The polygraph is not a lie detector. It is an instrument that measures and monitors parts of your body’s physiology. It does nothing more and nothing less. The polygraph examiner, however, can tell whether a person is lying or telling the truth by carefully evaluating physiological changes that the polygraph is monitoring. For all practical purposes, the polygraph examiner is the lie detector.
The accuracy of any polygraph test depends entirely on the skill, knowledge and experience of the examiner. If the examiner knows what he is doing, and does it well, the results of his tests will be accurate almost all of the time. If the examiner doesn’t really know what he is doing, or if he conducts the test poorly, the result (pass or fail) will be totally meaningless.
Dr. Rovner is a polygraph examiner with a private practice in Los Angeles, California.
Tags: lie detection, lie detector, Louis Rovner, polygraph, polygraph examiner, polygraph testing
May 10, 2010 at 1:52 PM |
I have reciently taken a lie detector test .. that i myself begged my husband to give me,,, knowing i was innocent to all i was acussed for i was so greatful for such a thing as a lie detector test thinking it was the answer to my prayers and my Husband would finally know the deticated loyal wife that i am .. well four questions were discussed to have him ask all concerning issues at work with me trying to destroy him some how and such.. i ask the examiner to ask my also the question about my being loyal and not cheating on my husband,, something he has accused me of alot , but wasnt a question that had been discussed to ask during my test.. knowing i had previously made a huge mistake with a woman friend of mine 2years prior while he was locked up…. i knew i would have to tell him of my deception on that one and only accation
i vounintaraly told him and wasnt proud of what i had done.. but wanted to reasure him of my loyalty to him since then.. i could not believe when the results came back as a lie.. why the hell would i even first of all beg for a test and then request that i be ask a question that i knew could destroy my marriege .. I was and still am furious about this .. I feel so alone because I know the truth and am the only one who knows if I
lied or not and for some thing that i was so relying on to save me actually desroted me.. I would love to hear of anyone eles who may have same thing happen to them… destroying their life cause it has been truely hell….. please i need this desparatly..
May 10, 2010 at 3:18 PM |
Ronda,
It sounds like your polygraph examiner did not use the Utah Zone of Comparison Test (UZCT). As I’ve written on several posts here, the UZCT is the most accurate technique available to polygraph examiners. If they use anything else, it is more likely that they will make mistakes.
All polygraph tests are not equal, and all polygraph examiners are not equal. For maximum accuracy and validity, you should be re-tested by an examiner who is skilled in, and experienced with, the UZCT. See my other posts regarding how to choose the best polygraph examiner for your very important test.
Dr. Rovner
February 21, 2012 at 7:56 AM |
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