Open Directory - Science: Social Sciences: Psychology: Forensics and Law: Polygraphy
See also: - Examines possible abuse associated with the use of polygraphs. Provides informational resources and discussion forum. - Official documents and other resources on polygraph testing. - Animated article shows how polygraph machines work and some popular countermeasures. - Web-based journal for the scientific study of methods of credibility assessment including polygraph testing. - Legal documents and testimony concerning the admissibility of polygraphs in US legal system by Professor Charles R. Honts of Boise State. - Commercial listings of polygraph examiners by area, and of schools, equipment, software, and insurance. - Full text of report by National Academy of Sciences for US Department of Energy, finding polygraphs too inaccurate to be relied on in security screening. - Skeptical article about what polygraphs measure and how examinations are conducted, why they are not lie detectors, and the inadmissability of polygraph tests in courts of law. - Editorial criticizing US government reliance on polygraphs by senior scientist with the Center for National Security and Arms Control, Alan Zelikoff. [Washington Post] (May 27, 2003) - "Bureaucratic reliance on today's fault-ridden system lets well-trained spies and terrorists penetrate our defenses." By William Safire. [New York Times] [Free subscription required.] (October 10, 2002) - "Polygraph tests used by nearly every federal national-security agency as a screening tool will flag loyal workers as security risks and free actual spies from suspicion, a panel of top scientists reported Tuesday." By Ian Hoffman. [Oakland Tribune] (October 09, 2002) - "Polygraph testing for national security screening is little more than junk science, with results so inaccurate that they tend to be counterproductive, according to a long-awaited report released Tuesday by the National Academy of Sciences." By Charles Piller. [Payment required for full text.] [Los Angeles Times] (October 09, 2002) - "A long-time law enforcement favorite, the lie detector, now finds itself sweating the hot lights of scientific inquiry." By Dan Vergano. [USA Today] (September 09, 2002) - "The scientists at the national laboratories are willing to sacrifice some of their constitutional protections for meaningful benefits to security, but they are unwilling to do so for nonsense." By Alan Zelicoff. [Skeptical Inquirer] (July 01, 2001) - "Convicted CIA spy Aldrich H. Ames attacks the use of polygraph examinations as 'pseudoscience,' saying he knows from experience that they do not work in counterintelligence investigations." By Vernon Loeb. [Washington Post] (December 08, 2000) - Well-researched article on polygraph screening. [National Journal] (September 11, 2000) - "It's junk science, but proponents say it can be a useful tool in interrogations, and even a deterrent." By Susan McCarthy. [Salon] (March 02, 2000) - "Professional criminals are the ones most likely to beat the lie detector." By Susan McCarthy. [Salon] (March 02, 2000) - History and procedure of the US government's use of polygraphs in security clearance screenings. [Security Management] (September 01, 1998) - "'Tea leaves and witchcraft' are keeping hundreds of qualified, innocent people out of government jobs." By Jeff Stein. [Salon] (April 01, 1997) - Article advocating a professional code of ethics for examiners. By Charles Yeschke. [Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science] [Requires institutional access] (March 01, 1965)
