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Effective Writing II

Effective Writing II

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Why the Polygraph Does Not Detect Lies Effective Writing II

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The modern lie detector is nothing more than an instrument to measure physiological

responses . And while many people view it as an absolute , it is not always admissible in court . It is

often not viewed as a true method of telling whether or not a person is telling the truth . At the same

time , it has come to be embraced by the larger culture as

something that in fact does tell whether or

not one is lying . John Ramsey 's refusal to take a polygraph made it appear as if he were lying and

OJ Simpson 's alleged lie detector debacle has tainted his reputation even more . People have come

to see the polygraph as valid and accurate in respect to providing information , but the perception is

far from the reality Critics of the polygraph claim that it is unreliable , and is nothing more than a government-

sanctioned interrogation and intimidation unit (Frater 2800 Supporters , on the other hand

acknowledge its limitations , but claim that it is a necessity (2800 The debate on the polygraph is

heated . In discerning the truth about the lie detector , it helps to know the specific scientific support

behind it . How does the polygraph work ? And can it really tell if a subject is telling the truth The polygraph is able to measure emotion , but cannot necessarily tell whether or not someone

is lying (Slate and Anderson 54 . A polygraph uses a variety of graphs that are calibrated to

measure such things as respiration , cardiovascular activity and skin conductance (54 . Then , it is an

experienced examiner who makes the final judgment . It is essentially a human being who evalutes

the graphs . Much like a psychiatrist who evaluates behavior and considers the person in a holistic

manner , the polygraph examiner must decide whether or not the person is lying . Of course , The

examiner is often not privy to much of the data on the subject being examined . This might render

him objective . However , it is a subjective methodology used and the result - pass or fail - is only

as accurate as the examiner

Effective Writing II

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If that is not enough to shed suspicion on this detector that purportedly identifies lies , the

accuracy of the test has been questioned by the scientific community . In respect to accuracy

laboratory investigations have noted that the polygraph can detect deception , with rates ranging

from 64 percent to 96 accuracy , with chance fluctuations of 60 (Slate and Anderson 54 . Most

research gives it a 70 to 86 rate of accuracy (54 . Thus , the equipment is correct more

often than not , but that is not saying much as a 50 accuracy rate would render the instrument little

better than guessing . Proponents of the device have quoted high rates of accuracy . F . Lee Bailey for

example claims it is accurate at a rate of 96 and Kubis had marked...

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