The Polygraph is old technology. It's not very effective without asking leading questions. It still works 70% of the time, which is great, unless you are in the 30% fail catagory. IMHO the Polygraph manufacturers and the people that train the operators don't want to lose big goverment contracts, so they really promote themselves. Takes over $5,000 to buy a polygraph and 8 weeks of training.

The Psycholgical Stress Evaluator (PSE) has been around since the 70's. It's effectiveness can be in the 90's, (100% with a good operator). Nowdays, all it takes is a laptop with a program and a mic - of course the program cost $10,000, but only takes 6 days of training.

Polygraph guys and PSE guys don't like each other much.

I've taken both Polygraph and PSE.

I can control my heart rate and blood pressure fairly well and can feel nervous during the control questions, (is your name Herman Munster?), so the Polygraph is usually inconclusive for me.

I took the PSE during a demonstration and the operator was very proud of both the PSE and his ability to get 100%. I bet him a buck I could beat it. He got happy, had me sit down and asked me the same control question they all do - Is your name.....? He looked kind of confused and asked to check my ID and still couldn't figure out why the results of the control were wrong.

I told him he better ask me if I was adopted.

Of the two, I'd hate to take the PSE if I was guilty of something.

 

Yup, done both too, several times. PSE by phone is fun too One of the times I was in a small interview room, the guy hooked up small recorder and told me he was going to record us just for the notes, I didn't let on until after the interview that I knew what he was doing because the recorder had 4 different cables attached to the wall. He just laughed but didn't admit what it was.

 

..Also one of the primary characters traits their trying to weed out are Sociopaths...total lack of conceince.(sp?)

 

Anyone who works for a contractor or DoD and is required to take this type of test is asked never to talk about them on or in any forum. Ask your employer!