Question Formulation--week 2 Flashcards
What is the central element of any polygraph exam?
The examinee’s response to a set of questions.
Define Relevant Question
The questions asked during a polygraph examination that pertain directly to the matter under investigation for which the examinee is being tested.
What are two types of Relevant Questions?
- Primary
- Secondary
Describe the function and construction of Primary Relevant Questions.
- They address the primary issue.
- They test direct involvement.
- They use an action verb to describe the act.
- They require a “no” answer. (“yes” is sometimes permitted.)
When would a “yes” answer be allowed for a Primary Relevant Question?
When conducting confirmatory testing:
- informants
- victims
- witnesses
In these instances, the issue is the examinee’s truthfulness, not their conduct pertaining to a crime.
Define a Secondary Relevant Question
- Secondary involvement–help, plan, participate
- Guilty knowledge questions–seeing, hearing, knowing
- Evidence connecting–involved with evidence or aware of nature or location of evidence
- Physical acts that support–Actions that support primary issue such as tearing, cutting, breaking, etc.
- It does not address direct involvement
- It requires a “no” answer.
- Always in R10 in ZCT
What is significant about Secondary Relevant Questions regarding the crime?
The questions and answers are not about criminal acts, but can provide an avenue for the examinee to admit involvement (minimized) in the incident under investigation.
Give examples of what the Secondary Relevant Questions address and test
- A secondary issue – did the examinee assist, plan, or participate in any way?
- Tests for guilty knowledge – did the examinee see or hear, or does he know of the crime?
- It does not address direct involvement
- These require a “No” answer.
How is a Secondary Relevant Question used to connect the examinee with the evidence?
Is the examinee aware of the nature or location of various items of evidence?
“Do you know where any of that stolen money was disposed?”
“Did you touch that weapon used to shoot that man?”
How is a Secondary Relevant Question used to determine if the examine has guilty knowledge?
What type of question addresses the primary issue?
Primary Relevant Question
What type of Relevant Question addresses direct involvement?
Primary Relevant
What type of question is this?
“Did you help steal any of that money?”
Secondary Involvement Relevant
What are the two critical guidelines used for Relevant Question construction?
- Target selection
- Proper relevant question construction.
What are 4 more guiding principles when constructing relevant questions?
- Determine the # of issues, then select the most serious issue.
- Focus on the action that describes what the suspect did to commit the act.
- Focus on the probable motive of the suspect.
- Select the target that connects the suspect most closely to the crime.
What are things to consider in target selection?
- Determine the most serious offense.
- Consider the amount of confinement for each offense.
- Consider the emotional power of each offense.
- What do I want to know? –Focus on the action of the offense. “Did you shoot that man?”
What is a Comparison Question?
- Directed Lie
- Probable Lie
Avoid asking questions that probe the suspect’s ______________ or ____________
perceptions or intentions
While determining the target, you should consider the suspect’s ______________
motive
Break-in where TV is stolen.
“Did you steal that TV?”
What are Relevant Test Question Construction Rules?
- The meaning must be unmistakable.
- The examinee must be smart enough to understand the question.
- Extra verbiage makes the question confusing.
- Keep the question clear and concise.
What choices for an answer must you present to the examinee?
Yes or no
The examinee’s position on the issue must be clear.
What are three examples of PLC modifiers?
- “other than what you told me, …”
- “besides what you told me, …”
- Other than that one time, …”
Salience presumes __________
That the examinee will focus his attention on that question that holds the greatest significance (signal value).
What questions will a truthful person be concerned with?
the Comparison Questions
Describe some elements of a Probable Lie Question
- Similar in nature to the relevant issue.
- Isolated from relevant issue by time or place or catagory (exclusive v inclusive)
- Use action verbs that are same or similar in nature.
- They are broad in time and scope–not clear and concise.
- Any admissions to comparison questions will require modification.
Describe a basic premise of a Probable Lie Question.
- It will elicit a response that is a denial of a misdeed that a person has more than likely engaged in or considered.
- It should be similar in nature, but unrelated to the specific crime being tested.
Relevant–“Did you steal that money?”
PLC–“Before 1999, did you ever steal anything of value?”
Is the PLC for the deceptive person or the truthful person?
truthful
How should a PLC be separated from a Relevant issue?
By Time–“prior to…”
Place–“Before you came to Texas…”
Catagory–not related to this investigation
Provide a similar action verb
Relevant _ _ Comparison
Steal ___________
Shoot ___________
Set Fire ____________
Sex ____________
Drugs ____________
Lie ______________
Damage ___________
Steal–steal
shoot–hurt/harm
Set fire–damage/destroy
Sex–Sex
Drugs–Contraband
Lie–Lie
Damage–damage
Are PLC Questions broad or narrow
Broad in time and scope
They should capture as much of the examinee’s past experience as possible.
Define Sacrifice Relevant Question
The question designed as an introduction to the relevant issue. Because the examinee usually responds to the first relevant question, whether innocent or guilty, the question is not evaluated.
Guidelines for Sacrifice Relevant questions
- The question is worded to be answered with a “yes.”
- “Regarding that stolen pistol, do you intend to answer each question truthfully?”
What is a Symptomatic Question?
A question designed to test for an outside issue
What is a neutral question?
- One that is designed to allow the orienting response to habituate.
- It can be inserted anywhere in the exam to allow the examinee to return to homeostasis.
- Cannot be related to the testing issue.
- Worded so the examinee answers “yes.”
“Are you now in Texas?” or “Are the lights on in this room?” or “Is today Tuesday?”
What are:
- secondary involvement
- guilty knowledge
- evidence connecting
- physical acts
Secondary Relevant questions
What type of question is
“Did you shoot the man?”
Primary Relevant
When would a Relevant question be formulated to elicit a “yes” answer?
When confirming truthfulness of:
Victim
Witness
Informant
What is the function and what are the elements of a primary relevant question?
- It addresses the primary issue.
- It tests for direct involvement.
- It uses an action verb to describe the action.
- It requires a “No” answer.
Name the types of Relevant Questions
- Primary
- Secondary
Define a Relevant Question
A question that pertains directly to the matter under investigation for which the examinee is being tested.
How many types of polygraph questions are there?
5
- Relevant
- Comparison
- Neutral
- Sacrifice Relevant
- Symptomatic
Describe Cognitive Theory
“Did you do it?” causes the examinee to think about the issue.
It causes him to think about his involvement
It causes him to think about any of his actions
How does the question “Did you do it?” affect emotions?
It addresses and effects the goals, standards, and attitudes of the examinee.
What are the three theories that are foundational for polygraphs?
Emotional
Cognitive
Behavioral
