CONDUCT OF

POLYGRAPH
C

EXAMINATION
CHAPTER 5
Learning Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the student will able two:

• Comprehend the required characteristics of a subject deemed fit for

polygraph examination.
• Name the factors responsible for the errors in the conduct of polygraph
examination;
• Point out the qualities of an effective polygraph examiner;
• Identify the responsibilities of a polygraph examiner to his subject;
• Demonstrate the four phases involved in the conduct of polygraph
examination; and
• Apply the signs and symbols used in chart marking during the conduct
of polygraph examination.
IDEAL POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATIONC

ROOM
ODIVER, ALYSSA MAE P
•It must be spacious for two persons.
•It must be well-lighted.
•It must not be decorated.
•It must be 90% soundproof.
•Must be well-ventilated.
MAIN OBJECTIVES
OF POLYGRAPH C

EXAMINATION
ODIVER, ALYSSA MAE P
1. To ascertain if a person is telling the truth by verifying
a statement or comparing contradictory statement.
2. Obtain additional investigative leads to the facts of
an offense.
3. Locate fruits or tools of the crime or whereabouts of
the wanted person.
4. Eliminate innocent suspects, which is the most
important.
LIMITATIONS OF THE
POLYGRAPH
C

ONCE, BERNIELYN B
1. It is an invaluable aid but never a substitute
for an investigation.

2. It is not a lie detector; it is a scientific

diagnostic instrument.

3. It does not determine facts; it records

responses to what the subject know to be true.

4. It is only as accurate as the examiner is

competent.
 CONDITIONS OF THE
SUBJECT TO BE CONSIDERED
FIT FOR POLYGRAPH
C

EXAMINATION
ONCE, BERNIELYN B
1. The subject must have a good night sleep before the
test.

2. Subject must refrain from smoking for at least 2

hours before the test.

3. Must be free from physical and sexual abuse.

4. The subject must not be interrogated for a

prolonged period.

5. Must refrain from the use of alcohol and drugs for at

least 12 hours
 6. Subject must not be hungry.

7. Must not be suffering from illness, fever, cold,

cough, allergy, etc.

8. Must not be highly nervous.

9. Female subject must be free from menstrual

cycle.

10. He/She must not have sex indulgence before

the test.
 SUBJECT/EXAMINE
- Refers to the person undergoing polygraph examination.
CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHTS OF THE
C

SUBJECT
MORENO, RICA A
1. To be informed of his right to remain
silent.

2. Right to have a competent and

independent counsel preferably of his
own choice.

3. Has the right time against self-

incrimination.
PURPOSE OF TAKING
WRITTEN STATEMENT
C

OF CONSENT
MORENO, RICA A
1. The examiner has a legal basis that
no human violation is committed.

2. That the subject voluntarily submitted

himself to undergo a polygraph
examination.

3. It is an arm against harassment.

 FACTORS THAT ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
C

ERRORS OF POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION
MORENO, RICA A
 1. Nervousness experienced by a subject who is telling
the truth.

2. Physiological abnormalities, hight blood pressures, and

disease of the heart.

3. Mental abnormalities.

4. Unresponsiveness in a living /guilty subject because of

no fear of detection, ability to control response using
specific mental sets of attitudes.

5. Attempt to "best the machine" by controlled breathing

or by muscular flexing.
 QUALITIES OF AN
EFFECTIVE POLYGRAPH
C

EXAMINER
MERCADO, VAUGHN MIKHAILLE L
1. Technically, he must have complete knowledge of the
instrument and its capabilities and limitations; the most
modern polygraph technique; proficiency in the
conduct of polygraph examinations; test construction;
and chart study and research.

2. Morally, he must have a sincere desire to be a

polygraph examiner in its strictest sense, by devoting
himself to the polygraph profession through
maintenance of high personal integrity and increasing
own proficiency through constant study and research.
 3. He always bears in mind his primary obligation
to his subject, that is to afford him all possible
safeguards against errors and must never accept
any subject who is not physically or mentally fit for
a polygraph examination.

4. He must be an impartial seeker of truth by

examining professionally and ethically, and never
allow prejudice to influence the result of the
examination.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF
THE INVESTIGATORC

TO THE SUBJECT
MERCADO, VAUGHN MIKHAILLE L
1. Learn enough about the polygraph so that he
can speak openly and freely to the person about
the test. The subject may know very little or may
have been misinformed about it.

