What Is a Control Question? Polygraph Testing Safeguards

• A control question is a comparison question used to measure how an examinee responds outside the main issue being tested.
• Control questions give the examiner a benchmark for comparing responses to relevant questions during the polygraph test.
• These questions help reduce confusion between ordinary nervousness and reactions connected to the specific test issue.
• A professional examiner reviews relevant, irrelevant, and control questions with the examinee before testing so that the exam follows a clear structure.

What is a control question in polygraph testing? In simple terms, it is a question used for comparison. It is also known as a comparison question.

Trained examiners use control questions in polygraph tests a lot. But why? Let’s discuss all of this here to help you understand why the control question technique is very effective and why you should only take tests where these questions are part of the process.

A polygraph records physical responses while a person answers a planned set of questions. Those responses may include changes in breathing, sweat gland activity, and cardiovascular patterns.

However, all this data is quite useless if there’s no objective physiological benchmark that can differentiate between normal responses and those responses that are tied to the questions being asked.

A control question is what a polygraph examiner uses to establish this physiological benchmark. With a control question, the examiner can tell what physiological data is relevant when the examinee is telling the truth versus when they are lying.

This doesn’t mean that the examiner is trying to trick you with these questions. They are only meant as a balancing mechanism for the entire testing process.

To understand what a control question is, we should first establish what irrelevant questions in polygraph testing are. Control questions in a polygraph test establish the patterns of a basic answer, which is then compared to the patterns of a relevant answer. But they shouldn’t be confused with irrelevant questions.

Irrelevant questions are simple, everyday questions designed to cause zero emotional or physiological reaction. They are used to see what your body looks like when you’re completely relaxed and telling the truth about something obvious.

For example, “Is today Thursday?” or “Are you sitting down?”

A relevant question deals directly with the matter being asked.

For example, in a business theft case, a relevant question may ask whether the person stole money, took property, or knowingly helped someone else do so. These questions are meant to address the exact concern that brought the examinee to the test.

A control question is what an examiner uses to establish a known physiological benchmark to see how your body reacts when processing a minor stressor. These are generally broad queries about common, minor human errors from the past.

For example, “Before last year, did you ever take something that didn’t belong to you?”

This baseline allows the examiner to separate general nervous tension from a specific reason for a relevant question.

All of these question types come together to form safeguards that support a structured, professional examination.

It’s important to acknowledge that, while you now know what a control question is, simply having them as part of the process doesn’t automatically guarantee accurate results. They should be used in well-structured test contexts.

Here’s how I, as a professional examiner, develop and review the inquiries to ensure accurate results.

• Customized Wording: Questions are tailored to the specific issue being tested and presented in a format that requires clear yes-or-no responses.
• Question Review: Relevant, irrelevant, and control questions for polygraph tests are reviewed aloud with the examinee before I attach the sensors.
• Clarification of Terms: If any word or phrase is unclear, I can revise the wording so that the examinee fully understands what’s being asked.
• Advance Review: The examinee gets an opportunity to review all questions before the exam starts.

During the discussion, a control question is what helps me, the examiner, to carefully set the baseline that’s specific to the examinee’s unique resting responses.

As The Polygraph Examiner, I provide professional polygraph testing for residents of North Carolina, South Carolina, and parts of Georgia using control question techniques that ensure the accuracy of test results.

My testing services are available for people dealing with sensitive issues like infidelity, sexual assault accusations, pre-employment checks, business loss, and more. Each exam is conducted in a neutral and private location, with proper question wording and a clear understanding of what a control question is versus a relevant or irrelevant one.

If you’re preparing for a test and want to know what to expect or whether you can work with me, you can also see what others have to say about my approach. Call now for a free confidential consultation.

Tell me before we begin the test. Questions should be clear enough for you to answer them correctly.

No. They change depending on the reason for the test and several other factors related to the examinee’s specific situation.