Charles Robert Honts

[001] 2021 • LANDMARK META-ANALYSIS Applied Cognitive Psychology

A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of the Comparison Question Polygraph Test

The largest meta-analysis ever conducted on the CQT, analyzing 138 datasets. Found a meta-analytic effect size of 0.69 including inconclusives. Motivation level showed a positive linear relationship with accuracy. No… Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Meta-Analysis Laboratory [002] 2019 Various Publications

Rebuttal: The CQT Has Scientific Support

Directly addressed Iacono & Ben-Shakhar (2019) criticisms. Analyzed their arguments point-by-point and found them to lack merit. Corroborated contemporary research reporting high CQT accuracy. Comparison Question Test (CQT) [003] 2015 Various Publications

Monte Carlo Estimates of the Validity of Polygraph Testing

Used Monte Carlo simulation methods to estimate polygraph validity across different conditions. Statistical modeling confirmed high accuracy estimates consistent with empirical findings from field and laboratory research. Scoring & Test Data Analysis Laboratory [004] 2015 • EXPERIMENTAL Physiology & Behavior

The Comparison Question Polygraph Test: A Contrast of Methods and Scoring

Mock crime experiment with 250 paid participants contrasting probable-lie and directed-lie CQT variants. Found substantial main effects of guilt in both OSS2 computer and human scoring, with no differences between… Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory Randomized [005] 2015 Various Publications

Directed Lie Comparison Questions and Countermeasure Resistance

Examined whether directed-lie comparison questions offer better countermeasure resistance. Research suggests that modern testing formats with directed lies may be more robust against deliberate manipulation attempts. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [006] 2015 • 250-PARTICIPANT STUDY Physiology & Behavior

Countermeasure Attempts in the Directed-Lie vs. Probable-Lie CQT

In their 250-participant study, found no differences between DL and PL test types in spontaneous countermeasure attempts, suggesting directed-lie format is not more vulnerable. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [007] 2015 International Journal of Psychophysiology

Psychophysiological detection of deception and Preliminary Process Theory: a comment on Palmatier and Rovner (2015)

The commentary acknowledges common psychophysiological processes underlie CQT and CIT but finds arguments for Preliminary Process Theory unconvincing, calling for demonstrations of effects that differentiate PPT from existing orienting response… Foundational & Historical Research [008] 2014 Elsevier Academic Press

Credibility Assessment: Scientific Research and Applications

Polygraph test accuracy is estimated at approximately 89% for specific-incident criminal investigations and 85% for screening applications. Electrodermal reactions are the most diagnostic psychophysiological measure, and total scores with 2-stage… Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Neuroimaging [009] 2014 PsycEXTRA Dataset

Jurors' perceptions and decisions related to polygraph examinations during police interrogation

The study likely found that polygraph evidence significantly influences juror perceptions even when jurors are aware of its limitations, with implications for how confession evidence obtained after polygraph examinations is… Legal & Policy Studies Laboratory [010] 2014 • CQT COUNTERMEASURES CHAPTER In Raskin, Honts & Kircher (Eds.), Credibility Assessment: Scientific Research and Applications, Academic Press

Countermeasures and Credibility Assessment

Updated review of countermeasure research including developments since the 2003 NRC report. Discussed cognitive load as a factor in countermeasure resistance. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [011] 2013 Polygraph

A Case Study of the Validity of the Arther Examination

Among 9 DNA-confirmed innocent suspects, the Arther technique produced a 44.4% false positive rate (4 of 9 errors), with results statistically matching the only prior published validation study showing 63.3%… Field Validity Studies Field Study [012] 2013 Polygraph

Information gain of the directed lie screening test

DLST/ESS provided meaningful information gain (>5%) across nearly all plausible base rates, substantially exceeding the performance of unassisted professional veracity assessment in both security screening and criminal justice contexts. Scoring & Test Data Analysis [013] 2013 Polygraph

A Case Study of the Validity of the Arther Examination Procedures in a Criminal Case with DNA Confirmation

The AEP produced a 44% false positive error rate among DNA-exonerated innocent suspects, with statistical analysis showing these outcomes are almost impossible for a highly accurate technique to produce, confirming… Field Validity Studies [014] 2013 PsycEXTRA Dataset

