TY - JOUR
T1 - The validity of the Lie detector
T2 - Two surveys of scientific opinion
AU - Iacono, W. G.
AU - Lykken, D. T.
PY - 1997/6
Y1 - 1997/6
N2 - The widespread use of polygraph ( "lie detector") tests has important social and individual consequences. Courts asked to admit polygraph findings into evidence, as well as individuals asked to submit to polygraph tests, have a natural interest in the acceptance by the relevant scientific community of the polygraph technique. For this reason, we conducted mail surveys to obtain the opinions of 2 groups of scientists from relevant disciplines: members of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and Fellows of the American Psychological Association's Division 1 (General Psychology). Survey return rates were high (91% and 74%, respectively). Most of the respondents believed that polygraphic lie detection is not theoretically sound, claims of high validity for these procedures cannot be sustained, the lie test can be beaten by easily learned countermeasures, and polygraph test results should not be admitted into evidence in courts of law.
AB - The widespread use of polygraph ( "lie detector") tests has important social and individual consequences. Courts asked to admit polygraph findings into evidence, as well as individuals asked to submit to polygraph tests, have a natural interest in the acceptance by the relevant scientific community of the polygraph technique. For this reason, we conducted mail surveys to obtain the opinions of 2 groups of scientists from relevant disciplines: members of the Society for Psychophysiological Research and Fellows of the American Psychological Association's Division 1 (General Psychology). Survey return rates were high (91% and 74%, respectively). Most of the respondents believed that polygraphic lie detection is not theoretically sound, claims of high validity for these procedures cannot be sustained, the lie test can be beaten by easily learned countermeasures, and polygraph test results should not be admitted into evidence in courts of law.
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U2 - 10.1037/0021-9010.82.3.426
DO - 10.1037/0021-9010.82.3.426
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0031533424
SN - 0021-9010
VL - 82
SP - 426
EP - 433
JO - Journal of Applied Psychology
JF - Journal of Applied Psychology
IS - 3
ER -