Home › Polygraph Research › Researchers › Tuvya T. Amsel
Researcher file
Tuvya T. Amsel
Polygraph practice standards, examiner methodology, and evidence-based credibility assessment
Researcher record
About Tuvya T. Amsel
Dr. Tuvya T. Amsel is a private polygraph examiner based in Israel and a regular contributor to the publications of the American Polygraph Association. He served as chairman of the Israeli Polygraph Examiners Association, and has interviewed more than thirty-five thousand individuals in the course of criminal investigations, security screenings, polygraph tests, and integrity projects during his forty-five-year career. He holds a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice Administration from La Salle University in Pennsylvania and degrees in criminology. He is routinely appointed as an expert witness by Israeli courts and official inquiry committees.
Amsel's research contributions span foundational polygraph practice, historical analysis, and ethical examination standards. His 2020 work "The Centennial Introspection Project" examined 100 years of polygraph history, while his 2023 study traced numerical scoring analysis predecessors. His influential 2016 paper on examiner approach demonstrated how biased examiner behavior significantly influences the reliability of polygraph results, leading to increased anxiety among truthful examinees and a higher likelihood of false positives. With Avital Ginton, he advocated for evidence-based practice integration in polygraph work, calling for the polygraph community to abandon intuitive-based practice in favor of scientifically rooted procedures. His 2017 book "Practicing Polygraph: Best Practice Guide" addresses practical challenges including chart anomalies, contaminating factors, and confirmatory testing.
In 2020, Amsel received recognition from the American Polygraph Association, acknowledging his decades of contributions to the field. He serves on the Editorial Board of European Polygraph, where he has published extensively alongside frequent collaborator Avital Ginton. He has worked with law-enforcement agencies, small businesses, and large corporations throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, and has presented educational seminars and lectures to law-enforcement groups, intelligence agencies, and corporate security departments.
Beyond polygraph practice, Amsel's work intersects with criminology, interrogation psychology, and legal policy. His research on the psychology of deception, historical test development (including Peak of Tension tests), and the interplay between polygraph evidence and justice systems demonstrates a scholar concerned with both technical accuracy and broader implications for criminal justice. He has authored books on criminal interview and interrogation techniques and published on topics ranging from workplace integrity testing to the misapplication of communication research (debunking the "7/38/55 ratio rule").
Research methodology profile
Research areas
Co-author network
Researchers who have co-authored studies with Tuvya T. Amsel.
Publications [17]
All peer-reviewed studies by Tuvya T. Amsel in our database.
'Believe your chart but don't ignore your nose'
The study concludes that examiners should engage their intuition as accumulated subconscious information gained through experience to supplement numerical scoring, as test complexity and inherent weaknesses in numerical analysis can… [002] 2024 European PolygraphBehind the Scenes of a Protocoled Polygraph Test
The paper identifies critical gaps in protocoled polygraph practice where rigid adherence to standardized procedures may compromise examination effectiveness and examiner discretion. [003] 2023 European PolygraphThe Numerical Scoring Analysis Predecessors
Numerical scoring analysis was more evolutionary than revolutionary, with Backster likely adapting Richard Arther's check-mark system by replacing check-marks with numerical figures to create the formal Numerical Analysis system. [004] 2021 European PolygraphEvidence Based Practice Integration into Polygraph Practice: A Suggested Paradigm
The paper argues that the polygraph field's movement toward rigid standardization may have overcorrected, potentially sacrificing necessary clinical flexibility for individual cases and circumstances. [005] 2020 European PolygraphThe Centennial Introspection Project: 100 Years of Polygraph Practice
The polygraph profession has undergone a significant shift from intuitive-based practice toward evidence-based practice over its first century of development. [006] 2019 European PolygraphAn urban legend called: The 7/38/55 Ratio Rule
The 7/38/55 ratio applies only to judgments of emotional attitude based on single inconsistent words, not to complex communication, factual content, or deception detection contexts, yet continues to be widely… [007] 2019 European PolygraphPlanting the Seeds of Polygraph's Practice: A Brief Historical Review
Modern polygraphy evolved through adaptation and refinement of existing physiological measurement devices rather than being invented from whole cloth. The field's development represents a synthesis of contributions from multiple disciplines… [008] 2018 European PolygraphDoes the Law Circumvent Justice from Being Served?
The study likely identifies specific ways in which legal procedures may circumvent or obstruct the proper administration of justice. [009] 2018 European PolygraphA History Note: A Peep at the Peak Of Tension (POT) Test and other Recognition Tests
The study reveals that while Leonarde Keeler was the first to report and describe recognition testing at length, the theoretical foundations were established much earlier by Hugo Münsterberg at Harvard. [010] 2018 European PolygraphIs what we wear, is who we are?
The study suggests connections between clothing choices and psychological states, though specific findings cannot be determined without access to the full content. [011] 2017 European PolygraphNelson R., Handler M., Smitley B., (2017), “Practical Polygraph: FAQ on Electrodermal Activity and the Electrodermal Sensor”, APA Magazine 2017, 50(3), 60–76.
Electrodermal activity demonstrates stronger correlation with ground truth than other physiological channels in polygraph testing. The FAQ format successfully bridges the gap between psychophysiological research and field practice by providing… [012] 2017 European PolygraphRedefining the Road for the Industry
The polygraph industry had almost entirely overlooked psychological issues in its training and publishing, creating a critical disconnect between the field's foundational understanding and its practical priorities. [013] 2016 European PolygraphExaminer Approach and its Impact on Polygraph Results
Interrogative examiner approaches aimed at extracting confessions rather than diagnostic truth assessment significantly compromise polygraph validity and can lead to false positives, as demonstrated by the Deskovic case where discredited… [014] 2016 European PolygraphPolygraph Examinations Contaminating Factors
Multiple psychological contaminating factors can cause innocent examinees to produce inconclusive or false positive results even when standard protocols are followed correctly, with mental contamination being difficult to avoid due… [015] 2016 European PolygraphSynopsis of articles from Polygraph 2015 (vol. 45) & 2016 (vol. 46)
The synopsis curated and summarized the most significant contributions to polygraph practice from a two-year period, covering evidence-based technique validation, practical examiner guidance, technological developments, and evolving professional standards. [016] 2013 European PolygraphComparative Review of Polygraph and Other Diagnostic Tools and Methods
Polygraph diagnostic accuracy (.88) was comparable to established medical imaging technologies including MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound. Inter-rater reliability among polygraph examiners (.77) exceeded physicians (.56) and approached psychologists (.79),… [017] 1999 • INTERNATIONAL FIELD PolygraphExclusive or Nonexclusive Comparison Questions: A Comparative Field Study
Israeli field study comparing exclusive vs. non-exclusive comparison question formats. Found both formats produced comparable accuracy rates in real criminal investigations.Explore all research.
Browse our complete database of 3493 peer-reviewed polygraph studies.