Detection of Deception

Abstract

People are poor intuitive lie catchers and on the average, only slightly better than chance at detecting deception. Therefore, there is a continuous search for improved methods to detect deception. Research has shown that objective behavioral cues of deception are rare and have limited validity. Misconceptions about the nature of these cues add to the poor lie detection performance. Paper and pencil integrity tests and verbal content tests similarly offer limited aid. Focus has turned to computerized polygraph tests. Two main methods of polygraph testing received most attention: The comparison question test (CQT), designed to detect deception, is the most common psychophysiological detection method mainly because it is available and requires no special preparations. Nonetheless, use of the CQT remains controversial and its opponents prefer the concealed information test (CIT), which is designed to reveal concealed information rather than to detect deception. The CIT is less controversial than the CQT, still it cannot be applied in many investigated cases and therefore, it is less frequently used. Due to its classical experimental design, the CIT is currently the focus of scientific research. Efforts are directed in search for more accurate procedures and more refined indices, including unobtrusive measures of deception.