Selected topics in academic research

Polygraph Testing

The Use of Polygraphs in the Hiring of Law Enforcement Officers

Prepare a Problem Statement linking you Independent variable with the Dependent variable, "The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of polygraph tests in assessing police candidates."

Preamble

Polygraph tests are a highly controversial set of tools in the field of law enforcement. Their credibility as accurate gauges of truthfulness has been questioned by many scientific experts. They are inadmissible for the purposes of proving guilt in most courts of law.

While they are typically used in the interview of criminal suspects, polygraphs have also found use in situations where personal character and truthfulness is important. One such situation is in the recruitment of employees. For all practical purposes, the use of polygraphs for selection is now illegal. However, polygraphs still may be used in specific employment circumstances.

"The Effects of Polygraph Testing on Officer Integrity in Police Departments"

Table of Contents

Preface

I. Introduction to Research Study

The Role and Limitations of the Research Study

A Definition of Polygraph Testing

The Purpose of the Research

Research Design

II. Introduction of Polygraph Testing

a. Origins of Polygraph Testing

b. Theory of Polygraph Testing

c. Methodology of Polygraph Testing

III. The Current State of Polygraph Testing

a. Settings

b. Forms and Variants

c. Quality Assurance

IV. The Law Enforcement Recruitment Process

a. Functions of a Police Personnel Unit

b. Employment Qualifications

c. The Hiring Decision

d. The Role of the Personnel Investigator

e. Processing of Applicants

V. Polygraph Testing in the Law Enforcement Recruitment Process

a. Purpose of Polygraph Testing in Selection

b. Application of Polygraph Testing in Selection

c. Methodological Issues in Application of Polygraph Testing

VI. Officer Selection Outcomes with and without Polygraph Testing

a. Selection of Police Officers without Polygraph Testing

b. Selection of Police Officers with Polygraph Testing

c. Police Misconduct Incidents among Officers Selected without Polygraph Testing

d. Police Misconduct Incidents among Officers Selected with Polygraph Testing

VII. Conclusions

a. The Effect of Polygraph Testing on Hiring

b. The Effect of Polygraph Testing on Officer Integrity

c. Significance of Results for Police Hiring

Research Questions (RQ)

How effective is polygraph testing in the promotion of integrity among police officers.

Limitations of the Study

Lack of available and/or reliable data -- Data regarding the internal employee selection procedures of police departments may be restricted. Data regarding the number of police misconduct incidents in specific police departments may be rare or spotty.