Current FBI Polygraph/Interrogation Practices Puts the Actually Innocent at Risk of False Confession

Under FBI polygraph policies, only 17% of actually innocent people avoid interrogation, meaning 83% of the innocent are subjected to interrogation and false confession risk due to deliberate policy choices… Legal & Policy Studies [015] 2010

Polygraph countermeasures cannot be detected from respiratory signatures: Government policy puts the innocent at risk

Polygraph examiners could not reliably detect countermeasures from respiratory patterns, contradicting policy assumptions and creating significant false positive risks for innocent examinees showing normal stress-related breathing variations. Countermeasures Research [016] 2009 Wiley Encyclopedia of Forensic Science

Deception: Detection of

[017] 2009 • HONTS-SCHWEINLE Polygraph

Information Gain of the CQT Over Interpersonal Deception Detection

Used Information Gain analysis to demonstrate CQT provides significant improvement over human deception detection across nearly the complete range of base rates. Comparison Question Test (CQT) [018] 2009 Legal and Criminal Psychology

Effectiveness of pupil diameter in a probable-lie comparison question test for deception

Pupil diameter demonstrated significant predictive validity for deception (r = 0.61), performed comparably to traditional skin conductance measures, and showed potential as a replacement for relative blood pressure measurement in… Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [019] 2009 Polygraph

Effects of Comparison Question Type and Between Test Stimulation on the Validity of Comparison Question Test

[020] 2009 Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback

Information gain of psychophysiological detection of deception in forensic and screening settings

Polygraph tests demonstrated substantial improvements in information gain over unassisted laypersons across nearly the complete range of base rates of guilt in forensic settings, based on both laboratory and field… Scoring & Test Data Analysis [021] 2008 European Polygraph

You Can't Run, But You Can Hide: A Critical Look at the Fight or Flight Response in Psychophysiological Detection of Deception

The authors demonstrated that the fight-or-flight paradigm was inadequate as the primary explanatory mechanism for polygraph responses, showing that multiple factors including cognitive arousal, various emotional responses, and behavioral conditioning… Foundational & Historical Research [022] 2008 In D.L. Faigman, M.J. Saks, J. Sanders, & E. Cheng (Eds.), Modern scientific evidence: The law and science of expert testimony (Vol. 5)

Scientific status: The case for polygraph tests

Laboratory studies showed approximately 90% mean CQT accuracy, field studies with independent scoring showed 90.5% accuracy, and studies with original examiner scoring showed 97.5% accuracy. Information Gain analysis demonstrated CQT… Legal & Policy Studies Meta-Analysis Laboratory [023] 2007 Psychology, Crime & Law

Automation of a screening polygraph test increases accuracy

[024] 2007 Polygraph

Psychophysiological Mechanisms in Deception Detection: A Theoretical Overview

The paper concluded that polygraph responses are not driven by fear alone but by psychological salience arising from multiple cognitive and emotional processes, proposing a common physiological pathway for expressing… Foundational & Historical Research [025] 2004 Journal of General Psychology

Effects of outside issues on the control question test

Outside issues had a strong differential impact on innocent participants, dramatically moving their scores toward deception by more than one standard deviation, while guilty participants showed minimal effects. Specialized outside-issue… Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [026] 2004 In: The Detection of Deception in Forensic Contexts (Granhag & Strömwall, Eds.)

The psychophysiological detection of deception

Research evidence suggested polygraph testing achieves approximately 90% accuracy in forensic settings, representing substantial improvement over unaided human deception detection, though voice stress analysis lacks demonstrated scientific validity. Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Laboratory [027] 2002 • COUNTERMEASURE DETECTION Legal and Criminological Psychology

Detection of Subjects Employing Directed Countermeasures on the Comparison Question Test

Investigated whether countermeasure use could itself be detected. Found that some countermeasure behaviors produced distinctive physiological patterns detectable by experienced examiners. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [028] 2002 • SCIENTIST SURVEY Paper presented at APA-Law Society, Austin, TX

General Acceptance of the Polygraph by the Scientific Community

Survey of 363 SPR and APA members finding that scientists familiar with polygraph literature were more supportive of its use than those without direct research knowledge. Legal & Policy Studies Survey [029] 2001 Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice

