Lie Detector Research Paper

“Liar! ” How do we know? Can you guess? We use a lie detector. Lie detector tells us if people are lying. Sometimes we can automatically tell and sometimes we can’t, that’s when we use the lie detector. Lie detectors have 95% accuracy and are mostly reliable, but they are the easy to cheat. Can we trust lie detectors to do all the work? Maybe, some are more accurate than others. Lie detectors aren’t completely accurate, but they’re accurate enough to trust (Prusher 1). Can they betray themselves, though? Lie detection has been around for centuries in various forms, based on the belief that liars and cheats betray themselves through their physiology” (Gaidos 38).

Well, there’s your answer, yes they can. You can betray yourself which is not good, so if you have a grudge against yourself then you should watch your back. As we all know nothing’s perfect so the machine is not fully accurate. Lie detectors cannot be 100% accurate (Gaidos 38). But where on our way. How do lie detectors detect lies? Well, let’s start with ancient China. In ancient China suspect were given rice to chew, the idea being that liar’s would be too nervous to salivate so the rice would remain dry”(Gaidos 38). Interesting, I wondered how that work out for them. But how do we know now? “When someone’s lying, subtle changes in the vocal cord are said to occur as a result of the stress, producing a distorted sound wave”(Prusher 1). When people get stressed they sound different I guess. I’m not sure how that works, but it’s not my problem. But there is a guy who is working on making an improved lie detector.

Truster’s new lie detector concentrates mostly on stress levels in people’s voice by measuring its “cognitive messages” and low-frequency waves that are not audible and are 85% accurate (Prusher 1). So stress is a bad thing whenever you’ve been accused of something. Good to know, I guess if you’re truthful and never stressed this test will be a breeze. “Using a complex algorithm and nine different parameters, the inventors say they are able to pinpoint whether the person’s stress is caused by lying, excitement, exaggeration, or an emotional conflict”(Prusher 1).

Lot’s of big words but basically Truster’s is an inventor who is making a lie detector that is determined by stress level. Lie detection in a group V. S. on your own. Which one do you think is more reliable? On your own because you’re less likely to second guess yourself or in a group because you have somebody to run your ideas by. If you chose on your own … you’re wrong and here’s why. “The average listener pinpoints a fib less than half the time”(Anderson 18). Interesting, how many times have you been told a lie and knew it? Exactly! But what if you’re in a group?

Groups are better at lie detection than one person (Anderson 18). Why? I’m not entirely sure I just know the facts. Speaking of facts let’s talk about some more. “The discussing groups had a slight edge, detecting lies up to 62 percent of the time (Anderson 18). (But why is it better than the individuals, though? Well, why don’t you ask einstein? ) compared with the individuals, whose lie-detection average topped out at 54 percent in one of the experiments but was typically lower”(Anderson 18). That is a big difference (8%) but it depends on who you are and how you think and if you trust people.

If you don’t trust people you might always think they’re lying, which is bad to begin with, but you might accuse everybody of lying. I guess you should just talk about it next time. What are some flaws we found in the machine? There is always a problem isn’t there? Yes, nothing is perfect even the highest of technology. “Just taking the test can upset truthful people to the point where they appear dishonest”(Gaidos 38). That is not good. Just think you got charged for a crime you didn’t do because a faulty lie detector made you nervous and stressful so you look like a liar. I don’t think that is fair at all.

Another flaw is, If you’re a good liar you can cheat the machine (Gaidos 38). All you really have to do is remain calm and don’t get stressed. (I think). We don’t want to let the criminals loose just because a lie detector said they didn’t do it, do we? I feel like this machine is not as good as you thought is was. Nothing is perfect and you can trust lie detectors, but you also can’t with so many big flaws in the machine. Next time you think somebody’s lying, talk with somebody about it. Lie detectors can’t always be trusted with only 95% accuracy, but it is still kinda reliable.