Bryan Barnes, Bryan Myers, Rachel Klainer, Kori Meyer
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
Information about whether an individual volunteered to take or refused to take a polygraph test may become public knowledge, and in some instances, becomes known to jurors. While numerous studies have investigated how the public regards polygraph test accuracy, little is known about public perceptions surrounding refusal or willingness to take a polygraph test in cases where an individual's veracity is questioned.
Methods
An online survey of 302 individuals assessed beliefs about the accuracy of polygraph tests and trust in denials of guilt in hypothetical cases where a polygraph test was: (1) refused, (2) voluntarily taken with no results, (3) voluntarily taken and passed and (4) voluntarily taken and failed.
Results
Overall, the average rating of polygraph accuracy in detecting deception was 71%, and 67% for detecting truthfulness. The findings also indicate that suspect willingness to take a polygraph test significantly increases trust in their denial of guilt, while refusal to take the test is perceived similarly to a failed test. Despite scepticism about the accuracy of polygraph tests, willingness or refusal to take the test impacts whether the suspect is trusted by others.
Conclusions
For courts in which polygraph test evidence is inadmissible, jurors should not be informed about whether the defendant or any witness offered or refused a polygraph test because they are likely to judge truthfulness based on this information.
期刊介绍:
Legal and Criminological Psychology publishes original papers in all areas of psychology and law: - victimology - policing and crime detection - crime prevention - management of offenders - mental health and the law - public attitudes to law - role of the expert witness - impact of law on behaviour - interviewing and eyewitness testimony - jury decision making - deception The journal publishes papers which advance professional and scientific knowledge defined broadly as the application of psychology to law and interdisciplinary enquiry in legal and psychological fields.