Calibration Flashcards
7 cards from real CPE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Calibration flashcards as text
What standardized procedure do most polygraph examiners use to verify instrument accuracy before each examination?
Answer: A mechanical or electronic calibration check against a known signal source
Calibration against a known signal source (mechanical or electronic reference) allows the examiner to confirm the instrument is measuring accurately before use.
The term 'drift' in polygraph calibration refers to:
Answer: A slow, gradual shift in the baseline tracing over time unrelated to stimuli
Drift is a slow, stimulus-independent shift in baseline that can be caused by temperature changes, electrode polarization, or amplifier instability.
Why is it important to allow a warm-up period for analog polygraph instruments before calibration?
Answer: To allow electronic components to reach thermal equilibrium for stable readings
Electronic components, especially amplifiers, produce stable output only after reaching operational temperature, making a warm-up period essential for accurate calibration.
An examiner sets pneumograph sensitivity too high during calibration. The most likely consequence is:
Answer: Respiratory tracings that are clipped or go off-scale, obscuring fine details
Excessive sensitivity causes large respiratory movements to exceed the recorder range, clipping peaks and troughs and destroying diagnostic detail.
Which of the following best defines 'standardization' in the context of polygraph calibration?
Answer: Applying uniform procedures so results can be compared across examiners and instruments
Standardization means using consistent, documented procedures across examiners and instruments so findings are reliable, comparable, and defensible.
A cardio tracing during calibration shows a normal pulse wave but also a low-frequency oscillation superimposed on it. This secondary oscillation most likely represents:
Answer: Mayer waves or vasomotor rhythms in blood pressure
Low-frequency oscillations (approx. 0.1 Hz) superimposed on the pulse wave are typically Mayer waves, reflecting vasomotor rhythms in sympathetic vascular tone.
Before conducting a polygraph examination, the examiner should verify the chart paper speed is set to the standard of:
Answer: 15 mm per second
The American Polygraph Association standard for chart paper speed is 6 mm/second for conventional analog instruments, though 25 mm/s is a common clinical standard — in US polygraph practice the APA standard of 6 mm/sec is used.