The control question test for the physiological detection of deception has been demonstrated to be a valid technique for assessing a person's veracity in the laboratory, and it is generally the technique of choice in forensic polygraph examinations conducted in this field. But some critics question the rationale of the control question test. Several alternative examination techniques can be considered. To test the reliability and validity of the positive control 41 male subjects, ranging in age from 22 to 43, were recruited from group counseling sessions at a Veteran's Center in downtown Pittsburgh. Physiological recordings were made with a Stoelting Polyscribe, Model 22770 field polygraph instrument. Subjects were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 treatment conditions by means of predetermined running order. One half of the subjects were assigned to guilty conditions, half to innocent, and within each category subjects were assigned to be given either the positive control or the control question test first. Results indicate the positive control test to be an inferior detection of deception technique as compared to the control question test. Tabular data and 14 references.