What Is the British One-issue Screening Test (BOST)?
The British One-issue Test">Screening Test (BOST) is a polygraph testing format developed as a variation of the Air Force Modified General Question Test. It was specifically designed to fill a requirement for a validated screening method that permits testing on only a single issue, as opposed to the multi-issue screening formats more commonly used in government programmes.
Key Differences from Standard AFMGQT
The BOST differs from the standard screening AFMGQT in two principal ways. First, the two relevant questions in the BOST cover identical behaviours and time periods — ensuring the examination is tightly focused on a single issue rather than spanning multiple topics. Second, the decision rules include the grand total score of both relevant questions, providing a unified single-issue determination rather than separate evaluations for each relevant question.
Applications
The BOST was developed primarily for use in the United Kingdom, where it supports programmes such as Sex Offender Testing">Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing. The UK’s requirements for polygraph testing differ from those in the United States — the BOST addresses the practical need for a scientifically validated single-issue screening tool in jurisdictions that require focused testing on specific compliance or behavioural issues.
Scoring
The BOST uses the standard 7-position scoring system and follows the same evidence-based numerical analysis procedures as other validated AFMGQT variants, ensuring consistency with the broader body of polygraph research.
References
See: Krapohl, Grubin, Benson & Morris (2020).