Question Formulation Flashcards

When formulating questions for a specific-incident examination, the relevant questions should be:

Answer: Limited to a single, precisely defined incident and time frame

Specific-incident questions must be narrowly defined to minimize ambiguity and ensure the examinee's response is tied to the single known event under investigation.

In the Utah Zone Comparison Technique (ZCT), which question type is used to address the examinee's fear that the examiner will make an error?

Answer: Symptomatic question

Symptomatic questions in ZCT probe whether the examinee fears an unjust outcome or suspects hidden questions, controlling for test-related anxiety unrelated to the relevant issue.

A polygraph examiner changes the wording of a relevant question after the first chart. This practice is:

Answer: Generally prohibited because it prevents valid within-test comparisons

Changing question wording between charts invalidates cross-chart comparisons because the physiological responses may reflect the new wording rather than the underlying issue.

An 'exclusive' comparison question in a Zone Comparison Technique examination is one that:

Answer: Explicitly excludes the time period and acts covered by the relevant questions

Exclusive comparison questions are carefully bounded to exclude the relevant issue's time frame and behavior, ensuring the examinee's concern is psychologically separated from the crime under investigation.

Which of the following is the MOST critical reason to avoid using legally defined terms (e.g., 'assault,' 'fraud') in relevant questions?

Answer: Examinees may have a different understanding of the term's legal meaning, causing response distortion

Legal definitions vary by jurisdiction and the examinee's understanding may differ from the examiner's intent, introducing ambiguity that undermines the diagnostic value of the response.

In peak of tension (POT) testing, the non-key items serve which specific function?

Answer: They provide psychological cover so the key item does not stand out by position alone

Non-key items in a POT test surround the key with plausible alternatives, ensuring that a response to the key item reflects knowledge rather than positional guessing.

The APA recommends that relevant questions be reviewed with the examinee prior to testing. The PRIMARY purpose of this review is to:

Answer: Ensure the examinee fully understands each question so responses reflect the issue, not confusion

Pre-test question review eliminates ambiguity, ensuring physiological responses during testing are driven by the relevant issue rather than misunderstanding of the question's meaning.