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HomePPC-104 Scientific Testing

PPC-104

Scientific Testing


Minimum Contact Hours: 8


Instructor(s):

Ray Nash

Mark Handler


Course Topics:

  • The concepts of sensitivity, specificity, false positive errors, and false negative errors as they relate to the field of credibility assessment research and test accuracy
  • Statistical correlation and relevance of scientific testing concepts as they relate to credibility assessment research
  • The definition, methodology, and application of empirical studies (field and laboratory), meta-analytical studies, and case studies
  • How these studies differ and the strengths and weaknesses of each as applied to polygraph research
  • How to interpret research study results and apply basic statistical analyses
  • The basic concepts underlying Bayesian statistics and how they apply to polygraph research and polygraph scoring protocols
  • Overview of research developments in psychophysiological detection of deception
  • Alternative methods of detection deception including Computerized Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA)
  • Other issues relating to scientific testing and research in the field of credibility assessments.


Course Materials:

Selected journal articles from Polygraph & Forensic Credibility Assessment relating to polygraph research and scientific analysis

IPP PowerPoint™ presentation – Scientific Testing

Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice – pp. 185-204

Journal articles, reading materials, and video recordings relevant to the course topics


Assignment:

Students will prepare a 1000-word minimum research paper related to one or more of the course topics as approved by IPP. The paper will be factually accurate, relevant to the course material, materially free of substantive typographical or grammatical errors, and appropriately referenced according to the American Psychology Association standards.


Exam:

A comprehensive exam will be administered at the conclusion of this course of instruction with a minimum passing score of 80% required for successful completion.


*Instructors are subject to change depending on availability. Qualified instructors may be substituted on an as-needed basis.