Week 8: Literature Review

The literature reviews I have done in the past have been one specific source. I have gained so much experience throughout this course including being able to create a literature review on multiple works. The most difficult part of creating this review was being able to establish a flow that made sense. The description in the week 8 folder helped me with this obstacle by saying that similar research should be grouped together. These past eight weeks have given me a greater understanding of my topic. I think that the polygraph test that are in existence today cannot be considered accurate. Moving forward, since these exams are so questionable, completely new methods should be developed. The biggest question is "Is this possible?"

Week 7: Annotated Bibliography

To write my bibliography I used four of my previous resources. Because we needed to include four journals in total I found two new journal resources to use in my paper using the research skills I used in previous weeks. The two journals I used were Mental And Physical Countermeasures Reduce The Accuracy Of Polygraph Tests by Charles R. Honts, David C. Raskin, and John C. Kirche and Psychopathy, Threat, And Polygraph Test Accuracy by Christopher J. Patrick, and William G. Iacono. The first thing that makes me feel that these sources are credible is that I located them using the Leatherby Library database. Secondly, both of these journals are associated with the Journal Of Applied Psychology. I think it is pretty clear at this point with all the research that has been done that polygraph exams are not 100% accurate. When these tests are used in formal settings such as law enforcement and the judicial system they should be much more accurate to be in use. 

I think I finally have the answer to my research question: Are polygraph exams a proper evaluation, able to determine if an individual is telling the truth?

The following are the six resources I used in my bibliography:
 

Fienberg, Stephen E., and Paul C. Stern. "In Search of the Magic Lasso: The Truth About the Polygraph." Statistical Science Statist. Sci. 20.3 (2005): 249-60. Web.

Ginton, Avital. "'A Non-Standard Method For Estimating Accuracy Of Lie Detection Techniques Demonstrated On A Self-Validating Set Of Field Polygraph Examinations': Corrigendum." Psychology, Crime & Law 20.1 (2014): 100. PsycINFO. Web. 3 June 2016.  

Honts, Charles R., David C. Raskin, and John C. Kircher. "Mental And Physical Countermeasures Reduce The Accuracy Of Polygraph Tests." Journal Of Applied Psychology 79.2 (1994): 252-259. Business Source Premier. Web. 18 June 2016.

Lewis, Jerry A., and Michelle Cuppari. "The Polygraph: The Truth Lies Within." Journal Of Psychiatry & Law 37.1 (2009): 85-92. PsycINFO. Web. 28 May 2016.

Matté, James Allan. Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph: Scientific Truth Verification, Lie Detection: 2002 Supplement. Williamsville, NY: J.A.M. Publications, 2002. Print.

Patrick, Christopher J., and William G. Iacono. "Psychopathy, Threat, And Polygraph Test Accuracy." Journal Of Applied Psychology 74.2 (1989): 347. Business Source Premier. Web. 20 June 2016.

Week 6: Academic Integrity

This week we studied academic integrity, plagiarism, intellectual property and alternatives to traditional copyright practices. It is extremely important to maintain academic integrity throughout your college career. I have always felt that the aspects of academic integrity and plagiarism have been pretty straight forward. My biggest fear is to plagiarize work without meaning to. Though I have at times had minor issues with understanding when and where to cite my sources within research and assignments, I have trusted that as long as I maintained honest intentions my professors and advisors would understand and communicate with me if there were any issues. It is very beneficial to continue to review institutional guidelines periodically to refresh your understanding and to reduce your risk of plagiarizing. Because of that, I greatly appreciate weeks like this one where multiple resources about academic integrity and plagiarism were made available to the class to review and discuss. These guidelines and resources are great to keep in mind throughout not only our college careers but our professional lives as well.

Week 5: Finding Peer-Reviewed Articles

This week I was able to find an article that directly answered my research question. A non-standard method for estimating accuracy of lie detection techniques demonstrated on a self-validating set of field polygraph examinations by A Ginton. This article reassured me of my research question. I have developed many different research skills I did not have before through this course. Every week we have to look up a different type of resource which helps us develop skills that we can use towards future courses and careers. Before, I would have been extremely uncomfortable trying to find a book as a reference to a particular subject. Now it would be simple for me to locate a book, an article, or even a peer-reviewed article. I am looking forward to developing more skills that I can use outside this class in the next three weeks.