Psychophysiological Credibility Assessment

[030] 2001 • COUNTERMEASURE REVIEW Book Chapters

Countermeasures and the Polygraph

Comprehensive review chapter covering all known countermeasure methods and their effectiveness. Concluded countermeasures are a serious threat but their practical impact may be limited by training difficulty. Countermeasures Research [031] 2001 Polygraph

Effects of spontaneous countermeasures used against the comparison question test

Spontaneous countermeasures were attempted by 67.7% of participants but did not affect outcomes for guilty examinees while significantly shifting innocent subjects' scores; expert examiners could not detect countermeasure use. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [032] 1999 • TECHNIQUE STUDY Polygraph

The Discussion of Comparison Questions Between List Repetitions Is Associated with Increased Test Accuracy

Demonstrated that between-chart discussion of comparison questions significantly improved CQT accuracy. This procedural refinement became standard practice in modern CQT administration. Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [033] 1999 Applied Developmental Science

The willingness of children to lie and the assessment of credibility in an ecologically relevant laboratory setting

Expert application of CBCA achieved 89% overall accuracy (75% for truths, 100% for lies) in classifying children's statements, significantly outperforming lay evaluators. Approximately 56-69% of children were willing to provide… Verbal & Behavioral Deception Detection Laboratory [034] 1999 • NUMERICAL SCORING Polygraph

The Utah Numerical Scoring System

Formalized the Utah-CQT numerical scoring system resulting from 30+ years of scientific research. Provided standardized procedures achieving highest rates of criterion accuracy and inter-rater reliability. Scoring & Test Data Analysis [035] 1999 • SPONTANEOUS CM Polygraph

Spontaneous Countermeasures in Naive Subjects During Polygraph Testing

Investigated whether untrained subjects spontaneously employ countermeasure-like behaviors. Found that some naive subjects did make deliberate efforts to alter their responses, but with limited success. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [036] 1997 Psychophysiology

The role of the control question in physiological detection of deception

[037] 1997 Various Publications

Review of Polygraph Accuracy Research

Reported accuracy of polygraph studies as exceeding .90, consistent with findings by Raskin (2002) and Raskin & Podlesny (1979). Helped establish the scientific consensus that properly conducted polygraph examinations achieve… Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Systematic Review [038] 1997 • EXPERIMENTAL Psychophysiology

The Role of Comparison Questions in Physiological Detection of Deception

Mock crime study with 120 participants examining comparison question mechanisms. Found comparison questions produced different physiological patterns for innocent vs. guilty subjects, providing empirical support for the CQT rationale. Comparison Question Test (CQT) Laboratory [039] 1997 • FIELD REVIEW Book Chapters

Review of Field Studies of CQT Since 1988

Review of all field studies published since 1988 producing an overall accuracy of 90.5%. Documented consistent improvement in field accuracy with adoption of numerical scoring methods. Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Field Study [040] 1997 United States v. Scheffer

Brief of the Committee of Concerned Social Scientists as Amicus Curiae

The brief reported polygraph accuracy exceeding 90% based on laboratory and field studies, though the Supreme Court ultimately ruled 8-1 that categorical exclusion of polygraph evidence does not violate the… Legal & Policy Studies Laboratory [041] 1997 – 2023 Modern Scientific Evidence (Legal Volume Series)

Modern Scientific Evidence: The Case For and Against Polygraph Admissibility

Ongoing point-counterpoint exchanges between leading polygraph researchers, published in a legal reference intended for judges and lawyers. Covers the complete spectrum of admissibility arguments under Daubert standards. Legal & Policy Studies [042] 1996 Psychophysiology

Mental and Physical Countermeasures Reduce the Accuracy of the Concealed Knowledge Test

Investigated whether countermeasures can defeat the CIT. Found that both mental and physical countermeasures reduced detection accuracy. However, the CIT was found to be more resistant to countermeasures than the… Countermeasures Research Laboratory [043] 1996 Psychophysiology

Effects of misinformation on the Concealed Knowledge Test

[044] 1996 • FIELD STUDY University of Utah Department of Psychology (NIJ Grant)

