Terms Relating to Lie Detectors Explained – Letter M
Maintenance Examination
A form of Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing (PCSOT) that is requested
by a treatment provider, and looks at treatment-type issues; i.e., weekly report
logs, masturbation habits, boredom tapes etc. See: Cooley-Towel, Pasini-Hill, &
Patrick (2000); English, Pullen, & Jones (1996); Heil, Ahlmeyer, McCullar, &
McKee (2000).
Manual Mode
Setting for the electrodermal activity channel in conventional and
computerized PDD instruments in which filtering is not applied to the signal.
All modern polygraphs manufactured in the U.S., both analog and
computerized, have this feature. As opposed to automatic mode.
Marston, William
Psychologist, inventor of the discontinuous blood pressure method
deception test, and author of the 1938 book The Lie Detector Test. Marston was
the first to attempt to have instrumental deception test evidence entered into
evidence in court, for which resulted the Frye decision of 1923. Marston’s test
entailed the use of a conventional blood pressure cuff and sphygmomanometer
with which he manually plotted the examinees blood pressure during
questioning at several points during the interview. He taught his technique to
the U.S. Army, and he used his method to resolve espionage cases during
World War I. Marston had several interests, and he was also the co-creator of
the Wonder Woman comic book character. Both William Marston and his wife,
Elizabeth, were lawyers and worked together to perform deception testing. See
discontinuous blood pressure method.
Math Question
Stimulus irrelevant question used in at least one type of RI screening
format, and involves the unrehearsed presentation of a simple arithmetic
problem. The math question is used when an examinee has not reacted during
testing to the relevant issues, and the examiner wants to ensure that the
examinee was capable of responding.
Matte Polygraph Chart Template
Chart overlay for analog polygraph charts that corrects for curvilinear
tracings, developed by James A. Matte in 1975 and marketed by Stoelting
Instruments. See: Matte (1996).
Mean
The average. The most common, the arithmetic mean, is the sum of
values divided by the number of values. If five subjects in a PDD study were
ages 19, 23, 28, 22, and 29, the mean age of this group would be
(19+23+28+22+29) / 5 = 24.2 years.
Mean Blood Pressure
The value of the pressure during the entire cardiac cycle. An
approximation of the value of the mean blood pressure can be derived by
averaging the systolic and diastolic values, or by summing of the diastolic
pressure and one-third of the pulse pressure.
Median
The middle score. The median value is one where one-half of the scores
are above and one-half are below this value. It is in the middle of the
distribution, but only in terms of order. Medians are useful when evaluating
highly skewed distributions, such as national housing prices, because they are
not affected by extreme scores. Medians are not as frequently reported in PDD
research, but may have application such as when examinee pools have
characteristics that are not normally distributed.
Medulla Oblongata
A part of the brain stem responsible for automatic control of respiratory
and cardiovascular activity. The medulla oblongata is closely associated with
physiological events relating to polygraph test data analysis.
Mental Countermeasures
A class of countermeasures in which the examinee attempts to affect the
polygraph recordings through self-manipulation of attention, memory, emotion,
cognition, semantics, or arousal. See: Krapohl (1996).
Microtremor
Low-frequency oscillation of the human voice in the range of 8 to 12
hertz, and the component used to infer deception with the Psychological Stress
Evaluator and the Computer Voice Stress Analyzer. It is claimed by the
manufacturers of these devices that there is an inverse relationship between
stress and the microtremor. Independent research has not yet found any
spectral component of human voice a reliable predictor of deception. Research
summaries can be found at www.voicestress.org.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
One of the most common personality inventories employed in psychology
and psychiatry. It uses a series of questions to make diagnoses according to
standard psychiatric clinical criteria. Among the most cited scales reported in
the PDD literature are psychopathy and social introversion-extroversion scales,
both of which have been shown to influence physiologic arousal levels,
particularly in the electrodermal response. Evaluation and interpretation of
the MMPI is generally based on profiles resulting from individual scales. Testretest
validity for the MMPI averages above 70%, though the validity of the
individual personality scales has not been conclusively demonstrated.
