Credibility Assessment: Scientific Research and Applications
Our Expert Review
This comprehensive volume emerges from the heightened security concerns following September 11, 2001, when the field expanded beyond traditional polygraph testing to encompass a broader spectrum of credibility assessment technologies. As the modern successor to Murray Kleiner's Handbook of Polygraph Testing, this book builds on that foundational work with revised polygraph chapters and entirely new sections covering CNS, ocular-motor, and behavioral measures.
As professionals in the polygraph field, we find this book particularly valuable for its scientific rigor and practical applications. The editors—all internationally-recognized experts from major universities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe—bring over 25 years of combined experience to this comprehensive review. The collaboration between Raskin and Kircher, who developed the first fully-computerized polygraph system (CPS) in the early 1990s, lends exceptional credibility to the work.
The book's seven chapters provide thorough coverage: Strategic Use of Evidence During Investigative Interviews, Credibility Assessment at Portals, Validity of Polygraph Techniques and Decision Methods, Countermeasures and Credibility Assessment, Detecting Deception Using Ocular Metrics During Reading, and The Neural Basis of Deception and Credibility Assessment. Chapter 3 on polygraph validity stands out for its comprehensive meta-analyses and statistical foundations that every examiner should understand. The countermeasures chapter is particularly relevant given current challenges in the field.
The book's strength lies in covering methods beyond traditional polygraph work, including autonomic measures, CNS techniques, fMRI applications, ocular-motor measurements, and behavioral observations. The ocular-motor deception test, currently being field-tested in Colombia and at Fort Meade, represents cutting-edge technology that polygraph professionals should understand.
One limitation is the academic tone that may challenge practitioners seeking immediate application guidance. Additionally, while the Journal of Forensic Psychology praised it as "a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and decision makers," some chapters require strong statistical backgrounds to fully appreciate. The book would benefit from more case study examples illustrating real-world applications of these advanced techniques.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the Strategic Use of Evidence (SUE) technique for more effective investigative interviews
- Recognizing the expanded scope of credibility assessment beyond traditional polygraph testing
- Applying scientific principles and statistical methods to polygraph decision-making processes
- Identifying and countering various countermeasures used to defeat polygraph examinations
- Implementing ocular-motor deception testing as a complement to traditional polygraph methods
- Utilizing neuroimaging and brain-based approaches for credibility assessment
- Adapting credibility assessment techniques for high-volume portal screening applications
- Integrating multiple assessment methods for increased accuracy and reliability
- Understanding the legal and scientific standards for admissibility of credibility evidence
- Staying current with technological advances that are reshaping the deception detection field
What’s Inside
This chapter describes the Strategic Use of Evidence (SUE) technique—an interview method aimed at eliciting cues to deception and improving correct judgments of credibility. It provides essential background for understanding how evidence timing affects deception detection.
Covers screening techniques used at airports, border crossings, and security checkpoints. This chapter addresses the practical applications of credibility assessment in high-volume, time-sensitive environments where traditional polygraph testing isn't feasible.
Provides detailed descriptions of the most widely applied Comparison Question Test (CQT) and various analytic methods for determining polygraph outcomes. This chapter offers the scientific foundation every polygraph examiner needs to understand.
Examines how subjects attempt to defeat polygraph and other credibility assessment methods. Essential reading for understanding the limitations and vulnerabilities of current detection technologies and how to recognize attempted countermeasures.
Details the innovative ocular-motor deception test that records eye movements and pupil changes while subjects read and answer questions. Currently being field-tested, this represents the next generation of deception detection technology.
Explores brain-based approaches to deception detection including fMRI and other neuroimaging techniques. This chapter bridges the gap between traditional psychophysiological measures and cutting-edge neuroscience applications.
Who Should Read This
Polygraph examiners will find this book invaluable for understanding the scientific foundations underlying their practice and learning about emerging technologies that complement traditional methods. The computerized polygraph systems developed by the authors are currently used in 12 countries, making their insights directly relevant to practitioners worldwide. The chapters on countermeasures and statistical decision-making provide practical knowledge for improving examination accuracy and defending results under scrutiny. Attorneys, both prosecution and defense, will gain crucial insights into the scientific basis of credibility evidence and its admissibility under current legal standards. The book addresses key legal precedents and provides the technical knowledge necessary to effectively challenge or support polygraph evidence in court. Understanding these scientific principles helps attorneys make informed decisions about when to utilize or contest credibility assessments. Researchers in psychology, forensic science, and related fields will appreciate the comprehensive literature reviews and methodological discussions throughout each chapter. As noted in the Journal of Forensic Psychology, the multidisciplinary approach provides "the best opportunity for a broad view of the field." The book serves as an excellent foundation for designing future studies and understanding current research gaps. General readers interested in deception detection will find accessible explanations of complex scientific concepts, though some statistical knowledge is helpful. The book explains that across hundreds of studies, people average only 54% correct judgments in lie detection—barely better than guessing—highlighting the need for scientific approaches. This context helps readers understand why technological solutions are necessary for reliable credibility assessment.
About the Authors
David C. Raskin received his Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA in 1963 and has served on the faculties of UCLA, Michigan State University, University of British Columbia, and the University of Utah, where he holds the rank of Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He was elected a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Association for Psychological Science, Fellow and Diplomate of the American College of Forensic Examiners, and served as President of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association. His laboratory at the University of Utah was the leader in polygraph research for 25 years and received the John E. Reid Memorial Award in 2009 for distinguished achievements in polygraph research, teaching, and writing. Professor Raskin has authored more than 150 scientific articles, chapters, books, and reports, including Scientific Methods in Criminal Investigation and Evidence. He has provided consultations to numerous U.S. government agencies including the Departments of Treasury, Justice, Defense, and Homeland Security, and has presented expert testimony in more than 300 federal and local courts in the U.S., Canada, and Sweden.
Charles R. Honts is Professor of Psychology at Boise State University, where he received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Utah in 1986. He continues a 31-year research program focusing on applying psychological science to real-world problems. Professor Honts was President of the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association for 2005-2006, has published over 300 scientific papers on deception detection, and has received over $800,000 in external grant support at Boise State University. He has given lectures and continuing education internationally and frequently appears in courts around the world as an expert witness.
John C. Kircher is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Utah in 1983 and has over 80 peer-reviewed scientific publications in psychophysiological detection of deception. He has received over $2.1 million in 26 grants and contracts from agencies including the Department of Defense, National Science Foundation, and CIA, and has published nine computer programs for processing polygraph data used by federal, state, and local agencies. Dr. Kircher has served as consultant to the U.S. Department of Defense, Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and numerous police departments, and laid the scientific foundation with Dr. Raskin for the first computerized polygraph system in 1979.
Publication History
Credibility Assessment: Scientific Research and Applications was published by Elsevier in 2014 as both an eBook (ISBN: 9780123947826) and print edition (ISBN: 9780123944337). The publication date is listed as December 17, 2013, indicating the book was finalized in late 2013 for 2014 publication. This represents the first edition of this title, though it serves as a spiritual successor to Murray Kleiner's 2001 Handbook of Polygraph Testing. The book has been made available in multiple digital formats including PDF and ePUB through various academic platforms like VitalSource and Perlego, expanding its accessibility to researchers and practitioners worldwide.
How to Cite This Book
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