Materials: 6 white 8” X 5” index cards, one red and one blue fiber-tip pens.
Procedure:
- Draw:
- A large red “1” on one card.
- A large blue “2” on one card.
- A large “3” with the top half red and the bottom half blue on one card. • A large blue “4” on one card.
- A large red “5” on one card.
- A large “6” that is 3⁄4 blue and 1⁄4 red.
- Advise the examinee that you are going to verify that the charts look differently when the examinee tells a lie and tells the truth. State that if there are no differences, there is no reason to continue the examination. This holds the interest of most examinees, and invites countermeasures from those so inclined.
- Before testing begins, hold up the first card, and ask the examinee what the number is. If he correctly answers “1”, ask what the color is. If the answer is “red,” go to the next card. Repeat the procedure though the cards.
- At the mixed-color cards, the examinee should correctly state that the cards are both red and blue. Emphasize that this answer is correct, that the cards are neither entirely red nor entirely blue.
- Advise the examinee that in a moment you will turn on the polygraph, show him the cards one at a time, and the examinee is to answer yes or no to your questions.
- Advise the examinee that when a red number is shown, he should lie. When a blue number is shown, he should answer truthfully.
- Advise the examinee that when the mixed- color “3” is shown, he will be asked if the “3” is blue. He should answer yes, and therefore he will be telling a half-lie.
- Advise the examinee that when the mixed- color “6” is shown, he will be asked if the “6” is red. He should answer no, and therefore he will be telling a small lie.
- Conduct the test with the cards in order of 1-6, and a 20-25 second pace. Have the examinee face you during the test, where he can see the cards as you hold them up. Watch the examinee’s eyes to ensure he is focusing on the cards.
- Discuss the test with the examinee when it is completed, emphasizing that you now have a recording of responses when the examinee is completely truthful, and responses when the examinee is telling full, half, and small lies. Usually, it is desirable to withhold the chart until the examination is completed. Look for countermeasures, but do not comment if you see them.