Questions to Ask on a Lie Detector Test
Questions to ask before agreeing to a polygraph examination and during the appointment itself, covering whether you have to take it, what will be asked, who receives the result, and what decision follows. Written for the person being tested. It is not legal advice.
The questions
Open any question for the note
Who has asked for this test, and what are they trying to establish?
Why ask it
The person arranging the appointment is often not the person who wants the result. Knowing whether it originates with an employer, an investigator, a court process, or a family member tells you what the examination is for and who will act on it.
Am I required to take this, and what happens if I decline?
Why ask it
Ask for the consequence in plain terms rather than the general position. The answer may be that nothing happens, that a decision will be made without your input, or that declining is treated as significant, and these are very different situations.
May I read the consent form before the appointment?
Why ask it
Consent forms usually set out what is recorded, who receives the report, and what you are agreeing can be done with it. Reading it in advance rather than in the waiting room gives you time to ask about anything you do not follow.
May I speak to a lawyer before I agree, and can one be present?
Why ask it
Whether representation is permitted in the examination room varies by setting and by jurisdiction, so ask both halves. If a test is connected to any criminal matter or to your employment, speak to a lawyer before agreeing rather than afterwards.
What subjects will the questions cover?
Why ask it
You are asking for the scope, not the wording. A test limited to one specific incident is different from one that ranges across your history, and if the scope is broader than you expected that is worth raising before you consent.
Will I see the relevant questions before the test begins?
Why ask it
In standard practice the questions used are reviewed with the examinee beforehand, so it is reasonable to ask. If you are told you will not see them, note that and ask why, because it is a departure from the usual approach.
Who is conducting the examination, what is their training, and who employs them?
Why ask it
An examiner engaged by the party investigating you is in a different position from an independent one. Ask about licensing where your jurisdiction requires it, and note whether the answer is specific.
How long will the appointment take, including the interview beforehand?
Why ask it
The pre-test interview is usually the longest part and often the part people are least prepared for. Knowing the total length helps you arrange the day and reduces the pressure of not knowing when it will end.
Will the session be recorded, and who receives the recording?
Why ask it
Audio and video recording is common, and the recording can outlast the report. Ask where it is stored, how long it is kept, and whether you may have a copy.
Should I tell you about medication, illness, pain, pregnancy, or lack of sleep?
Why ask it
These can affect how a session goes and whether it should proceed at all, and an examiner needs to know beforehand. You are also establishing on the record that you raised it, which matters if the result is later disputed.
May I take breaks, use the bathroom, eat, or take medication during the session?
Why ask it
Ask before you begin rather than mid-test, when asking can feel difficult. Agreeing this in advance means a break is a normal part of the arrangement rather than something you have to request under pressure.
Am I free to stop the examination once it has started?
Why ask it
Ask for a plain yes or no and for how a stop would be recorded. If stopping would itself be reported in a particular way, you should know that before you sit down rather than discover it partway through.
What are the possible outcomes, and what words appear on the report?
Why ask it
Reports use set terms rather than plain language about lying, and the exact wording matters to whoever reads it next. Ask what each term means and which of them would be treated as a problem by the person who requested the test.
What happens if the result is inconclusive?
Why ask it
Inconclusive results occur, and the process that follows varies: a repeat test, a different examiner, or a decision made on other grounds. Ask now, because this is the outcome people are least prepared for.
Would the test be repeated, and by whom?
Why ask it
Repeat testing is sometimes routine and sometimes a sign the first result was not accepted. Knowing whether a second appointment is likely lets you plan, and lets you raise it with a lawyer if one is involved.
Who will receive the results, and how long are they kept?
Why ask it
Ask for the list of recipients by role, and whether the report can be shared beyond that list later. This is also the point to ask what happens to the file if the matter is closed without action.
May I have a copy of the report and the charts?
Why ask it
Access varies depending on who commissioned the examination, and asking now is easier than requesting it after a decision has been made. If the answer is no, ask who could obtain it on your behalf.
If I disagree with the result, what is the process for challenging it?
Why ask it
You are asking whether there is a defined route, such as a review, a second examination, or a formal appeal, or whether the report is simply final. Knowing there is no process is itself useful information.
Can this result be used in court or in a disciplinary process?
Why ask it
Admissibility of polygraph evidence differs between jurisdictions and between court and workplace proceedings, and law also limits when some employers may request a test. A lawyer can tell you what applies to your situation; the examiner can only tell you what they intend to do with the report.
What decision follows this, who makes it, and when?
Why ask it
The examination is rarely the end of the matter, and the report is usually one input among several. Ask who is deciding and on what timescale, so you know what you are actually waiting for.
Before, during and after the examination
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before you agree
Get legal advice first if anything is at stake
If the test relates to a criminal matter, your employment, or a family court process, speak to a lawyer before consenting. Rules on whether a test can be required, and on what can be done with the result, differ by jurisdiction and by context, and a general answer is not much use to you.
Ask for everything in writing
Request the consent form, the scope of the examination, and the list of people who will receive the report, before the appointment. Written answers are easier to check with someone else, and they reduce the chance of a misunderstanding later.
Decide the scope you are agreeing to
Consenting to questions about one specific matter is not the same as consenting to an open-ended interview. If the scope described on the day is wider than what you agreed to, you can say so and ask for it to be narrowed.
Raise health matters in advance
Medication, pain, illness, pregnancy, a recent lack of sleep, or a condition affecting breathing or heart rate are all worth disclosing to the examiner beforehand. It is better handled as a scheduling question than as an objection raised afterwards.
During the appointment
- Expect a long interview before any equipment is used. This part is normal, and it is where most of the appointment is spent.
- Answer only what is asked. Extended explanations are not what the examination measures and they lengthen the session considerably.
- Say so if you do not understand a question. Asking for a rewording is a normal part of the process, not an evasion.
- Ask for a break if you need one, including for water, the bathroom, or medication.
- Keep a note of the date, the examiner's name, how long it lasted, and anything unusual about how it was conducted.
- If you decide to stop, say so plainly and calmly rather than continuing under pressure.
Afterwards
Write down what happened the same day
Note the questions you remember, anything you queried, and anything you were told about the outcome. Memory of a stressful appointment fades quickly, and your own record is useful if the report is later disputed.
Ask for the report in writing
Request a copy, and if it is refused, ask who is able to obtain it. If a lawyer is involved, send them the report and your notes together rather than a summary.
Treat the result as one input, not a verdict
Polygraph findings are not accepted as reliable evidence in many settings, and admissibility varies. Whoever is deciding will normally be weighing other information too, so ask what else is being considered.
Ask what happens next, and by when
Get the name of the person making the decision and a timescale. If none is offered, ask again in writing, so that there is a record of your having asked.