A test of the micro-expressions training tool: Does it improve lie detection?

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the micro-expressions training tool (METT) in identifying and using micro-expressions to improve lie detection. Participants (n = 90) were randomly assigned to receive training in micro-expressions recognition, a bogus control training, or no training. All participants made veracity judgements of five randomly selected videos of targets providing deceptive or truthful statements. With the use of the Bayesian analyses, we found that the METT group did not outperform those in the bogus training and no training groups. Further, overall accuracy was slightly below chance. Implications of these results are discussed.