THE BLIND NUMBERS TEST IS ONE IN WHICH SUBJECTS KNOW THERE CAN BE NO TRICKERY. THIS MAKES IT EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE WHEN THE EXAMINER CORRECTLY IDENTIFIES THE SELECTED NUMBER. EVEN WHEN THE EXAMINER DOES NOT IDENTIFY THE NUMBER, THE TEST HAS THE DESIRED EFFECT BECAUSE THE SUBJECT DOES NOT REALIZE THE EXAMINER DID NOT HAVE A 'HIT.' THE TEST IS EFFECTIVE IN ALLEVIATING FEARS AND ANXIETIES OF TRUTHFUL PERSONS AND IN INCREASING ADMISSIONS DURING SCREENING SITUATIONS. IT IS ALL ONE CHART, WITH NO PAUSE BETWEEN ANY OF THE THREE PARTS (STRAIGHT THROUGH, RANDOMIZED, AND 'NOW ANSWER TRUTHFULLY'). OTHER THAN CONVENTIONAL COUNTERMEASURES SUCH AS MOVING AROUND OR BREATHING ERRATICALLY, THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNTERMEASURES UNIQUE TO THE TEST. THE MOST COMMON TYPE IS FOR SUBJECTS TO ANSWER 'YES' TO THEIR SELECTED NUMBER DURING THE STRAIGHT THROUGH SEQUENCE. ANOTHER FAIRLY COMMON TYPE IS FOR SUBJECTS TO ANSWER 'NO' TO ALL NUMBERS IN THE 'NOW ANSWER TRUTHFULLY' PHASE. THE EXAMINER WHO HAS NEVER TRIED A BLIND NUMBERS TEST USUALLY FEELS INADEQUATE IN DOING SO AND OFTEN BELIEVES IT MUST BE DIFFICULT TO PERFORM THE TEST, SUCCESSFULLY OR RECOVER FROM A MISCALLED NUMBER. IN ACTUAL PRACTICE, HOWEVER, THE TEST IS EASY TO MANAGE AND CAN HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THE ATTITUDES OF PERSONS BEING EXAMINED. IT IS OFTEN THE ONE ASPECT OF THE POLYGRAPH LONGEST REMEMBERED BY SUBJECTS, PARTICULARLY IF THEY ARE UNUSUALLY NERVOUS ABOUT TAKING A TEST DUE TO CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF FALSE POSITIVE ERRORS. (DEP)