THE PRIMARY RATIONALE BEHIND CARD TESTS, NUMBERS TESTS, AND SIMILAR PROCEDURES IS THAT THEY SIMPLIFY POLYGRAPH CHART ANALYSIS BY CLARIFYING REACTION PATTERNS. THE FOLLOWING DISADVANTAGES OF STIMULATION PROCEDURES ARE CITED: (1) CARD TESTS AND SUCH CAN DETRACT FROM THE EXAMINER'S PROFESSIONAL IMAGE; (2) STIMULATION TESTS CAN LESSEN THE CONFIDENCE OF SUBJECTS IN THE POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENT; (4) EVEN WHEN STIMULATION TESTS DO NOT TEND TO REINFORCE FEARS OF SUBJECTS, THEY CAN CREATE RESENTMENT; AND (5) A LENGTHY SERIES OF STIMULATION TESTS CAN USE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF A SUBJECT'S BEST REACTION TIME. AN ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH STIMULATION TESTS IS THAT NOT ALL EXAMINERS ARE EXPERIENCED. STIMULATION PROCEDURES CAN BE USEFUL WHEN SUBJECTS ARE UNRESPONSIVE OR REACT TO THE ENTIRE TEST PROCEDURE RATHER THAN TO RELEVANT QUESTIONS. THEY CAN ALSO BE EFFECTIVE IN SINGLE-TOPIC CASES AND IN THE VERIFICATION OF SENSITIVE SEX AREAS. BECAUSE ROUTINE USE OF STIMULATION PROCEDURES CAN CAUSE EXAMINEE RESENTMENT AND/OR APPREHENSION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THEY BE MADE PART OF A REGULAR POLYGRAPH CHART AND NOT ISOLATED ON A SEPARATE CHART. CARD TESTS, NUMBERS TESTS, AND SIMILAR PROCEDURES SHOULD BE AVOIDED SINCE THEY GIVE THE APPEARANCE OF TRICKERY. (DEP)