2007-02-11 17:45:29 · 13 answers · asked by KEITH L 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Why can't you get your head around it? Accept it! It is only 98% correct because there is an element of error in the test. Some people have been known to fool the machine. However, 98% is a high percentage, and can give you a very good chance of knowing whether a person is lying or not. It is still a good tool for ascertaining a high percentage of truth. It really is not a bad average!
2007-02-11 17:58:39 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Easy. To evaluate a test you need to consider both its accuracy (more technically sensitivity) and its specificity. If it is 98% accurate that means it detects a lie 98% of the time. That level of accuracy is easy to obtain. For example I can detect lies with 100% accuracy simply by declaring everything I hear a lie. Thus all (100%) lies are successfully detected.
What is difficult is to combine sensitivity/accuracy with specificity. The specificity of a test is defined by its ability to avoid false positive errors (in this case its ability to avoid declaring true statements lies). My strategy of declaring everything I hear a lie has a specificity of 0% because it declares all true statements to be lies.
So knowing that a lie detector test is 98% accurate is not remotely useful unless you also know its specificity.
Most lie detector tests have poor specificity and thus are not particularly useful. It is also possible to fool lie detector tests - especially if you know how they work.
2007-02-13 09:14:45 · answer #2 · answered by Thom 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Polygraphs have been thoroughly discredited in the scientific literature.
In particular, a 2003 National Academy of Sciences report found that the majority of prior research on polygraph accuracy was of poor quality. After reviewing the available evidence, it found that a polygraph test regarding a specific incident can discern the truth at “a level greater than chance, yet short of perfection”.
Obviously, this definition falls well short of the standard of proof required by a criminal court. Lamentably, many jurisdictions still regard polygraph evidence as admissible.
2007-02-12 02:19:44 · answer #3 · answered by Flup 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think of it this way, 98% of all people have the physiological responses that the detector is looking for when we lie. Only 2% are able to truly control those reactions and avoid detection.
2007-02-11 17:55:57 · answer #4 · answered by gabster_65 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
We dont, lie detector can be fooled and it is not a stable thing to judge people on, that is why courts dont take there sayings.
2007-02-12 21:19:05 · answer #5 · answered by SAMANTHA H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's true I tell you!
If you don't believe me I will happilly take a lie detector test.......
2007-02-11 21:06:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why you been on Jeremy Kyle Show! lol....
What test is 100%.... even contraception and pregnancy test aren't 100%
2007-02-11 17:48:23 · answer #7 · answered by ஐ♥PinkBoo - TTC #1♥ஐ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The fact that it is not 100% means it is useless. You could be in that 2% so why bother with it.
2007-02-11 21:15:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question.
How can we accept what someone else tells us.
Usually this is because we trust the source of the information, or we have faith.
Clearly, you don't trust the source of this statement and have no faith in it.
2007-02-11 18:39:14 · answer #9 · answered by David P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hehe, someone's been watching too much Jeremy Kyle!
2007-02-11 23:50:08 · answer #10 · answered by MiniMed 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