Human Behaviour in Polygraph Examinations Training

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the psychological and physiological principles underlying polygraph examinations.
• Apply knowledge of human behaviour to interpret polygraph charts and identify deceptive responses.
• Analyze the impact of individual differences, such as personality and cultural background, on polygraph results.
• Evaluate ethical considerations and professional standards in conducting polygraph examinations.
• Design pre-test interview strategies to establish rapport and obtain informed consent.
• Implement techniques to control for countermeasures and false positives in polygraph testing.

Target Audience

Polygraph examiners, forensic psychologists, law enforcement officers, and security professionals seeking to deepen their knowledge of human behaviour in the context of polygraph testing.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

Hands-on practical sessions are essential for developing proficiency in conducting polygraph examinations. Learners will practise pre-test interviews, operate polygraph equipment, collect physiological data, and interpret charts under supervision to ensure competence in real-world settings.

Practical Activities

• Practical 1: Pre-test Interview and Baseline Observation — Learners conduct mock pre-test interviews with volunteers to establish rapport, gather information, and observe baseline behaviour. (4h)
• Practical 2: Polygraph Equipment Operation and Sensor Placement — Learners set up polygraph equipment, apply sensors correctly, and perform calibration checks. (4h)
• Practical 3: Data Collection and Chart Marking — Learners administer a mock polygraph test using a standard question sequence and mark charts in real time. (6h)
• Practical 4: Chart Interpretation and Scoring — Learners interpret polygraph charts using numerical scoring and computerised algorithms to make truth/deception determinations. (6h)
• Practical 5: Full Mock Examination and Report Writing — Learners conduct a complete mock polygraph examination from pre-test to post-test, including report writing. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.