Review of: Handbook of Polygraph Testing

Frank Horvath's 2003 review evaluated Murray Kleiner's 'Handbook of Polygraph Testing,' one of the few comprehensive scholarly works on polygraphy. Published shortly after the NAS report on polygraph validity, the review positioned the Handbook as an important consolidation of research and practice across multiple polygraph methods, from CQT to CIT to emerging technologies.

Scholarly book review evaluating a comprehensive edited volume covering 12 major domains of polygraph science and practice, including historical context, current research, and practical applications.

Background & Context

Frank Horvath's 2003 book review appeared at a pivotal moment in polygraph history. The National Research Council's 2002 report on polygraph and lie detection had just been released, representing one of the most comprehensive scientific evaluations of polygraphy ever undertaken. Against this backdrop, Horvath reviewed Murray Kleiner's "Handbook of Polygraph Testing" (Academic Press, 2002), one of the few comprehensive scholarly works in a field that, as Horvath noted, had received relatively little scholarly writing and research attention.

The timing was significant. Polygraph testing was more widely used in the U.S. for forensic purposes than almost all other forensic techniques, yet it remained deeply controversial in scientific circles. The Handbook represented an attempt to consolidate current psychological theories, research findings, and practical applications across all major polygraph methods—from the Comparison Question Test to the Concealed Information Test to post-conviction sex offender testing.

Horvath, himself a distinguished polygraph researcher with Michigan State University, brought decades of empirical research experience to his evaluation. His review provided expert perspective on whether Kleiner's edited volume successfully addressed the fundamental question he posed: "What do we know about such testing and how might we evaluate its effectiveness?"

Research Design & Methodology

This is a scholarly book review rather than an empirical study, so traditional research methodology does not apply. However, the review can be understood through its analytical framework. Horvath evaluated Kleiner's Handbook, which was structured around 12 comprehensive chapters covering the major domains of polygraph science and practice.

The Handbook included chapters on the Comparison Question Test, practical use of the Concealed Information Test in Japan, the Guilty Knowledge Test, critical reviews of the Control Question Test, physiological detection of deception, the pretest interview, personnel screening, post-conviction sex offender testing, countermeasures, event-related potentials, computer methods for psychophysiological detection, and legal aspects of polygraph admissibility. The volume brought together leading experts including Raskin, Honts, Ben-Shakhar, Elaad, Nakayama, Krapohl, Kircher, and Rosenfeld.

Horvath's review methodology involved critically assessing how well the Handbook balanced theoretical rigor with practical application, whether it established common terminology and standards for the field, and how effectively it addressed ongoing scientific controversies. The review contextualized the Handbook within the larger scientific and policy debates surrounding polygraph validity, particularly in light of the recent NAS report.

Results & Key Findings

While the full text of Horvath's review is not publicly available, the accessible portions indicate he positioned the Handbook as an important scholarly contribution to a field starved for comprehensive academic treatment. The review opened by contextualizing the perennial human need to detect deception, noting that the importance of lie detection extends to all human interactions across social, legal, political and other domains.

The review appears to have evaluated the Handbook's success in several key areas:

• Scholarly comprehensiveness: The book represented one of only a handful of serious academic volumes on polygraphy, filling a significant gap in the scientific literature
• Theoretical and practical balance: The volume integrated cutting-edge research with clinical applications, making it accessible to diverse audiences from examiners to scientists
• Standards establishment: The Handbook attempted to establish common terminology, concepts, and processes for both practitioners and researchers
• Coverage breadth: Chapters spanned traditional CQT methods, alternative techniques like the CIT, emerging technologies (ERPs, computer methods), and critical perspectives

Horvath acknowledged the challenging context in which the Handbook appeared. The NAS report was not very encouraging regarding polygraph validity for security screening purposes, though it did not focus extensively on forensic applications where polygraph testing commonly plays a role in criminal investigations. This distinction was important for understanding the Handbook's contribution to the more established forensic use of polygraphy.

Discussion & Significance

Horvath's review highlighted the Handbook's significance as a consolidation of polygraph knowledge at a critical juncture. The volume brought together diverse perspectives—from proponents like Raskin and Honts to critical voices like Ben-Shakhar—providing readers with both theoretical foundations and practical guidance. This balanced approach was particularly valuable given the polarized nature of polygraph debates in scientific and legal circles.

The review implicitly raised important questions about the field's maturity and scientific standing. By noting the scarcity of scholarly works in polygraphy, Horvath underscored both the importance of Kleiner's contribution and the field's ongoing struggle for scientific legitimacy. The Handbook represented an effort to professionalize and standardize a practice that had developed largely through practitioner innovation rather than systematic scientific research.

The timing relative to the 2003 NAS report was crucial. While that report delivered sobering conclusions about polygraph limitations, the Handbook provided a more nuanced picture of different applications and methodologies. Horvath's review helped readers understand that polygraph validity varied considerably across different techniques, contexts, and purposes—from specific-incident criminal investigations to broad security screening applications.

Limitations & Considerations

As a brief 2-page book review, Horvath's analysis necessarily provided limited critical depth compared to a full scholarly article. The review format constrained detailed evaluation of individual chapters or specific scientific controversies addressed in the Handbook. Readers seeking comprehensive assessment of the Handbook's arguments and evidence would need to consult the volume itself.

The review appeared in a forensic science journal primarily read by practitioners and applied researchers, which may have shaped its focus toward practical utility rather than purely theoretical critique. Additionally, Horvath's own extensive research contributions to polygraph science meant he was reviewing a book containing chapters by colleagues and collaborators, which could influence perspective, though his scholarly reputation suggests objectivity.

Practical Applications

For polygraph practitioners, Horvath's review signaled that Kleiner's Handbook represented an essential reference work—one of the few comprehensive scholarly resources available for understanding both the science and practice of polygraphy. The volume's coverage of diverse methods (CQT, CIT, PCSOT) and emerging technologies (ERPs, computerized analysis) provided examiners with access to current research findings that could inform evidence-based practice.

For consumers, legal professionals, and policymakers, the review highlighted that serious scientific work on polygraph testing did exist, despite the technique's controversial status. The Handbook offered a way to understand polygraph testing beyond simplistic "lie detector" mythology, examining the psychological and physiological mechanisms, limitations, and appropriate applications. Horvath's contextualization within the broader scientific debate helped readers understand that while polygraph validity remained contentious, the technique had evolved considerably from its origins and continued to generate substantive research.