An Evaluation of Field Techniques in Detection of Deception

This landmark 1975 study evaluated zone comparison control-question polygraph techniques using a mock crime paradigm with 72 university students (36 guilty, 36 innocent). The research demonstrated that field polygraph techniques and equipment could differentiate truth from deception in controlled conditions, achieving 81% correct decisions when inconclusives were excluded.

Seventy-two student volunteers participated in a mock crime where half stole $10. All received field-type interviews followed by zone comparison control-question tests using a Keeler polygraph. Charts were evaluated using both traditional field methods and quantitative numerical scoring, with additional blind scoring by five independent examiners to assess reliability.

This watershed study pioneered the analog laboratory approach to polygraph validation, bridging the gap between uncontrolled field data and artificial laboratory paradigms. Seventy-two balanced subjects underwent realistic polygraph procedures including field interviews and zone comparison control-question testing with a Keeler field polygraph. Electrodermal, cardiovascular, and respiration measures were recorded and analyzed using both traditional field scoring and innovative quantitative numerical methods. Results showed 81% accuracy in discriminating guilty from innocent subjects, with skin conductance response identified as the most reliable physiological indicator. The study's high inter-rater reliability (.86 correlation) and comparison of scoring methods established important benchmarks for laboratory polygraph research.

This study became foundational evidence supporting the scientific validity of CQT polygraph techniques and influenced major policy reviews including the 1983 Office of Technology Assessment and 2003 National Research Council reports. The identification of electrodermal activity as the primary discriminating measure established the physiological basis for modern polygraph practice and validated the utility of realistic laboratory simulations for polygraph research.

Background & Context

The Barland and Raskin 1975 study represents a watershed moment in polygraph validation research. Conducted using a mock crime situation at the University of Utah, this research emerged during a critical period when the scientific polygraph community sought to establish the validity of field examination techniques under controlled experimental conditions.

Prior to this study, most polygraph validation relied on either uncontrolled field data or laboratory paradigms that bore little resemblance to actual practice. This research pioneered the "analog study" approach, which attempted to replicate authentic field procedures while maintaining experimental control over ground truth. The effectiveness of commonly used field techniques and equipment in differentiating truth and deception was demonstrated in a laboratory setting.

The study's importance is reflected in its citation history—it became one of the most frequently referenced polygraph studies of the 1970s and 1980s, informing both the 1983 Office of Technology Assessment review and the 2003 National Research Council report on polygraph testing.

Research Design & Methodology

Seventy-two volunteers from introductory psychology courses at the University of Utah received extra course credit for serving as subjects. Thirty-six subjects were guilty of taking $10, and thirty-six subjects were innocent, creating a balanced experimental design with known ground truth.

The experimental protocol closely simulated real-world polygraph procedures:

• A field-type interview was followed by a zone comparison control-question polygraph examination
• A Keeler field polygraph was used to record physiological activity
• Both field (semi-objective) and quantitative evaluations of the charts were made
• Blind evaluations of the charts by 5 additional examiners produced high agreement among examiner decisions

Using quantitative scoring, significant discrimination between "guilty" and "innocent" was obtained with skin resistance, cardiovascular, and respiration measures, with skin resistance best. The study employed numerical scoring systems that were innovative for the time, moving beyond subjective chart interpretation.

Results & Key Findings

Excluding inconclusives there were 81% correct decisions—a finding that established an important accuracy benchmark for laboratory polygraph research.

Key statistical findings included:

• Electrodermal (skin resistance) measures proved most discriminating between truthful and deceptive subjects
• Field evaluations also produced significant discrimination for all three measures (electrodermal, cardiovascular, and respiration)
• A mean correlation of .86 among total scores demonstrated high inter-rater reliability among examiners
• Both traditional field scoring and quantitative numerical scoring methods achieved significant detection accuracy

The study provided empirical support that zone comparison control question testing, when properly administered, could achieve accuracy rates substantially above chance. However, the 81% accuracy figure included both guilty and innocent subjects, and later reviews noted variability in false positive rates.

Discussion & Significance

This study became a cornerstone of the argument that Control Question Test (CQT) polygraph techniques possessed scientific validity. The skin conductance response was found to be the most accurate indicator of deception both in the laboratory and in subsequent field studies, establishing electrodermal activity as the primary measure of interest in polygraph practice.

The research demonstrated that realistic laboratory simulations could produce detection rates comparable to field studies while maintaining experimental rigor. This "analog paradigm" influenced dozens of subsequent studies throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The zone comparison technique validated here became the dominant format in federal polygraph practice.

A meta-analysis later revealed that approximately 24% of the variance in detection rates could be attributed to sampling error, and detection rates were correlated with types of subjects, suggesting the Barland and Raskin results were robust but influenced by population characteristics. The high inter-examiner reliability was particularly significant, addressing criticisms that polygraph outcomes were merely subjective judgments.

Limitations & Considerations

Despite its influence, the study faced several methodological limitations. The use of college student volunteers may not generalize to actual criminal suspects who face genuine consequences. The mock crime scenario—stealing $10—lacked the psychological stakes and consequences of real criminal investigations. Subjects were motivated by course credit and a potential bonus rather than fear of prosecution.

Later field studies showed considerable variability, with correct innocent detections ranging from 12.5 percent to 94.1 percent across different studies, suggesting laboratory conditions may produce more optimistic estimates than field applications. The study's 81% accuracy excluded inconclusive outcomes, which represented a significant proportion of real-world examinations.

The reliance on zone comparison control questions—which compare reactions to crime-relevant questions versus general control questions—assumes that innocent subjects will react more strongly to control questions, an assumption that has been questioned by critics who argue it may disadvantage truthful but anxious individuals.

Practical Applications

The Barland and Raskin 1975 study provided scientific foundation for field polygraph practices that continues to influence examiner training and standardization efforts. The confirmation that quantitative scoring systems could achieve high reliability supported the development of numerical scoring algorithms still used today. The finding that electrodermal activity was the most diagnostic measure influenced sensor prioritization and chart interpretation protocols.

For consumers and legal professionals, this research demonstrated that polygraph accuracy depends heavily on proper technique application, examiner training, and appropriate test format selection. The high inter-rater reliability when examiners used standardized procedures underscored the importance of quality control and blind chart review processes—practices now standard in federal polygraph programs.