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More Polygraph Futility

February 2015
31(10):1956-1970

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PubMed

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This article takes a critical look at the recent Jensen, Shafer, Roby, and Roby study that found that juveniles and adults have no statistically significant different rates of passing sexual history polygraph examinations. Numerous research and statistical issues are identified, including lack of independence, no adjustment for differing rates of opportunity across ages, poor construct validity of deceit, failure to adjust for base rates of deceit in subsequent analyses, and failure to include recidivism as an outcome. In addition, three arguments made by Jensen et al. against using recidivism as an outcome to judge post-conviction polygraph are discussed along with critical assessments of two recent studies examining the relationship between recidivism and sexual history polygraph examinations. It ends with a discussion of the current state of post-conviction polygraph testing research and way forward to find solid, replicable evidence that assesses its utility as a correctional intervention.

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Journal of Interpersonal Violence

2016, Vol. 31(10) 1956 –1970

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DOI: 10.1177/0886260515570752

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Commentary

More Polygraph Futility:

A Comment on Jensen,

Shafer, Roby, and Roby

(2015)

Jeffrey W. Rosky, PhD1

Abstract

This article takes a critical look at the recent Jensen, Shafer, Roby, and Roby

study that found that juveniles and adults have no statistically significant

different rates of passing sexual history polygraph examinations. Numerous

research and statistical issues are identified, including lack of independence,

no adjustment for differing rates of opportunity across ages, poor construct

validity of deceit, failure to adjust for base rates of deceit in subsequent

analyses, and failure to include recidivism as an outcome. In addition, three

arguments made by Jensen et al. against using recidivism as an outcome to

judge post-conviction polygraph are discussed along with critical assessments

of two recent studies examining the relationship between recidivism and

sexual history polygraph examinations. It ends with a discussion of the

current state of post-conviction polygraph testing research and way forward

to find solid, replicable evidence that assesses its utility as a correctional

intervention.

Keywords

polygraph, recidivism, correctional intervention, assessment

1University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jeffrey W. Rosky, Assistant Professor, Department of Criminal Justice, College of Health and

Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, 12805 Pegasus Drive, Orlando, FL 32816-1600, USA.

Email: jrosky@ucf.edu

570752JIVXXX10.1177/0886260515570752Journal of Interpersonal ViolenceRosky

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