The BPS, also known as the British Polygraph Society, is a professional and independent Professional Polygraph Association in the UK, dedicated to preserving the ethical integrity of Polygraph Testing and Science.
Our Society is of interest to highly trained, qualified and accredited polygraph examiners, those associated with the deception detection industry and private individuals.
All of our members are committed to providing a valid and accurate means to verify the truth and establish the highest standards of ethical, professional and moral conduct in the polygraph field. We are the only association that provides approved advanced training for our members, ensuring they are the best in the field.
UK Polygraph Association NEWS
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Welcome to British Polygraph Society official website
Our website exists to provide the members of BPS and the general public with expert, up to date information related to polygraph science and its practice. Our service is available to anyone who has an interest in the industry whether for personal or professional purposes.
Dedicated to establishing and maintaining the optimum standards of ethical and professional behaviour we set the bar high for membership. With integrity comes respectability and the BPS enjoys an enviable reputation within the UK polygraph sphere for these and many other qualities.
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All members of the BPS are required to adhere to our strict Code of Ethics and high Standards of Practice. The morality, confidentiality, ethical and professional conduct of our members is not negotiable. Professionals who join our Society receive assistance in following our Code of Conduct and are committed to the veracity of truth in all that they do.
The BPS actively encourages members to develop their skills through continuous research, training, study and cooperation with professionals in the field. These aspects of development, including internship, are checked by us each year to allow members to maintain their membership of our Society.
Committed to the professional detection of deception, the BPS protects the public interest in the UK via research, education, discipline and ongoing training. This includes our member examiners completing coursework spanning hundreds of hours at a recognised accredited training facility.
Mission and Objectives
- To inspire and influence the advancement of deception detection techniques in the UK
- To develop and strengthen collaboration among law enforcement agencies to apply and utilise accepted methods of polygraph examinations
- To progress the development of optimum standards of practice within the polygraph industry, nurturing and inspiring scientific research, advancement of study and contemporary polygraph proficiency and performance.
- To embrace qualified, accredited polygraph examiners from the UK and globally who wish to share their knowledge and experience to assist society in determining the truth.
- To provide an exchange network for data relevant to deception detection experiences, research and white papers
- To cooperate locally and globally with other polygraph bodies and associations to the benefit of our members
- To ensure that only members with the highest credentials, whether collectively or individually, are involved in the BPS
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Polygraph Terminology Reference
Psychophysiological Detection of Deception Terminology Reference
Source: Terminology Reference - American Polygraph Association
Last Update: 2022
A
- a posteriori
- a priori
- acetylcholine (ACh)
- acquaintance test
- activity monitor
- Adrenalin
- adrenergic
- afferent nerves
- Air Force Modified General Question Test (AFMGQT)
- alarm reaction
- algorithm
- all-or-none law
- allostasis
- alpha
- American Association of Police Polygraphists (AAPP)
- American Polygraph Association (APA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- anacrotic limb
- analog study
- analysis spot
- anecdote
- anti-countermeasures
- anticlimax dampening concept
- aorta
- apnea
- Army Modified General Question Test (Army MGQT)
- arousal
- arousal theory
- arrhythmia
- Arther technique
- attention
- autogenic training
- automatic mode
- autonomic nervous system (ANS)
- AVATAR
- Axciton
- axon
B
- Backster, Cleve
- base rate
- baseline arousal
- behavior countermeasures
- behavioral analysis
- Benussi, Vittorio
- Berkeley psychograph (or Lee Polygraph)
- beta blocker
- bias
- biofeedback
- biphasic response
- bizone
- black zone
- blind chart analysis
- blind stimulation test
- blocking
- blood pressure
- blood volume (BV)
- bogus pipeline (BPL)
- bootstrapping
- brachial artery
- bradycardia
- bradypnea
- brain stem
- breakdown (or breakout) test
- breathing
- Brilograf
- British One-issue Screening Test (BOST)
C
- Calibration Verification of Sensitivity Test (CVOS)
- card test
- cardio-pneumo-psychograph
- cardioactivity monitor (CAM)
- cardiograph
- cardiosphygmograph
- cardiotachometer
- catacrotic limb
- category bar
- central nervous system (CNS)
- chart
- chart identification
- chart markings
- chemical countermeasures
- Cheyne-Stokes respiration
- chi-square test (2)
- cholinergic
- classical conditioning
- clearing chart
- clinical approach
- closed-eyes technique
- community safety examinations
- comparative response question
- comparison question
- Comparison Question Technique (CQT)
- comparison/control question validation test
- Computer Assisted Polygraph System CAPS
- Computer Voice Stress Analyzer (CVSA)
- Concealed Information Test (CIT)
- conditional probabilities
- conditioned response theory
- conductance
- confabulation
- confession criterion
- confirmatory testing
- conflict theory
- conspecnificance
- constant current method
- constant voltage method
- containment approach
- control group
- control question
- control test
- correlation
- cortisol
- counter-countermeasures
- Counterintelligence-Scope Polygraph (CSP)
- countermeasures
- CPS
- craniosacral division of autonomic nervous system
- credibility assessment
- critical item
- current exclusive comparison question
D
- Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- deception
- deception exemplar
- Deception Indicated (DI)
- deception test
- decision rule
- defensible dozen
- degrees of freedom (df)
- delayed answer test (DAT)
- dendrite
- Department of Defense Polygraph Institute (DoDPI)
- dependent variable
- devil’s finger
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition
- diastole
- diastolic blood pressure
- dichotomization theory
- dichotomous variables
- dicrotic notch
- differential responsivity (reactivity)
- differential salience
- Directed Lie Screening Test (DLST)
- directed-lie comparison (DLC) question
- disclosure examination
- discontinuous blood pressure method
- discovery test
- discriminant analysis
- disguised comparison question
- dissociation
- domestic violence offender testing
- double verification test
- dyspnea
E
- Easterbrook (1959).
