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How Accurate Are Lie Detector Tests

Lie detectors have appeared in many fictional works. However, much of what the general public knows about how private investigators use them is inaccurate. Popular opinions range from lie detectors reveal the absolute truth to lie detectors are highly inaccurate and shouldn't be relied upon. However, private detectives have found lie detectors to be very useful tools in their line of work.

Many people hire private detectives to carry out lie detector tests, either on themselves or others. Because you may be in need of these tests in the future, you should get a better understanding of how they work.


What Is A Private Investigator Lie Detector Test?

Lie detector tests are tests performed by private eyes to identify whether a person is being truthful or whether they may be deceptive. Private investigators use devices known as lie detectors to perform these tests.

Lie detector tests work by measuring changes certain body responses e.g. breathing rate. These physiological responses tend to change significantly if somebody lies when answering a private detective's question. This is due to the stress that lying can induce. The lie detector measures these responses and an expert private eye can analyze the results to determine if the subject was being deceitful.


How Accurate Are Private Detective Lie Detector Tests?

As many private investigators have found out, the accuracy of lie detector tests has been hotly debated for many years. Some private eyes have given lie detector tests accuracies as high as 90% while other private eyes have claimed that their accuracy is only slightly higher than 50 percent.

However, experienced private detectives will easily tell you that the accuracy of a lie detector test comes down to the level of skill of the person conducting the test. There is a lot of work that must be put into a lie detector test to get accurate results. By the time a private investigator is carrying out the actual test, it may be too late to get a reliable result.

To get accurate results, the private investigator will need to come up with the right questions. In addition to that, they have to ensure that the subject of the investigation is in the right frame of mind to provide reliable results. Factors such as excessive physical and mental stress can lower the test's accuracy.

In addition to all this, private investigators must also know how to ask the questions that they've prepared to get a reliable response.


Reasons Why People Take Private Investigator Lie Detector Tests

There are many reasons why people submit to lie detector tests conducted by private investigators. It's important to point out that no one is obligated by the private investigator to submit to the test. It is completely voluntary.

Some of the reasons why someone might take a private detective lie detector test include:

  • To prove their innocence following an accusation being levelled against them
  • It can be a job requirement e.g. in positions that come with high-security clearances
  • Employers may use this on occasion to ascertain that their employees have been truthful


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