ASTM E1954-05(2011)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation: E1954 − 05 (Reapproved 2011)
Standard Practice for
Conduct of Research in Psychophysiological Detection of
Deception (Polygraph)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1954; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope testing technique, question sequence, description of circum-
stances and facilities, raw data, and any tape recordings
1.1 This practice establishes essential and recommended
presented.
elements in the design, conduct, and reporting of research on
4.1.3 So far as possible, the only difference between pro-
psychophysiological detection of deception (polygraph)
grammed deceptive and programmed nondeceptive subjects
(PDD). Analog and field research are addressed separately.
should be their participation in the act to which deception
occurs during the PDD testing.
2. Referenced Documents
4.1.4 Non-exploratory studies shall test a sufficient number
2.1 ASTM Standards:
of subjects to obtain a statistical power of 0.80 or higher using
E2035 Terminology Relating to Forensic Psychophysiology
a 0.05 significance level. Studies that are exploratory in
nature—that do not obtain this power level—shall be clearly
3. Terminology
identified as exploratory studies.
3.1 For full explanations of terminology relating to PDD,
4.1.5 To the extent possible, when conducting validity and
refer to Terminology E2035.
reliability studies, participants performing the testing and
evaluating the physiological data shall be unaware as to both
4. Summary of Practice
the programming of the subjects and the base rates of decep-
4.1 Laboratory Research:
tion. The degree of knowledge of the participants shall be
4.1.1 Unless subjects must be individually trained or con-
detailed in the report.
ditioned to achieve some criterion, subject manipulation pro-
4.1.6 All instrumentation shall be fully reported, including
cedures shall require minimal human interaction. Those por-
any modification of standard equipment. When using field
tions requiring human interaction shall be standardized to the
instruments, researchers shall report the manufacturer, model,
extent possible.
typesofrecordingchannels,whetherthechannelsaremechani-
4.1.2 All procedures shall be described and reported in
cally or electronically driven, and whether the instrumentation
sufficient detail that others can replicate them. This shall
is computerized.
include logistical factors that may introduce systematic error,
4.1.7 Statements of generalization shall be limited to that
such as when subject handling allows them to reveal their
which the data, procedures, and statistical methodology can
programming to one another, or arrival times cue testing
support.
examiners regarding programming. All research-related mate-
4.1.8 A human subject research review shall be performed
rials shall be retained by the researcher for at least five years
by a recognized independent entity for all studies involving the
from date of publication. Reasonable accommodation shall be
participation of subjects.
made to other researchers for access to research documentation
4.2 Field Research:
and data. Documentation of procedures shall include, but not
4.2.1 The process for selecting cases shall be thoroughly
be limited to, copies of subject instructions, test questions,
reported, including at least the source, method, exclusionary
criteria, and subject population. With respect to subjects, the
report shall clearly articulate the proportions of the sample that
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E52 on Forensic
Psychophysiology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E52.01 on
are suspects, witnesses, and victims.
Research.
4.2.2 The qualifications of the polygraph testing and chart
Current edition approved March 1, 2011. Published March 2011. Originally
evaluating participants shall be identified in the report, includ-
approved in 1998. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as E1954 – 05. DOI:
10.1520/E1954-05R11.
ing formal polygraph training, field experience, and any
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
licensing or certification.
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
4.2.3 Researchers shall report the degree to which poly-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. graph chart evaluators were kept unaware with regard to
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E1954 − 05 (2011)
extrapolygraphic information. Specifically, they shall report average decision accuracy for deceptive and nondeceptive
whether the polygraph chart evaluators were aware of base cases is 80 % or greater in the discrimination between decep-
rates, case facts, the study hypothesis, subject verbal behavior, tive and truthful cases.
subject gestures, or other extrapolygraphic details. Moreover, 5.2.1 Average accuracy shall be calculated using the follow-
researchers shall report whether examiners who participated in ing formula:
the research normally include any of these factors in their
AA 5 $~cG/dG!1~cI/dI!%/2·100 (2)
decisions during field testing.
where:
4.2.4 All instrumentation shall be fully reported, including
any modification of standard equipment. When using field cG = number of correct decisions with Guilty subjects,
dG = total number of conclusive decisions with Guilty
instruments, researchers shall report the manufacturer, model,
subjects,
typesofrecordingchannels,whetherthechannelsaremechani-
cI = number of correct decisions with Innocent subjects,
cally or electronically driven, and whether the instrumentation
and
is computerized.
dI = total number of conclusive decisions with Innocent
4.2.5 Statements of generalization shall be limited to those
subjects.
which the data, procedures, and statistical methodology can
support. Departures from conventional field practice shall be
5.2.2 The method must also produce conclusive decisions in
documented in detail, with an explanation for the nonstandard
at least 80 % of the cases. Decisions n
...