In order to get a job at a convenience store, you had to take a lie-detector test. You were asked a series of questions and you answered truthfully that you had never stolen from your employer or lied during an interview. Unfortunately, you were not hired, because measurements recorded during these questions indicated that you were lying. What is the most likely explanation for this?
A) The test revealed that you have a personality disorder.
B) The machine was faulty, and thus misread your heart rate and galvanic skin response during only these questions.
C) You may have been afraid of being accused of dishonest behavior that you never committed.
D) Polygraphs are almost always accurate, so you must have lied about something.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Polygraph tests, also known as lie detector tests, measure physiological responses like heart rate and galvanic skin response that can change due to stress or anxiety, not just dishonesty. Being afraid of being falsely accused of dishonest behavior, even when telling the truth, can trigger these physiological responses, leading to false positives.

In Order to Get a Job at a Convenience Store