

Fundamentals
of Polygraph
Testing
What is a Polygraph?

 A polygraph, or popularly known as lie
detector, refers to any similar machine
that can measure and then record
physiological indices, including pulse
rate, respiration, blood pressure, and
skin conductivity ---- all while a subject
is being asked to answer a series of
questions.
 
Four Major Parts
of the Modern
Polygraph
Machine
 Pneumograph

 Cardiosphymograph
 Galvanograph
( Galvano Skin Reflex)
 Kymograph
1. Pneumograph

 an instrument for recording thoracic movements
or volume change during respiration.
 the top “two pens” of the machine

The top two “pens” of the machine record the

abdominal and thoracic breathing patterns of
respirations and consists of hollow, corrugated
rubber tubes that are about 7 inches long.
 

Pneumograph
 

Pneumograph
  to a unit by a
Each tube is attached
rubber hose and is fastened around
the subject’s chest and abdomen.
One end of the tube is sealed and
the other end is connected to the
main machine by a thick rubber
hose (length: 6 .feet, diameter: ¼
inch)
2. Cardiosphymograph

measures blood pressure, pulse
and heart rate, as well as the
strength of pulse beat.
 refers to the fourth or bottom pen

 When the heart beats, this

measurement is called a “systole” and
when it relaxes, it is called a “diastole”
 

Cardiosphymograph
 

Sphygmomanometer
 

Sphygmomanometer
 3. Galvanograph
(Galvano Skin Reflex)

 refers to the third, and the longest pen
of the machine. It is about 7 inches
long and records five seconds earlier
than the pneumo and cardio pens.
 records the amount of perspiration
produced when the subject responds
to a stimulus.
 

Galvanograph
 

Galvanograph
Two kinds of electrodes used in
a polygraph

 Finger Electrodes
- which are placed on the index
finger and ring finger of the subject
 Palm Electrodes
- which are placed on the
subject’s palm
 4. Kymograph

 this is a device that continuously and
simultaneously records the blood
pressure, respiration and the GSR on
the surface of a moving graph paper
under a recording pen. This drives
the chart paper at the rate of 6 inches
per minute with constant speed.
 Types of Polygraph Test

1. The General Question Test
- this test consist of a series of relevant,
irrelevant and control questions that are
asked in planned order.
- the formulated questions are all
answerable by “yes” or ”no”. This is also
called Mixed General Question Test
(MGQT)
 
 Relevant Question
- is one that deals with the real issue of concern to
the investigation.
Example: asking whether the examinee perpetrated
the target act or knows who did it and perhaps
questions about particular pieces of evidence that
would incriminate the guilty person.

 Irrelevant Question
- one that designed to provoke no emotions
2. The Peak of Tension Test

 this kind of test can only be done if
there is no widespread publicity of
the crime, where details of facts
pertaining to the crime being
investigated are known only to the
victim, the suspect, and the
investigator.
Two Kinds of Peak of Tension Test

 Peak of Tension Test A (PTA)
- the theory is that one or more
pertinent pieces of information
exist, which are known only to the
client, the examiner, and the one
guilty of the offense.
 Sample of PTA Procedure
In a jewelry shop, Mr Elias, the


manager, after conducting an inventory
of their goods and cash sales for the
day, left his office at 9:00Pm. Upon
remembering that he has forgotten
some papers in the store, he returned at
10:00 pm. He noticed the cash box was
missing. Three employees know the
safe combination aside from him.
Sequence of Sample Test Questions
that can be asked:

 Did you enter Mr. Elias private office between 6:00
and 7:00 pm yesterday?
 Did you enter Mr. Elias Did you enter Mr. Elias
private office between 7:00 and 8:00 pm yesterday?
 Did you enter Mr. Elias private office between 9:00
and 10:00 pm yesterday?
 Did you enter Mr. Elias private office between 10:00
and 11:00 pm yesterday?
 Did you enter Mr. Elias private office between 11:00
and 12:00 midnight yesterday?
Peak of Tension Type B (PTB)

 designed to determine the
location, disposition, modus
operandi and amounts from a list
of “possibilities”.
 Sample PTB Procedure

 In a watch store, watches was been stolen the
night before. After conducting a thorough
investigation, the examiners withheld
information as to the kind/branch of watches
stolen. Moreover, due to the lack of
inventory, only the suspect knows the brand
names of the watches he has stolen. Thus, the
questions formulated focused only to the
brands carried by the burglarized store.
 
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “Guess”?
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “Rolex?
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “Tag Heuer”?
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “G Shock”?
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “Esprit”?
 Was the brand of the stolen watch “Gucci”?
 3. Zone Comparison Test

 named this way because of the three “zones” or
blocks of time, with which a test is divided as
follows:
1. The Red Zone – the part where the relevant
questions are asked
2. The Green Zone – the part where the probable lie
comparison questions are asked
3. The Black Zone – the part where other questions
are asked.
 Four Phases of a Polygraph
Test

 Phase I: Initial Interview with the Investigator
or persons requesting the examination
- in this phase, the initial gathering of
information includes the collection of data available
to the investigator, such as the incident report,
investigation report and the statement of the victim
(if still alive) or a direct representative who can
factually narrate the perpetrated offense.
 Phase 2: Pre-Test Interview with the Suspect


 In phase 2, the examiner will have the initial contact
with the suspect; this is also the time when the
examiner thoroughly explains the procedure to the
subject as he is being attached to the machine, once
the subject agrees, the examiner proceeds to obtain
the suspect’s consent to undergo the test voluntarily.
 It is also during this stage when the examiner
obtains the subject’s personal data for recording
purposes and assess the subject’s capability to
undergo the test.
 Phase 3: Conduct of the Instrumental
Test

 At this point, the examiner attaches the polygraph
transducers to the subject with a brief explanation of
the function of each component of the machine. The
examiner then asks a prepared list of questions that
he has previously reviewed with the subject to
eliminate any surprise reaction and to reconstruct the
question to help the subject easily understood the
questions. Next, the examiner checks whether the
component are securely attached to the subject by
running the machine for about 20 to 30 seconds.
 Phase 4: Post Test Interview
with the subject

 during this phase, the examiner assesses the insights of
the subject regarding the test. Sometimes, the examiner
can also obtain a confession in this phase because there
is that factor that plays in the mind of a guilty suspect.
 Afterwards, the examiner asked the subject to sign all
the charts taken during the test ----another safeguard to
help verify that no switching of test charts occurred.
After this phase, the subject will be released of his/her
attachment and the examiner concludes the test with a
firm handshake.