CPE Examination Techniques 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of the stimulation test (STIM test) in polygraph examinations?
- To assess the examinee's baseline autonomic activity
- To convince the examinee the instrument can detect deception and increase reactivity (Correct answer)
- To measure the examinee's pain threshold
- To calibrate the polygraph sensors before the main test
Correct answer: To convince the examinee the instrument can detect deception and increase reactivity
The STIM test is used to demonstrate the instrument's capability to the examinee, increasing their belief that deception will be detected.
Question 2: During the pre-test phase, an examiner should review the relevant issues with the examinee in order to:
- Elicit a confession prior to the polygraph test
- Ensure the examinee clearly understands the questions and can answer yes or no (Correct answer)
- Determine the examinee's educational level
- Assess whether the examinee is under the influence of substances
Correct answer: Ensure the examinee clearly understands the questions and can answer yes or no
Reviewing issues ensures the examinee fully understands the relevant questions and can provide simple yes/no responses during the test.
Question 3: Which polygraph technique is specifically designed for use in post-conviction sex offender testing (PCSOT)?
- Zone Comparison Technique (ZCT)
- Maintenance/Monitoring examination (Correct answer)
- Relevant/Irrelevant (R/I) technique
- Peak of Tension (POT) test
Correct answer: Maintenance/Monitoring examination
Maintenance/Monitoring examinations are designed to monitor compliance and detect new offenses among convicted sex offenders under supervision.
Question 4: In the numerical scoring of polygraph charts, a score of '0' assigned to a comparison question response indicates:
- The response is greater than the relevant question response
- The response is equal to the relevant question response
- There is no scorable difference between relevant and comparison responses (Correct answer)
- The examinee refused to answer the question
Correct answer: There is no scorable difference between relevant and comparison responses
A score of '0' means the examiner could not determine a meaningful difference in response magnitude between the relevant and comparison questions.
Question 5: The 'outside issue' (OI) reaction during a polygraph examination most commonly indicates:
- The examinee is being deceptive on the relevant question
- The examinee is reacting to something unrelated to the examination issues (Correct answer)
- A sensor has malfunctioned
- The examinee is attempting countermeasures
Correct answer: The examinee is reacting to something unrelated to the examination issues
An outside issue reaction occurs when an examinee is distracted by a concern unrelated to the test, which can confound chart interpretation.
Question 6: When conducting a Peak of Tension (POT) test, the known solution variant is used when:
- The examiner knows the correct answer and places it among decoys to confirm truthfulness (Correct answer)
- The examinee has no knowledge of the relevant item
- The examiner wants to detect which item the examinee recognizes from a list of unknowns
- Multiple relevant issues must be tested simultaneously
Correct answer: The examiner knows the correct answer and places it among decoys to confirm truthfulness
In the known-solution POT, the examiner includes the correct item in a list, expecting a deceptive examinee to react specifically to it.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'psychological set' as it applies to polygraph examination?
- The examinee's physical posture during the test
- The examiner's predetermined opinion about the examinee's guilt
- The examinee's selective attention and dominant concern toward specific questions (Correct answer)
- The overall format and sequence of questions in a test structure
Correct answer: The examinee's selective attention and dominant concern toward specific questions
Psychological set refers to the examinee's focused attention on the questions most threatening or meaningful to them, driving differential physiological responses.
CPE Examination Techniques 2
What is the primary purpose of the stimulation test (STIM test) in polygraph examinations?