- eccrine glands
- efferent nerves
- Either-Or Rule
- electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)
- electrodermal activity (EDA)
- electrodermal response (EDR)
- electroencephalogram (EEG)
- electromyograph (EMG)
- electrooculograph (EOG)
- embarrassing personal question (EPQ)
- emotional standard
- empirical
- Empirical Scoring System
- Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (EPPA)
- endosomatic
- epinephrine
- error-related negativity (ERN)
- eupnea
- event marker
- event-related potentials (ERPs)
- evidence-connecting question
- evidence-connecting question
- evidentiary examination
- evoked cortical potentials
- ex parte phenomenon
- examination
- exclusive (exclusionary) comparison question
- exculpatory examination
- exosomatic
- experimental group
- exploratory test
- extrapolygraphic
- extrasystolic beat (ESB)
F
- F3
- false key
- false negative
- false positive
- fear of detection model
- fear of error
- feature
- field research
- fight, flight, freeze
- finger of death
- finger pulse amplitude (FPA)
- Fleiss’ kappa
- foil
- forensic psychophysiological detection of deception examination
- forensic psychophysiologist
- forensic psychophysiology
- format
- frame of reference
- functional Magnetic Resonance Image (fMRI)
- Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)
G
H
I
- imagery
- impedance cardiogram (ICG)
- Inbau, Fred
- incisura
- inclusive (inclusionary, non-exclusionary) comparison question
- Incomplete
- Inconclusive
- indefinite
- independent variable
- information gain
- innervation
- inside track
- inside-issue comparison question
- inside-issue relevant question
- inspiration (inhalation) / expiration (exhalation) ratio (I/E ratio)
- instant offense examination
- Integrated Zone Comparison Technique
- integument
- intent question
- inter-chart stimulation
- interbeat interval (IBI)
- Introduction
- introductory test
- investigative examination
- irrelevant question
K
L
- labile
- laboratory research
- Lafayette Instrument Company
- Larson, John
- latency
- Law Enforcement Pre-Employment Test (LEPET)
- law of initial values (LIV)
- law of intensity
- Layered Voice Analysis (LVA)
- lens model
- lie detector
- likelihood ratio
- Limestone Technologies
- Lombroso, Cesare
- Luria, Aleksandr
- Lykken scoring
- Lykken, David T.
M
- maintenance examination
- manual mode
- Marey, Étienne-Jules
- Marston, William
- mean blood pressure
- medulla oblongata
- mental countermeasure
- microtremor
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
- mixed issue test
- Mixed Question Test
- model policy
- Modified Relevant Irrelevant (MRI) technique
- monitoring examination
- Monte Carlo method
- Mosso, Angelo
- motor nerves
- movement sensor
- multiple-facet test
- multiple-issue examination
- Münsterberg , Hugo
N
- National Center for Credibility Assessment
- nervous system
- neuron
- neurotransmitter
- neutral question
- No Deception Indicated (NDI)
- No Opinion
- No Significant Physiological Responses (NSPR or NSR)
- non-current exclusive comparison question
- non-exclusive (inclusive or inclusionary) comparison question
- non-specific responses
- noradrenaline
- norm
- numerical analysis
- numerical chart analysis
O
P
- P300
- padding
- pain countermeasure
- paradigm
- parameter
- parasympathetic nervous system
- parasympathomimetic
- Pathometer
- Peak of Tension (POT)
- Pearson product-moment correlation
- peripheral nervous system
- pertinent question
- phalanx
- pharmacological countermeasures
- phasic response
- photoplethysmograph (PPG)
- photopolygraph
- physical countermeasures
- Pinocchio response
- place bar
- placebo
- plethysmograph
- pneumograph
- polygram
- polygraph
- polygraph surveillance
- positive comparison question
- positive control pair
- Positive Control Technique
- post hoc
- Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing (PCSOT)
- posttest
- pre-ejection period (PEP)
- Preliminary Credibility Assessment Screening System (PCASS)
- premature ventricle contraction (PVC)
- pretest interview
- primary track
- probability
- probable-lie comparison question (PLC)
- Probing Peak of Tension
- pseudorelevant question
- Psychogalvanic Reflex (PGR)
- psychograph
- psychological set
- Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE)
- psychopath
- psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD)
- pulse pressure
- pulse transit time (PTT)
- punishment theory
- pupillary response
- Purposeful Non-Cooperation (PNC)
R
- R-wave peak to carotid incisura (RWPCI)
- radial artery
- random assignment
- random selection
- rank order analysis
- rationalization
