Polygraph Glossary Practice

control question

Definition

Control question is a superseded term now replaced by Comparison Question. The name \"control\" traced back to the 1930s and stimulation tests used as \"controls\" for comparison with relevant question responses. In 1947, John Reid published a paper using the term, and it became standard for nearly 5...

What Is a Control Question?

A control question is the original and now largely deprecated term for what is currently called a comparison question in Comparison Question Technique (CQT) formats. The term was used from the early development of the CQT through the late 20th century before the polygraph profession adopted "comparison question" as the preferred terminology.

Reason for the Terminology Change

The shift from "control" to "comparison" was driven by a recognition that the term "control" was misleading. In scientific research methodology, a "control" refers to a condition that is identical to the experimental condition in all respects except the variable being studied. Comparison questions in the CQT do not meet this definition — they differ from relevant questions in both content and psychological function. The term "comparison" more accurately describes the question's role: it provides a physiological response to which the relevant question response is compared for scoring purposes.

Functional Identity

Despite the terminology change, control questions and comparison questions are functionally identical. Both refer to the questions in CQT formats designed to elicit physiological responses from truthful examinees through their broader behavioural content, providing the within-subject comparison baseline for numerical scoring. Whether the question is called a "control" or a "comparison," it serves the same role in the psychological set framework and the same function in the scoring process.

Current Usage

Modern APA publications, validated technique manuals, and professional literature use "comparison question" as the standard term. However, "control question" still appears in older research papers, historical texts, and in some practitioner usage. The older term "Control Question Test (CQT)" has been retained because it is deeply embedded in the research literature as the name for the technique family. See: comparison question, comparative response question.

Cross-references

More practice terms in this glossary

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