A Field Study of the Validity of the Utah CQT

Large-scale NIJ-funded field study of actual criminal cases. Found overall accuracy exceeding 90% with experienced examiners using numerical scoring. Included 160+ confirmed criminal cases. Field Validity Studies Field Study [045] 1996 Journal of General Psychology

Criterion development and validity of the CQT in field application

Original field examiners achieved 96% accuracy and independent blind evaluations achieved 93% accuracy (excluding inconclusives) on CQT decisions in actual criminal cases, with inter-rater reliability of r = .94 for… Field Validity Studies Field Study [046] 1995 International Journal of Psychophysiology

Polygrapher's dilemma or psychologist's chimaera: a reply to Furedy's logico-ethical considerations for psychophysiological practitioners and researchers

The authors concluded that Furedy's concerns about the CQT were lacking on almost all counts and that his arguments were based on misrepresentations and logical errors rather than genuine ethical… Foundational & Historical Research [047] 1994 Journal of Applied Psychology

Effects of countermeasures on the control-question polygraph test

Both mental and physical countermeasures enabled approximately 50% of guilty subjects to defeat the CQT, with strongest effects observed in cardiovascular measures. Countermeasures were difficult to detect either instrumentally or… Countermeasures Research Laboratory [048] 1994 Journal of Applied Psychology

Mental and Physical Countermeasures in CQT Polygraph Testing

Landmark study on countermeasures. Found that trained countermeasure use could affect CQT accuracy, but untrained subjects remained highly detectable. One of the most-cited countermeasure studies in polygraph literature. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [049] 1994 • LANDMARK STUDY Journal of Applied Psychology

Countermeasures and CQT Accuracy

Definitive study on countermeasures in CQT. Found that trained countermeasure users could reduce detection rates, but detection of countermeasure use itself is possible. Untrained subjects remained highly detectable. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [050] 1994 Small Group Research

Analysis of variance versus bootstrap procedures for analyzing dependent observation in small group research

Bootstrap procedures substantially outperformed ANOVA in maintaining appropriate Type I error rates under conditions of observational dependency, while ANOVA showed dramatically inflated error rates as within-group correlation increased. Scoring & Test Data Analysis [051] 1992 Law and Human Behavior

Polygraph admissibility: Changes and challenges

The authors found that while polygraph evidence might meet basic evidentiary requirements, serious challenges centered on poor training and lack of standardization in the profession, with the outlook for reform… Legal & Policy Studies [052] 1992 • EXPERIMENTAL Forensic Reports, 5, 265–272

Effectiveness of Control Questions Answered ‘Yes’: Dispelling a Polygraph Myth

Challenged the assumption that “yes” answers to control questions reduce test accuracy. Found no significant accuracy difference between yes and no answers, dispelling a widely held examiner belief. Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [053] 1992

Bootstrap Decision Making for Polygraph Examinations,

Bootstrap resampling outperformed both human numerical evaluation and discriminant analysis in absolute terms. However, the expert human scorers likely overestimated typical field examiner accuracy, making the statistical classifiers' performance particularly… Scoring & Test Data Analysis [054] 1991 Forensic Reports

The emperor's new clothes: Application of polygraph tests in the American workplace

Analysis of DoD security screening polygraph data revealed CSP examinations correctly identified only 2% of guilty subjects, with sensitivity of 43.2% for programmed guilty examinees, indicating the tests were unable… Screening & Personnel Security [055] 1990 Psychophysiology

Effects of incentives on the detection of deception

[056] 1989 • LABORATORY/FIELD Book Chapters

Recent Laboratory and Field Research on Polygraph Techniques

Comprehensive review describing DLT laboratory and field research showing it is at least as accurate as the CQT with fewer false positive errors, simpler to construct, and a good substitute… Meta-Analyses & Systematic Reviews Laboratory [057] 1989 DoDPI Research Reports

Studies of the accuracy of security screening polygraph examinations

Security screening polygraphs showed disturbing asymmetry with 94.9% accuracy for innocent examinees but only 43.2% accuracy for guilty examinees, creating more false negatives than false positives. Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [058] 1989

The validity of detection of deception for multiple issues

Guilty subjects were identified as deceptive to at least one crime 67% of the time (93% excluding inconclusives), but the study revealed examiners could not reliably identify which specific issues… Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [059] 1988 • FIELD STUDY Journal of Police Science and Administration