2. Not reveal details of an offense which may be

utilized in the application of a “ peak of tension ”.

3. Suggest the test as a means to indicate the

subject’ s innocence.
 4. Stress the test’ s capability of indicating
whether a person is telling the truth through the
recorded responses.

5. Assure the subject that the examiner is

qualified and impartial to all persons involved in
the case.

6. Avoid any claim for the instrument or examiner

that is not backed by facts.
 RESPONSIBILITIES OF
POLYGRAPH EXAMINER
C

TO HIS SUBJECT
MERCADO, VAUGHN MIKHAILLE L
1. A polygraph examiner recognizes the fact that his
primary responsibility must be on the person who has
voluntarily submitted himself for the polygraph
examination.

2. He should always advise the subject of his

constitutional rights against self-incrimination before
conducting any examination.

3. He should see to it that the instrument he utilizes is in

good working condition and that he makes a
permanent simultaneous recording on cardiovascular
and respiratory changes.
 4. He should first administer at least two or
more charts before rendering a definitive
verbal or written opinion based on chart
analysis.

5. He should be familiar with the techniques

and procedures employed before offering
any testimony concerning the charts or
conclusions presented by another examiner.
FOUR PHASES INVOLVED
IN THE CONDUCT OF
C

POLYGRAPH TEST
MAURICIO, ROWELLA
A. INTERVIEW WITH THE INVESTIGATOR

• Handling the case or person requesting it. Presentation

of all evidence and documentation will be done for the
presentation of making question. In this phase the
polygraph examiner will interview the investigator who
request a polygraph examination to the suspect or
witness in order to have a lead for the investigation and
also to discover if they are telling the truth or not. In this
moment they will also draft some question to ask during
examination.
B. PRE-TEST INTERVIEW
• The primary purpose of the pre-test interview to prepare or
condition the subject for the test. During the pre-test interview,
the polygraph examiner will explain how the polygraph works,
discuss the issue, review all the questions to be asked.

FOUR RIGHTS OF THE SUBJECT:

1.The right to remain silent
2.Anything you say may be used in favor or against you.
3.The right to have a lawyer of his/her own choice
4.Right to refuse
• “ When the blood pressure rises up to to 150 over 100 do not
conduct examination “
C. CONDUCT OF INSTRUMENTATION OR
ACTUAL TEST
• After the pre-test interview, the examiner should proceed to place the
attachement on the subject, The first to be attached is Pneumograph ,
then the Cardiosphymograph and the Galvnograph. Review all the
questions with the subject before the actual examination is made. The
examiner should discourage any comments or statement by the
subjects. Test instrument must be given to the subject.

KINDS OF QUESTION TO BE ASK IN THE EXAMINATION.

1.IRRELEVANT QUESTIONS
2.RELEVANT QUESTIONS
3.CONTROL QUESTIONS.
D. POST TEST
• The post-test phase is the fourth and final phase of the
polygraph examination, and it serves as the last step in the
evaluation of your honesty and credibility. During this phase,
the examiner will review the charts and data collected during
the in-test phase and make a determination regarding your
truthfulness.

• Your gathered data will be examined for abnormalities,

including skin resistance or sweat levels, heart rate, blood
pressure, and breathing, in response to the questions
discussed earlier.
 CHART MAKING
• It is a typical chart produced by a state-
of-the-art computer polygraph recording
on 5 channels. 2 channels record the
subject's respiration, 1 channel records
the Galvanic Skin Resistance, 1 channel
records cardiovascular activity and the
remaining channel records certain
physical activity.
 SIGNS AND SYMBOLS USED IN CHART
MAKING
• X/60/1.5 A-first markings of the examiner on the chart
• C-Coughing
• XX/60/1.5 A-examiners mark after the test
• N-Noise
• X-Start of the test
• S-sigh by the subject
• XX-end of the test
• PJ-paper jam
• 60-Millimeter of mercury shown in sphygmamometer dial
• SN-subject sniffed
• 1.5-ohms of skin electrical resistance
• BI-breathing instruction
• A or M-refers to automatic or manual galvo amplifier used
• OS-tracing changed caused by outside stimulus
• 11-particular point where each questions begins and end
• M-movement
(also called stimulus mark)
• IM-movement instruction
• +(positive sign) - Yes answer to question
• L- laugh
• -(Negative sign) - No answer to question
• A-adjustment
• I-subject talked instead of answering with single Yes or No
• R-Subject request for repetition of question