Polygraph. Who's had one?

[666_speed]

I had a polygraph test today. I'm trying to get hired by the Indiana State Police and that was the next step beyond the written exam and interview. I was completley honest about everything and he said after the test that some questions showed a reaction, like I was lying. I was completley honest on those questions. Is he lying to me to see if I'll come out with some more information or am I just screwed? Either way it seems like a lose-lose situation as I was completley honest. Thanks for any advice!

[2.2 Straight six]

polygraphs are not 100% accurate.

they work by measuring the resistance on your skin, when you lie you sweat more, and the resistance of you skin drops as you do. it may be being nervous that made it look like you were lying.

[666_speed]

He explained completley how it worked before hand. He made me write down a number and circle it, then he asked me if each number through and past my number was the number I picked. He said he'd never seen a curve like that before, not one that strong when I said that 6 wasn't my number. (Like instructed to do so) But he said he still saw a reaction on a few questions and I know for a fact I was completley honest!

[G-man422]

as stated, they arnt completly accurate, and im sure you can get retested.

[2.2 Straight six]

what questions did it spike one? if we know then maybe we can trace the cause of the problem.

[666_speed]

"Do I currently abuse alcohol?" I've had 3 drinks of everclear in the last 2 years, that's all. "Since the age of 18, have I stolen anything?" That's a definite no. "Am I currently using, distrubiting, cultivating, or selling illegal drugs?" No, it's been almost 3 years since I've smoked pot, I told him about that before in the pre screening part of the exam, so I was supposed to answer "no" to that question.

[goldz28]

Don't get yourself all worked up about it. I bet its nothing bad at all...

['97ventureowner]

Is there a chance to be retested on a different machine, and with a different test administrator? I'll be willing to bet the results may be different. Maybe the circumstances in which you took the test may have caused the false reactions. Years ago, 60 minutes did a piece on lie detector tests and how different situations such as the room you are in, the test administrator and their actions, can cause the test taker to have different results. Sometimes stress alone can cause skewed results without you realizing it. Especially if you go into the test worrying about how your answers may affect the outcome.
I had to take a lie detector test 18 years ago for a job selling auto parts,( yeah you read that right, a simple job of selling auto parts.) I thought the test was pretty easy, and must have passed as I continued to work for that company after the test. I was tested with two other individuals, and i remember one guy was so "stressed" about the test because of what he had about about them, had results "not typical" of the others that were tested at the same time. The guy giving the test said it might have been stress,or fear which could have made the results so different.

[RickwithaTbird]

I have.


But then again I could be lying and you'd never know.

[666_speed]

I wasn't stressed though, I didn't think. I don't have anything to hide. He said that when he had me lie about what number I wrote down that he had never saw a curve that big before, "it was like I fell over dead or something." That's exactly what he told me. I didn't feel nervous, and those were the questions I was most assured about, I thought. I was about 2 1/2 feet from a wall with grey, white, and black dots and focused on those and the designs directly infront of me the whole time. I can talk to an officer I know, if I fail this and push for a retest.

[666_speed]

He said I failed a bunch of questions, hopefully he was just messing with me trying to get me to spurt out some more information that was missed beforehand. I don't know, but I've spent so much money and time that if I don't get this because of a polygraph, I'm going to be very upset.

[fredjacksonsan]

I've had one done. A reaction is a reaction. If you're surprised, it shows up the same as if you lie. One question I was asked was if I had smoked marijuana more than 50 times in my life. Prior to the actual test, I had been told that the question would be more than 10. So, I was surprised to hear that, and they said I failed due to the reaction. That's just one example. Keep in mind that although polygraphs are not 100% accurate, at if they can phrase the questions in such a way as to get some sort of rise out of you, that they can then say that you are lying, as it showed a reaction.

You may be able to ask for a retest, or ask them to review the test to show your extreme reaction to the numbers question and maybe make an adjustment to your other questions.

Good luck with it.

[ec437]

Polygraph tests are only as accurate as the person interpreting the results.

[alfonso2501]

Originally Posted by 666_speed

...hopefully he was just messing with me trying to get me to spurt out some more information that was missed beforehand...

I'll bet you that's what it is! Don't stress, ask for a retest, & keep cool.
Here's a website for all who are interested: http://antipolygraph.org/ .
I got so much crap bookmarked it's not even funny!

[VR43000GT]

I had to take one when someone at my work stole $500 from my boss's mom's purse. Funny thing I was I was the only one who agreed to take one.