Polygraph Theory

For 92 years, polygraph practice had no defensible scientific theory with science generally dedicated instead to testing different types of questions, formats, and rates of accuracy. Today, if you ask “WHY” does polygraph work, you will probably be told something about the fight/flight response, or some other explanation a person was taught in a 10-13 week basic training course.

In 2015, Dr. Palmatier became the first applied scientist to address the lack of a defensible theory with the publication of two peer-reviewed papers in the prestigious International Journal of Psychophysiology. These papers can be found at:

Palmatier, J. J., & Rovner, L. (2015). Credibility assessment: Preliminary process theory, the polygraph process, and construct validity. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 95, 3–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.06.001

Palmatier, J. J., &Rovner, L. (2015). Rejoinder to commentary on Palmatier and Rovner (2015): Credibility assessment: Preliminary Process Theory, the polygraph process, and construct validity. International Journal of Psychophysiology 95 (1), 31–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2014.11.009