In the Control Question Test, the polygrapher asks questions focusing on responses to two kinds of questions. What are they?

• A. Irrelevant and relevant
• B. Comparison and irrelevant
• C. Relevant and comparison
• D. Direct and indirect

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that the Control Question Test relies on comparing responses to two kinds of questions: those about the issue under investigation (relevant questions) and those designed as controls (comparison questions) that are unrelated to the issue but are emotionally provocative. The comparison questions are meant to trigger a measurable reaction from anyone who might be lying, providing a baseline against which responses to the relevant questions can be interpreted. The examiner looks at whether the physiological arousal is greater for the relevant questions or for the comparison questions. If arousal is stronger for the relevant questions, it suggests deception; if stronger for the comparison questions, it suggests truthfulness. Irrelevant questions are included to help establish a general baseline, but the crucial comparison is between relevant and comparison questions.