The Air Force Modified General Question Test (AFMGQT) is a specialized polygraph examination technique developed specifically for the U.S. Air Force to enhance accuracy and reliability in security-sensitive investigations. This method incorporates refined testing and scoring adaptations, allowing it to effectively address single-issue or event-specific assessments within high-stakes environments.
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Origins and Evolution of the AFMGQT
Initially adapted from the Reid Technique and Cleve Backster’s Zone Comparison Technique (ZCT) in the 1960s, the AFMGQT evolved to meet the Air Force’s distinct security requirements. By the 1970s, the Air Force refined the Modified General Question Test (MGQT) into what is now the AFMGQT, introducing tailored relevant questions, a flexible format for addressing multiple facets within a single test, and advanced scoring methods to maintain reliability across varying case contexts.
AFMGQT Question Structure and Types
The AFMGQT’s question structure is meticulously designed to differentiate between truthful and deceptive responses. It includes:
- Sacrifice Relevant Questions: These initial questions stabilize physiological responses by absorbing any orienting reaction, setting a baseline for the test.
- Example: “Regarding the handling of sensitive information, do you intend to answer truthfully?”
- Primary Relevant Questions: These questions directly address involvement in the incident or issue under investigation.
- Example: “Did you share classified information with unauthorized individuals?”
- Secondary Relevant Questions: Focused on indirect involvement, including aiding, knowing details of the incident, or evidence linking.
- Example: “Do you know who accessed the classified files without permission?”
- Comparison Questions: These questions serve to gauge baseline responses in non-deceptive individuals, often touching on general integrity or past behavior.
- Example: “Before this year, did you ever break any regulations?”
- Irrelevant Questions: Neutral questions that help maintain a steady physiological baseline.
- Example: “Is today Wednesday?”
Event-Specific Modifications and Scoring
The AFMGQT has been adapted for event-specific testing in the Air Force, targeting single issues like security breaches or unauthorized disclosures. This modification aligns it with the Federal Zone Comparison Test (ZCT) and You-Phase formats used in federal investigations, allowing for the AFMGQT’s application to incident-specific cases. Event-specific configurations typically involve two or three primary relevant questions bracketed with comparison questions to focus responses.
Exclusion of Outside-Issue Questions
A key change in the event-specific AFMGQT is the exclusion of outside-issue (symptomatic) questions. Traditionally included in other polygraph formats, these questions aim to identify if an examinee has unrelated concerns (known as “outside issues”) that might influence responses. However, research by Nelson, Handler, Oelrich, and Cushman (2014) found that outside-issue questions do not significantly affect the accuracy of polygraph results or reduce inconclusive outcomes. Removing these questions from the AFMGQT simplifies the test format, aligning it with validated polygraph methodologies that focus solely on the primary issue of interest.
The Super-Dampening Hypothesis
The super-dampening hypothesis—a theory suggesting that concerns unrelated to the test’s main focus might dampen physiological responses and compromise accuracy—was critiqued in the 2014 report. Studies found limited support for this hypothesis, concluding that the inclusion of outside-issue questions does not significantly impact accuracy or reduce inconclusive results. This finding led to the recommendation that the AFMGQT avoid these questions to enhance clarity and effectiveness, particularly for innocent examinees, where such questions may introduce ambiguity.
Comparison with Other Federal Techniques
The AFMGQT is now frequently used in contexts similar to the Federal Zone Comparison Test (ZCT) and You-Phase formats, designed for diagnostic and single-issue screening. The primary difference lies in question placement and sequence: the AFMGQT positions relevant questions to create a precise comparison with adjacent comparison questions, allowing examiners to analyze patterns in physiological responses that are unique to single-issue cases.
Scoring Adjustments and Reliability
The AFMGQT’s scoring model has been adapted from a seven-position to a three-position scale (+3 to -3), improving efficiency in decision-making without compromising reliability. This model assumes non-independent criterion variance among relevant questions, meaning responses to one relevant question can affect responses to others in cases involving guilt. This model has demonstrated competitive accuracy rates, aligning closely with other federal formats while simplifying scoring for high-stakes applications.
Accuracy and Empirical Findings
Empirical research on the AFMGQT’s accuracy in event-specific testing contexts demonstrates:
- Accuracy: The three-position model achieved an accuracy rate of 73.9%, closely matching the seven-position model’s 75.4%.
- Sensitivity: The AFMGQT’s sensitivity to deception detection was approximately 78%, with comparable accuracy to traditional federal models.
- Specificity: The three-position model displayed a lower specificity (18%) in detecting innocence compared to 36.4% in the seven-position model, with higher inconclusiveness in truthful cases, underscoring the need for experienced examiners.
Ethical and Practical Considerations
Given the AFMGQT’s critical role in military and intelligence settings, ethical considerations are paramount. The event-specific AFMGQT format complies with best practices in evidence-based polygraph science, which recommends excluding unsupported hypotheses (like the super-dampening effect) and ensuring that results are rooted in empirical data. This model emphasizes transparency and ethical safeguards, protecting examinees’ rights while securing reliable outcomes.
Conclusion
The Air Force Modified General Question Test (AFMGQT) represents a robust and adaptive polygraph tool for Air Force applications, meeting rigorous standards in single-issue and high-security examinations. With its structured, event-specific question design, streamlined scoring, and evidence-backed exclusion of outside-issue questions, the AFMGQT achieves reliable results in military contexts where accuracy and security are essential. By aligning polygraph practices with validated methodologies, the AFMGQT ensures that polygraph testing remains both effective and defensible within the broader framework of national security and ethical integrity.