Polygraph
Course
History:
(Eight Hours)
The history of lie detection is traced from primitive man to its
evolved state of art and will be presented to the student in an
interesting and informative manner.
Psychophysiology:
(Forty Hours)
Students
will study the interrelationship between the mind and body, through
an in depth examination of the effects of emotions on the nervous
system, and the subsequent changes in body organs and systems.
These are what psychophysiologists monitor or and record for interpretation
of truth or deception.
Instrumentation:
(Twenty-six Hours)
Students
will be instructed in the complete nature of both state of the
art and more traditional instrumentation used in the detection
of deception, including their construction, operation, calibration,
and maintenance. Both mechanical and electronics polygraph instruments
will be covered.
Techniques:
(Sixty Hours)
A
comprehensive study of the various forensic psychophysiological
techniques in use today, including Keeler, Reid, Arther, Backster,
Department of Defense, Marcy, Positive Control, Peak of Tension,
and the Academy’s own Integrated Question Technique. The
student will acquire a working knowledge of each of the major
polygraph techniques and will be capable of using any of them
in the field for both law enforcement and commercial purposes.
Interviewing:
(Forty Hours)
The
student will be taught to properly prepare an examinee for a forensic
psychophysiological examination, along with various methods of
ascertaining critical information from the individual. The student
will earn to analyze Nonverbal Behavior and Unwitting Verbal Cues,
with the latest advances in this field, such as, the Morgan Interview
Thematic Technique, and Scientific Content Analysis. Students
will be instructed in the Integrated Interrogation Technique,
which will allow them to masterfully obtain confessions from deception
examinees in a non intrusive system.
Question
Formulation: (Thirty Hours)
This
area of instruction covers one of the most vital phases of lie
detection, the selection of the correct issue and formulation
of questions, which reflect both the needs of the examiners and
the concepts of the examinee. Students will be trained to artfully
develop polygraph questions.
Chart
Interpretation: (Fifty Hours)
Chart
analysis is the final and most crucial part of any polygraph examinations.
This phase of study teaches the student how to understand the
physiological phenomena recorded by the instrument, to make the
proper and necessary comparison, and to reach an accurate conclusion
of truth or deception. The development of numerical evaluation
is taught from its origin with the Backster technique to the latest
advancement with the Academy’s own Horizontal Scoring System.
Practicum:
(Forty-four Hours)
Students
will participate in, and observe, examinations in the Academy’s
modern polygraph laboratory. The student will be presented with
hypothetical case facts and be required to construct and administer
a complete polygraph examination to resolve the issue in a mock
crime paradigm. This practical experience allows the students
to practice everything that they have been taught. This practice
has been the most effective method in training examiners to be
able to properly administer forensic psychophysiological examination
in the field.
Legal
and Ethical Aspects: (Fourteen Hours)
Experience
has taught us that ethical conduct by the forensic psychophysiologists
is essential. A code of conduct prescribed by the American Polygraph
Association will be presented and discussed. Students will be
informed of the latest available legal opinions from the courts
concerning lie detection and its application. The student will
be instructed in proper methods of testifying as an expert witness
in civil and criminal court proceedings, and administrative hearings.
Forensic
Psychophysiology Research and Methods:(Four Hours)
The
basis of any scientific technique requires that it be valid and
reliable. Our students will be familiarized with current research
regarding the validity and reliability of the forensic psychophysiological
technique. Students will also be acquainted with published scientific
research data and journals, and ascertain a basic understanding
of scientific experimental design.
Post
Graduate Assignment: (Eighty Hours)
Graduates
are given numerous options to complete their post graduate assignment.
These include submitting charts, book reviews, video reviews,
and seminar credits.
The
Academy's staff is dedicated to the idea that we graduate Forensic
Psychophysiologists, who, when they complete this course, fully
understand and can apply all of the concepts, principles and technology
set forth in the above curriculum. We train truth verification
experts, not technicians.
We
provide our graduates a free lifetime Quality Control Program.
