOG
RAPH
FOUR PHASES
OF POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
PHASE I (PRELIMINARY
PREPARATIONS)
- Initial Interview with the investigator
handling the case or person requesting it. The group
involve in this stage are the Victim / Complaint,
Suspects, Witnesses. This stage includes obtaining
and evaluation of facts, determining the areas the
subjects needs to be asked and the investigator
must furnish the examiner of the following:
Sworn statement of the suspect / witnesses/ victim/
complainant, Incident or spot report, B.I. of the suspect,
witnesses, and victim / complainants, rough sketch or
pictures of the crime scene and other facts such as
Specific article and exact amount of money stolen.

Peculiar aspect of the offense or any strange set.

Exact time the offense was committed.

Known facts about the suspect’s action or movement.

Facts indicating any connection between the suspects,

victim and witnesses.
Exact type of weapon, tool or firearms used.

Result of laboratory test.

Unpublished facts of the offense known only by the victim,

suspects and the investigator.
PHASE II - PRE-TEST INTERVIEW with
the subject
- The primary purpose of the pre-test interview of to
prepare or condition the subject for the test
- The appraisal of subject’s constitutional right.
- Obtain subject’s consent to undergo polygraph test by
signing a statement of consent.
- The taking of personal data of the subject.
- Determining his/her suitability as a subject.
- Evaluating the psychological preparation of the
subject.
- Informing the subject of his involvement with the
case.
PHASE III (THE EXAMINATION/INSTRUMENTAL
TEST) – The conduct of Instrumentation and
Actual Test.
- After the pre-test interview, the examiner
should proceed to place the attachment on the
subject. The first to be attached is Pneumograph,
then the Cardiosphymograph and the Galvanograph.
Review all the questions with the subject before the
actual examination is made. Test instrument must be
given to the subject.
PHASE IV – POST–TEST INTERVIEW/
INTERROGATION
- This includes all consideration that bears on the
examination. This is done just after the instrument is
turned off. If the Polygraph test result indicates
deception, the examiner will then proceed to conduct
short interrogation. The purpose of which is to obtain
confession. However, if the Polygraph indicates that
the subject is innocent; the examiner will just release
the subject cordially and thanks him/ her for his/her
cooperation.
The purposes of further questioning after the
test are:

to clarify the findings;

to learn if there are any other reasons for the

subject’s responding to a relevant question, other
than the knowledge of the crime; and

to obtain additional information and an admission

for law enforcement purposes, if the results
suggest deception.
 FORMULATION OF TEST
QUESTIONS
General Rules in formulating Test Questions

 Questions must be simple and direct

 They must not involve legal terminologies

 They must be as simple and as short as possible

 Answerable by Yes or No.

 They must not be in a form of accusatorial.

 Their meaning must be clear and they must be
phrased in a language that the subject can
easily understand.

 They must never contain inference which

presupposes knowledge on the part of the
subject.

 They must refer to one offense only

 They must refer to one element of the offense.

 They must not contain inference to one’s

 DIFFERENT
TYPES OF TEST
QUESTIONS
Irrelevant
Questions
These are questions that have no bearing to
the case under investigation. The question may
refer to the subject‘s age, educational
attainment, marital status, citizenship,
occupation, etc. The examiner asks these types
of questions to ascertain the apprehension.
Relevant
Questions
These are questions pertaining to the issue
under investigation. They must be unambiguous,
unequivocal and understandable to the subject.
They must all be related to one issue or one
criminal act. Relevant questions must be very
specific to obtain an accurate result. It is further
classified according to its stimulation effect when
applied, namely:
A. STRONG
RELEVANT.
It has an intense and specific relationship to
the crime or problem being considered. This is
intended to produce strong emotional response
in guilty subjects.
Example: Did you steal Hazel‘s watch?
B. SECONDARY OR WEAK
RELEVANT.
Questions that concern some secondary
elements of the crime and deal mostly on guilty
knowledge and partial involvement.
Example: Do you know where the missing watch
of Hazel‘s in now?
Control
Questions
These questions compare the physiological
response to relevant questions about the crime
with the response to questions relating to
possible prior misdeeds. These are also
questions designed to produce a response in the
innocent subject.
―This question is often used to determine
whether certain criminal suspects should be
prosecuted or classified as uninvolved in the
crime (American Psychological Association)
a. Primary Control
Questions
– it is based on a known lie. E.g. subject denying
having done something, which is verified, or
known to be true would be a good basis for the
construction of control questions.