- reaction tracing
- Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC)
- recognition test
- recovery half-time
- recovery time
- red zone
- regression analysis
- Reid, John
- Relevant Issue Gravity (RIG)
- relevant question
- Relevant/Irrelevant (RI) Technique
- reliability
- relief tracing
- resistance
- respiration line length (RLL)
- respiratory amplitude
- respiratory blood pressure fluctuations (RBPF)
- respiratory cycle time (RCT)
- respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)
- response onset window
- rise time
S
- S-K-Y
- sacrifice relevant question
- salience
- scientific cradle
- screening examination
- Searching (or Probing) Peak of Tension (SPOT)
- secondary track
- sensitivity
- sensory nerves
- Senter Rules
- serrated breathing pattern
- sexual history examination
- sexual offender monitoring
- signal detection theory (SDT)
- signal value
- Significant Physiological Responses (SPR or SR)
- silent answer test (SAT)
- Silent Talker
- single-issue examination
- situational comparison question
- skin conductance (SC)
- skin conductance level (SCL)
- skin conductance response (SCR)
- skin potential (SP)
- skin potential level (SPL)
- skin potential response (SPR):
- skin resistance (SR)
- skin resistance level (SRL)
- skin resistance response (SRR)
- smoked drum recording
- smooth muscles
- Spearman Rank Correlation
- specific issue polygraph examination
- specific point countermeasures
- specificity
- sphygmograph
- sphygmomanometer
- spontaneous countermeasures
- spontaneous response
- spot
- spot analysis
- spot responder
- stabile
- staircase respiration
- standard deviation
- statistical significance
- stim marker
- stimulation test
- Stoelting Instruments
- straight-through test (ST)
- strain gauge
- striated muscles
- stroke volume (SV)
- strong relevant question
- subjective lie/truth question
- successive hurdles approach
- Summers, Walter
- super-dampening concept
- suppression
- surreptitious breathing tracing
- sympathetic chain
- sympathetic nervous system
- sympathomimetic
- symptomatic question
- synapse
- systole
- systolic blood pressure
T
- T test
- tachycardia
- tachypnea
- technique
- test
- test data analysis (TDA)
- Test for Espionage and Sabotage (TES).
- thenar eminence
- thermal imaging
- thoraco-lumbar division of autonomic nervous system
- thumb transducer
- time bar
- tonic change
- tonic level
- tonic response
- total chart minutes concept (TCMC)
- tracing average
- tracing distortion
- track
- transducer
- Traube-Hering-Mayer (THM) wave
- tremograph
- true negative
- true positive
- two-stage rules
- type I error
- type II error
U
V
Introduction
field, progress which has continued in the decade since the last edition of the Terminology Reference.
The transition from analog to digital polygraph is now complete, the polygraph profession has accomplished the
shift from authority-based practices to those that are evidence-based, concepts and terms adopted by the
polygraph field are substantially more mainstream, new credibility assessment technologies have appeared
while others have disappeared, and much to the surprise of critics and detractors, predictions of the demise
of the polygraph have proven to be premature.
In this fourth edition of the Terminology Reference for the Science of Psychophysiological Detection of
Deception we strived to capture these changes. We have updated the references, added new terms, removed
others, and included images for some terms to help readers understand them better. We hope readers
appreciate these updates.
And finally, we sadly report the passing of our friend, colleague and contributor to previous editions of this
work, Shirley Sturm in 2020. Shirley was one of the greats in the polygraph field. She was the first woman
President of the American Polygraph Association, a teacher, a coveted mentor, and a fiercely independent
thinker. We and the rest of the polygraph field will miss Shirley, her sense of humor, her passion for
polygraph, her concern for her fellow practitioners, her commitment to the field. There was always only one Shirley Sturm and we were fortunate to have known her. Because of her lasting contribution to our shared field of endeavor we dedicate this edition of the Terminology Reference to Shirley Sturm
Authors
PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL DETECTION OF DECEPTIO 4th Edition, 2022
- Donald Krapohl
- Mark Handler
- Michael Lynch
The information published in the Terminology Reference for the Science of Psychophysiological Detection of
Deception does not necessarily reflect the position of the American Polygraph Association