The function of polygraph tests is to find out particular information for various reasons. In the UK, they can be done for pre-employment screening, as a part of business policy or in cases of corporate incidents; they are also administered in private clients’ family cases. Their reliability is an issue that rests with a private investigator or an examiner performing them. All polygraph examiners are certified and experienced professionals.
React To Polygraph Tests
A polygraph test is just another job interview, and like with any job interview, nerves and anxiety are, to some extent, inevitable. However, it is important to remember not to worry too much about them and how they would affect the results. The instructors know what they are doing and how to interpret the results based on the person’s reaction before, during and after the polygraph exam. Their range of experience is wide and they know and understand how people initially react to polygraph tests, so there is no reason to be nervous about how the natural mood and the state of mind would affect the outcome.
Types Of Answers
The questions are also discussed in advance, and they are a mix of relevant, irrelevant and control. The private investigator or the professional examiner has the opportunity to discuss them with the subject before the actual questioning. The only answers required are “Yes” and “No” and there is no need to explain or elaborate on them. These types of answers are what makes the polygraph test results more accurate, and since there are no explanations required, the subject does not have to worry about any “damaging” physiological responses sensed by the machine.
The physiological responses received with the answers to the questions are what determines whether the subject is lying or telling the truth. There is no need to artificially alter them in any way – e.g. holding breath. Normal bodily responses that accompany the truthful or deceitful answers to the questions are what is measured by the lie detector machine and altering them in any way is not the best idea – not only would it not help control them, but it might also corrupt the results and make the subject come off worse.
False Results
While normal levels of anxiety are expected during a polygraph test, too much stress and anxiety could generate false results of the test. It is important to fully concentrate on the exam and leave all the other unrelated worries at home – like with a job interview or a school exam. Stress produces responses read by the polygraph machine and too much unrelated stress can distort the results.
Polygraph test results are used by commercial organisations, the government and for other personal matters to solve various problems. The accuracy of a polygraph exam results depends on both the examiner and the subject. The procedure is conducted in a controlled environment and the subject is fully aware of what is going to transpire, which is aimed towards reducing any anxiety he or she might have. Since all private investigators and polygraph specialists are trained and qualified, polygraph tests are a quite reliable way of finding out the truth.