A Field Study of the Validity of the Directed Lie Control Question

First field validation of the directed-lie comparison question format. Results showed DLC was at least as accurate as the probable-lie CQT with fewer false positive errors, establishing DLC as a… Field Validity Studies Field Study [060] 1988 • LANDMARK FIELD STUDY National Institute of Justice, Grant No. 85-IJ-CX-0040

A Study of the Validity of Polygraph Examinations in Criminal Investigation

Major NIJ-funded field study demonstrating that CQT accuracy exceeded 90% when properly employed by skilled examiners. Established benchmark for forensic polygraph validity in actual criminal investigations. Field Validity Studies Field Study [061] 1988 • RESEARCH Psychophysiology

Patterns of Activation and Deception

Examined physiological activation patterns during deceptive vs. truthful responding. Found distinct activation patterns across respiratory, cardiovascular, and electrodermal channels that differentiate truth from deception. Psychophysiology & Autonomic Responses Laboratory [062] 1988 Polygraph

A field validation study of the rank order scoring system (ROSS) in multiple issue control question tests

[063] 1988 • CROSS-VALIDATION University of Utah (Grant Report)

Replication and Cross-Validation of Utah Mock Crime Study

Cross-validation study confirming earlier findings. Demonstrated replicability of CQT accuracy across multiple independent experiments with different examiners and participant pools. Field Validity Studies [064] 1988 Journal of Police Science and Administration

Effects of spontaneous countermeasures on the physiological detection of deception

Sixty percent of guilty subjects spontaneously attempted countermeasures (primarily relaxation and breathing control), but these untrained tactics had no effect on test outcomes, with evaluators achieving 80% accuracy and 0%… Countermeasures Research Laboratory [065] 1987 • FIELD STUDY Law and Human Behavior

Polygraph Field Test Accuracy of CQT in Criminal Cases

Field validation using confirmed criminal case outcomes. Achieved accuracy rates above 90% for both truthful and deceptive classifications, consistent with laboratory findings. Field Validity Studies Field Study [066] 1987 • ANALOG STUDY Psychophysiology

Directed Lie Comparison Questions in Polygraph Testing

Laboratory comparison of directed lie vs. probable lie formats. Found DLC produced fewer false positives while maintaining detection of deception, supporting its adoption as standard practice. Laboratory & Analog Studies Laboratory [067] 1987 Journal of Police Science and Administration

Interpreting research on countermeasures and the physiological detection of deception

Test format determines optimal countermeasure strategy: Concealed Information Tests require hyperresponsivity/hyporesponsivity strategies while Control Question Tests require selective augmentation of responses. The framework explains apparently contradictory findings in the literature… Countermeasures Research [068] 1985 Psychophysiology

The Use of Countermeasures: Categorical Decisions Based on Three Interpretations

Early countermeasure study showing that physical countermeasures could be trained in laboratory settings. Provided the first systematic data on countermeasure effectiveness that would influence decades of subsequent research. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [069] 1985 • FOUNDATIONAL Journal of Applied Psychology

The Effects of Physical Countermeasures on the Physiological Detection of Deception

First systematic countermeasure study. Trained subjects used physical countermeasures (tongue biting, toe pressing) during control questions. Approximately 50% of trained subjects defeated the test. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [070] 1983 Psychophysiology

Detection of deception: Effectiveness of physical countermeasures under high motivation conditions

With enhanced training, countermeasure subjects produced 47% false negative outcomes compared to 0% for guilty controls, demonstrating that simple physical countermeasures could effectively defeat the polygraph by artificially augmenting responses… Countermeasures Research Laboratory [071] 1983 Polygraph

The detection of physical countermeasures

Polygraph examiners detected only 12% of participants using physical countermeasures, with trained countermeasures proving difficult to detect through either physiological chart analysis or behavioral observation. Countermeasures Research Laboratory [072] 1982 Psychophysiology

The effects of multiple physical countermeasures on the detection of deception

Enhanced countermeasure training enabled 47% of guilty subjects to produce false negative outcomes by augmenting physiological responses to control questions, with cardiovascular measures most affected and detection rates remaining extremely… Countermeasures Research Laboratory