Basic vs. Applied Psychology perspectives lead to different implications from the same data; reevaluating the impact of prior expectations on polygraph outcomes. Issue 1 (2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ginton, Avital
• Is Part Of: Social sciences & humanities open. Volume 1:Issue 1(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Subjects: Applied vs. basic psychology -- Contamination -- Deception detection -- Lie detection -- Polygraph testing -- CQT -- Comparison question test -- Prior expectations; Social sciences -- Periodicals; Humanities -- Periodicals; 300.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2019.100005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2590-2911

Abstract

Abstract: The potential impact of polygraph examiners' prior expectations on the outcome of a polygraph test is considered a major flaw of polygraph testing. In particular, the design of Comparison Question Tests (CQT), a core polygraph testing technique, is considered to suffer from this weakness. The following paper presents a re-evaluation of research data published in an earlier study by the author (Elaad, Ginton & Ben-Shakhar, 1994) in which examiners were asked to score test records after being led to believe that the examinees had confessed guilty or whose innocence was proven through confessions made by others. The study showed that when the records were objectively inconclusive, a statistically significant shift of the final scores took place in the direction which was established by the manipulative information presented to the examiners, implying that the CQT could not be considered an objective test of veracity. This finding supported the claim made by polygraph opponents that the CQT should not be used in the field. The present study re-evaluates the same data from an applied perspective and finds that based on the 1994 study the estimated impact of prior expectations on real-life polygraph decisions has been greatly overestimated by polygraph opponents, and would in fact adversely impact just 3% of the total volume of polygraph examinations; not really enough to play any significant role against the use of CQT polygraph testing. Although the analysis was done on polygraph tests, its relevancy goes far beyond, suggesting that when it comes to applied psychology or other applied behavioral sciences, it is recommended to assess the impact of any empirical findings on real-life situations by using an applied perspective rather than being satisfied with the basic science approach.