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Polygraph Terms for the 21st Century

NCJ Number
220562
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: 2007 Pages: 157-164
Author(s)
Mark Handler; Raymond Nelson
Date Published
2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper explores the phenomena described as “psychological set” and “anti-climax dampening concept” outside the polygraph dictionary for more prudent terms, with the intent to propose a modernization of the language to align it with mainstream terms and concepts.
Abstract
“Psychological set” and other terms such as “GSR”, “control questions” and “stim tests” are idiomatic jargon used within the polygraph profession, and should be discarded in favor of more generally accepted and empirically supported constructs. The expressions “psychological set” and “anti-climax dampening concept” do not convey their meaning in common terms to those outside the polygraph community. This does not mean that these expressions are by definition wrong, but only that the concepts are already captured in more modern language. The term salience is more widely understood in the scientific literature and its use by the polygraph profession will serve to garner more respect than the use of jargon. Salience has the distinct advantage of both explaining the phenomena and having a more universally recognizable meaning. If the polygraph profession is in pursuit of general acceptance, it must be prepared to replace its idioms with language and constructs that have more in common with other sciences. Salience is an important step in that direction. The polygraph has long been relied upon as a decision support tool, and the science of polygraph testing is best understood in a vocabulary in common with the related sciences of psychology, physiology, and psychophysiology. More courts are recognizing polygraph professionals as experts, and accepting testimony. Adjudicators and others rely on input from examiners when making decisions. This requires the assurance that testimony is based on scientific evidence and scientific theories. This evidence requires the professionals involved in the discipline of forensic psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD) to embrace the more commonly accepted vocabularies of the fields of psychology, physiology, and psychophysiology. References

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