Are lie detectors effective?
On One Hand: Polygraphs Are Not Scientifically ReliableBecause polygraph tests are accurate approximately 90 percent of the time, the chance of either “beating” it, or issuing a false positive reading, are relatively good (by scientific standards). It should be noted, however, that no cohesive or conclusive evidence exists for the exact degree to which a lie detector proves effective–unfortunately, such an unstable margin of error does not bode well for its reliability, either.On the Other: Polygraphs Are a Legitimate ToolInterrogation–public or private–is when the polygraph proves most relevant. This is not to say that a court of law will not accept any polygraph test results as evidence, but most do not because of its floundering margin of error. However, police interrogation, settling domestic and workplace disputes and pre-employment screenings are some of the circumstances for which polygraph tests continue to serve their purpose.Bottom LineAt best, polygraph testing is a pseud