Example: Before reaching the age of 25, have you

ever stolen anything?
b. Secondary Control
Questions
– is of a more specified in nature and is based
upon another set of wrong doings, which will
enhance the opportunity for responsiveness. Its
scope includes up to present period of
examination.

Example:
Have you stolen anything from this locality?
Knowledge
Questions
These are questions designed to prove whether
the subject possesses information regarding the
identity of the offender or location of evidence or
facts of the case under investigation.

Example:
Do you know who stole the watch of
Doraemon?
Evidence-Connecting
Questions
This is designed to stimulate the guilty
subject and focus his attention on the probability
of incriminating proof that would tend to
establish his guilt. In formulating these
questions, the examiner must secure information
from the investigator on the availability of
evidences collected from the crime scene.

Example:
Were the found footprints outside of Hazel‘s
house yours?
Guilt-Complex
Questions
- This is specialized control question designed to safeguard
against mistaking relevant questions response and is based on
a fictitious crime under investigation. The examiner, prior
to approaching the subject, must be certain that the fictitious
crime was never actually committed. The details of the question
must be specific enough that the guilty subject can be sure he
did not commit this particular offense.

Example:
Did you steal the gold coin of Juan?
Symptomatic
Questions
- This is a question designed to detect and evaluate the
presence of outside issues, which may suppose responses to
relevant questions. As outside issue factor is present in subject
who fears that he might be asked about another case in which
he is involved, but not the subject matter under investigation.

Example:
DO you understand that I'm not going to ask any trick or
surprise questions?
S-K-Y Question
- They are designed to confirm the previous charts and
detect indirect involvement or guilty knowledge.

S stands for suspect

Do you suspect anyone in particular of stealing any of that
money?
K stands for know
Do you know for sure who stole any of the money?
Y stands for you
Did you steal any of the money?
 TEST
TECHNIQUES
TEST I – GENERAL QUESTION TEST
(GQT)
This test is about case under investigation.
These are sequence of relevant, irrelevant and
control questions asked in a designed order.

The questions are arranged in order to

contrast the subject’s responses between
relevant and control questions. The answer to
the questions is restricted to YES or NO only
 TEST II – CARD OR NUMBER
(STIMULATION OR
-VERIFICATION TEST)
Done while all the instruments are still attached to
the body.

- Upon finishing of the 1st test, here is another part

of the test; the examiner will show to the subject
7 variously numbered cards, face down. The
numbers 7, 11, and 13 should not be used because
other subjects are too superstitious and numbers
6 and 9 should not be included to avoid confusion
on the part of the subject.
- The subject is given an instruction to get a card, look at it
and memorize the number of the card that was chosen and
return it without showing it to the examiner or telling the
number.

- After the selection is finished, the examiner shuffles the

cards and will instruct the subject to answer NO to each
question regarding the cards even if the number of the
card he has chosen is asked. In short one of the subjects
answers to the question will be a lie.

- The verification on test is intended to assure the innocent

examinee of the accurateness of the test and of the
competency of the polygraphist. It further serves to arouse
TEST III – SPOT RESPONDER TEST
- This test contains question previously asked
in GENERAL QUESTIONS TEST with the same
number of the same questions on the earlier test

TEST IV – MIXED QUESTION

TEST
- The test is the same with Test III but the
questions of GQT is again mixed and the
sequences of the question are rearranged.
TEST V – SILENT ANSWER TEST
(SAT)
- In this test the subject is instructed by the
examiner to avoid from giving any verbal answer to the
questions that are to be asked of him during the test.
 1. Normal Responses - are
responses of the subject
KINDS OF
that has no bearing on
RESPONSE
the matter under
investigation.

2. Specific Responses – are

responses which contain
deviations or signs of
deception which has
direct bearing on the
 CHART
MARKINGS
Two Types Chart Markings
Primary Markings
- these are markings which indicate the
beginning and end of examination as well as the
questions and answers of the subject. These are usually
placed at the bottom or top of the polygraph chart

Secondary Markings
- are markings which are placed only if the
examinee does something which will cause the
physiological tracings to distort. These markings are
usually placed below the affected tracing
End of Presentation

Thank You &

God bless
FUTURE RCRIMS!
C H E R RY M A E A . B A RT E