CHAPTER 4

PHASES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of this topic/chapter, you must be able to:

1. Determine the phases of polygraph examination

2. Determine the procedure in polygraph examination
3. Discuss the procedure in polygraph examination

Lesson 4.1 Phase 1 - Preliminary Preparation

Initial Interview with the investigator handling the case or person requesting
it. The group involve in this stage are the Victim / Complainant, 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:
a. 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.
b. Peculiar aspect of the offense or any strange set.
c. Exact time the offense was committed.
d. Known facts about the suspect’s action or movement.
e. Facts indicating any connection between the suspects, victim and
witnesses.
f. Exact type of weapon, tool or firearms used.
g. Result of laboratory test.
h. Unpublished facts of the offense known only by the victim,
suspects and the investigator (PC/INP Laboratory Manual, 1977).

Lesson 4.2 Phase 2 - Pre-Test Interview

The primary purpose of the pre-test interview is to prepare or condition the

subject for the test.
a. The appraisal of subject’s constitutional right.
b. Obtain subject’s consent to undergo polygraph test by signing a
statement of consent.
c. The taking of personal data of the subject.
d. Determining his/her suitability as a subject.
e. Evaluating the psychological preparation of the subject.
f. Informing the subject of his involvement with the case.

The following rights of the subject must be informed clearly to him/her:

a. The right to remain silent
b. Anything he/she say may be used in favor or against him/her

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 c. The right to have a lawyer of his/her own choice
d. Right to refuse

As earlier noted, subjects will not be scheduled for examination when

they:
a. are obviously fatigued or in ill health.
b. are physically injured or in pain.
c. their judgment is obviously influenced by or impaired by drugs or
alcohol.
d. have just suffered emotional trauma.

The examiner’s interview with the subject prior to the test is of

considerable importance, both for the purpose of conditioning the subject for
the examination and also in order to provoke and observe the helpful indications
of guilt and innocence which are often forthcoming at this time.

The following is the detailed outline of the pre-test interview which has
been found to be effective. (We are assuming in the case illustrated that the
subject has already been advised of the fact that he is to be given a lie-detector
test.)

a. As the examiner enters the waiting room to request the subject to

accompany him into the examination room, the greeting which the
examiner extends should be cordial, but firm.
b. Upon entering the examination room the subject should be
requested to sit down in a chair alongside the instrument, and
immediately thereafter the examiner should proceed to the taking
of the consent of the subject.
c. Then fill up the necessary data asked in the interrogation log.
d. Afterwards inquire from the subject whether he has been on a lie
detector test before. No further comment should be made by the
examiner but he should listen carefully to whatever the subject
himself may say.
e. If the subject has not told of the purpose of his appearance in the
testing laboratories, the examiner should explain that a lie
detector test is desired of him as part of the investigation
regarding the case. Much time should be spent in the preliminary
interview as the circumstances reasonably warrants (PC/INP
Laboratory Manual, 1977).

Lesson 4.3 Phase 3 - The Examination

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. The examiner should
discourage any comments or statement by the subjects. Test instrument must
be given to the subject.

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 a. Upon completion of the necessary preliminary preparation the
instruments is attached to the subject.
b. The blood pressure pulse cuff is wrapped around snugly around the
subject’s upper arm and the pneumograph tube adjusted around the
chest.
c. If female subjects or around the body, if male subjects or around the
torso of male subjects.
d. The cuff is then inflated to a point approximate midway between the
systolic and diastolic blood pressure. That is midway between the
pressure produced by the output action of the heart and that
maintained at the time of the hearts intake action.
e. The synchronous motor carrying the paper upon which blood
pressure pulse respirations recording are made is then set in motion,
the motor being so timid that the paper moves along at the rate of a
out six inches per minute, then ten to fifteen seconds after the
instrument has been set in motion, the inked filled pens of the
instruments are permitted to make their blood pressure pulse
respiration tracings before the question are asked of the subject.
f. During the test period the subject is informed that he will be asked
several questions which should be answered by either yes or no
answers, and that they are so brief and to the point.
g. Approximately five to ten seconds after this instruction first question
is asked and then the other questions follows after or at the interval
of fifteen or twenty seconds.

Take Note: The questions may be written in advance of the test or in the
course of the test during the intervals between the asking of each question. The
phraseology of the test question is an extremely important aspect of the
examination. The questions, and every word used in the questions must be
unambiguous, unequivocal, and thoroughly understandable by the subject.
The questions must be states as simply as possible, and with a complete
avoidance of such double inquires as “Did you shoot him and then run into the
house”? All questions must have only a single, unambiguous meaning. Avoid
lengthy questions and avoid legal terms such as rape, murder, embezzlement,
etc.
Limiting Scope of Questions - The relevant test questions used in any
examination should be confined to a single case investigation. The Polygraph
technique is not effective for stimulation testing regarding two or more unrelated
occurrences. With all the gadgets attached to the body of the subject, the
instrument will start running by applying pressure on a button. The subject
then will be asked to answer the following standard test questions:
a. Irrelevant questions (unleaded/immaterial questions) – these are
questions which have no bearing to the case under investigation.
b. Relevant questions (leaded/material questions) – these are
questions pertaining to the issue under investigation. It is equally
important to limit the number of relevant questions to avoid
discomfort to the subject. Relevant questions must be very specific
to obtain an accurate result.
c. Control questions – These are questions unrelated to the matter
under investigation but are of similar nature although less serious as

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 compared to those relevant questions under investigation. The use
of control question is considered by many polygraphists to be the
most reliable and effective questioning technique. These are
usually asked if there is doubt in the interpretation of the subject’s
response to relevant and irrelevant questions (PC/INP Laboratory
Manual, 1977).

Lesson 4.4 Phase 4 - Post-Test Interview

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:

a. to clarify the findings;

b. 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
c. to obtain additional information and an admission for law
enforcement purposes, if the results suggest deception.(PC/INP
Laboratory Manual, 1977).

Lesson 4.5 Sequence of Polygraph Examination (for manual polygraph)

1. Attach all the transducers properly

2. Give clear/understandable instructions
3. Close all the vent knobs
4. Turn on the centralize power
5. Set sensitivity/center knob of P2 & P1
6. Set sensitivity 1.5 of galvano
7. Inflate air pressure 60-80 milimeter/lock the pen clump
8. Set sensitivity/center knob of cardio 2 & cardio 1.
9. Turn on chart power
10. Label your chart
11. Run up to 5 minutes
12. C1 time /xx/
13. Zero all the sensitivity vents
14. Open all the vent knobs
15. Turn off centralize power
16. Turn off chart power
17. Turn your chart using paper knife
18. Unplug

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Chapter 4 References

Atkinson, R. L., Atkinson, R.C., and Hilgard, E. R. (1983). Introduction to

psychology. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

Gapasin, E.L (1999). Reading on polygraphy (how polygraph works

Panganiban, A.I. and Calang, V.V. (2011) Are you lying…? polygraph (lie
detector) Criminology, F.I.L.E. Academy, Forensic Investigation & Law
Enforcement, Professional Academy of the Philippines.

PC/ INP Crime Laboratory Manual (1977)

Solis, P. P. (1987). Legal medicine. R.P. Garcia Publishing Co., 903

Quezon Avenue, Quezon City

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