Mixed Question Test
A Reid polygraph test in which the straight-through (ST) test questions
are changed in order, and some of them are repeated. When the Mixed
Question Test is used, it is always conducted after the ST.
Mixed Issue Test
Any polygraph test technique in which each there is little or no overlap
in the coverage among the relevant questions. Sometimes called a multipleissue
test.
Mode
The most commonly occurring value in a distribution.
Model Policy
Non-binding standard that outlines best practices in a given area. The
American Polygraph Association uses model policies to help agencies and
clients know what good polygraph practices are, and thereby provide a
competitive advantage for examiners who adopt these best practices. Among
the current APA Model Policies are those for police applicant screening, Post
Conviction Sex Offender Testing, and paired testing.
Modified Relevant Irrelevant (MRI) technique
Specific-issue PDD format based on the Keeler RI format, but it uses
situational comparison questions. Users of the MRI discuss all tested issues
with the examinee during the pretest interview, but prefer not to review the
relevant questions word for word. The prohibition against relevant question
review is not an absolute, however. Results from the MRI are based on
extrapolygraphic information, and 3- and 7-position scoring. Reported by Paul
Minor (1985) but seldom used in the field.
Monitoring Examination
A form of Post-Conviction Sex Offender Testing (PCSOT) that is requested
by a probation or parole officer to ensure compliance with the conditions of the
offender’s release from prison; i.e., alcohol or drug issues, computer violations,
contact with children etc. See: Cooley-Towel, Pasini-Hill, & Patrick (2000);
Dutton, (2000); English, Pullen, & Jones (1996); Heil, Ahlmeyer, McCullar, &
McKee (2000).
Monte Carlo method
A statistical tool which is based on repeated random sampling of data,
and has been applied to the problem of estimating polygraph decision
accuracy. The expression was coined by scientists at the Los Alamos National
Laboratory in the 1940s for their approach to estimating radiation shielding.
Mosso, Angelo
Student of Cesare Lombroso, who in 1896 developed the scientific
cradle, a device for recording bodily responses to fear.
Motivation
The multidimensional forces acting on an individual to initiate, direct,
and maintain the intensity of that individual’s responses. Plainly, motivation
refers to an individual’s desire to achieve a specific outcome.
Motor Nerves
Neurons that carry nerve impulses from the central nervous system to
the effector organ or muscles. Also called efferent nerves.
Movement Sensor
Mechanical sensor that detects covert movements. The movement
sensor is used to detect certain types of physical countermeasures.
Multiple-Facet Test
Test format in which the relevant questions are targeted toward different
elements of the same crime. For example, in a counterfeiting case, the PDD
examiner might use three relevant test questions with a suspect. One could
cover printing the bills, the second passing the bills, and the third knowing
where the printing equipment is. In such a test the spot scores would
determine whether a diagnosis of deception is made, as opposed to the overall
score. The Zone “exploratory,” the Air Force Modified General Question Test,
and criminal RI are three possible formats for this approach.
Multiple-Issue Examination
Test typically used in screening, it allows the PDD examiner to
determine which of several areas should be followed up with further
questioning. It is somewhat uncommon to make decisions of truthfulness or
deception in these types of tests. Such decisions are generally made after
subsequent testing on the isolated issue in a single-issue test format. Among
the more common multiple issue test formats are the Relevant/Irrelevant
screening test and the Test for Espionage and Sabotage. See: Barland, Honts,
& Barger (1989).
Munsterberg, Hugo
Chairman of the Psychology Department at Harvard who, in his 1908
book On the Witness Stand, suggested the possibility of devising deception tests
using blood pressure, respiration, and electrodermal activity. In his book
Munsterberg also described the Concealed Information Test. He had as a
student William Marston, who later went on to develop the discontinuous blood
pressure method deception test.
