ASTM E2035-12(2024)

Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Psychophysiology

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
2.1 These terms have particular application to the scientific discipline of forensic psychophysiology. In addition, a hierarchy of sources of definitions are used in the development of this terminology. The hierarchy is as follows: Websters's New World Dictionary, Third College Edition; technical dictionaries; and the Compilation of ASTM Standard Definitions. The subcommittee developed a suitable definition after all of the sources in the hierarchy are found wanting.
SCOPE
1.1 This is a compilation of terms and corresponding definitions used in forensic psychophysiology. Legal or scientific terms that generally are understood or defined adequately in other readily available sources may not be included.  
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional information included in notes. It is reviewed every five years, and the year of the last review or revision is appended.  
1.3 Definitions identical to those published by another standards organization or ASTM committee are identified with the abbreviation of the name of the organization or the identifying document and ASTM committee; for example, ASME is the American Society of Mechanical Engineering.  
1.4 Definitions of terms specific to a particular field are identified with an abbreviation.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2024
• ICS: 01.040.03 - Services. Company organization, management and quality. Administration. Transport. Sociology. (Vocabularies)
• ICS: 03.020 - Sociology. Demography
• ICS: 03.160 - Law. Administration
• Technical Committee: E52 - Forensic Psychophysiology
• Drafting Committee: E52.06 - Terminology

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM E2035-12(2017) - Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Psychophysiology
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2024
• Referred By: ASTM E1954-05(2017) - Standard Practice for Conduct of Research in Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (Polygraph)
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2024
• Referred By: ASTM E2439-09(2016) - Standard Guide for Instrumentation, Sensors and Operating Software Used in Forensic Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (Polygraph) Examinations
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2024
• Referred By: ASTM E2031-99(2016) - Standard Practice for Quality Control of Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (Polygraph) Examinations
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2024
• Referred By: ASTM E2063-12(2017) - Standard Practice for Calibration and Functionality Checks Used in Forensic Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (Polygraph) Examinations
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2024

Overview

ASTM E2035-12(2024) - Standard Terminology Relating to Forensic Psychophysiology provides a comprehensive vocabulary specific to the scientific discipline of forensic psychophysiology. Developed by ASTM International, this standard offers an authoritative compilation of terms and definitions fundamental to the practice, research, and legal application of forensic psychophysiological detection of deception (PDD) and related procedures. By establishing clear and precise terminology, the standard supports effective communication among scientists, practitioners, legal professionals, and stakeholders working in polygraphy and PDD examination.

The terminology outlined in this standard is curated through a rigorous hierarchy of sources, ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the forensic psychophysiology community. Definitions are reviewed every five years, ensuring ongoing relevance and alignment with scientific and legal advancements.

Key Topics

ASTM E2035-12(2024) covers essential terminology and concepts used in forensic psychophysiology:

• Forensic Psychophysiology: The scientific discipline exploring the relationship and applications of PDD tests within legal contexts.
• PDD Examination: The complete process involving pretest interviews, administration of physiological recording, analysis, and formulation of conclusions regarding truthfulness.
• Polygraphy: The synonym for PDD, focusing on the use of polygraph instruments to measure physiological responses to specific questions.
• Types of Examinations:
  • Evidentiary PDD Examination: Designed to meet court or administrative hearing standards.
  • Investigative PDD Procedures: Used to explore broader issues that may not require evidentiary rigor.
  • Screening Examinations: Encompass multiple-issue tests, such as applicant testing and security screening.
  • Clinical Polygraph Examinations: Including post-conviction sex offender testing (PCSOT) and disclosure examinations.
• Key Terms:
  • Artifact, cardiovascular tracing, electrodermal tracing, respiratory tracing, phasic/tonic response, purposeful non-cooperation (PNC), no deception indicated (NDI), deception indicated (DI), false positive, false negative, relevant/irrelevant/comparison questions, recognition test, single-issue/multiple-issue/multiple-facet polygraph tests, optimal decision rules, quality control, pretest interview.
• Decision Processes:
  • Test data analysis, spot score rule, successive hurdles approach, inconclusive and no opinion outcomes.

Applications

This terminology standard is crucial across various forensic and legal environments:

• Forensic Laboratories & Law Enforcement: Ensures that polygraph examiners, analysts, and investigators use a unified language, improving evidence integrity and clarity in reports and testimony.
• Legal Proceedings: Facilitates clear communication of results and methods when PDD evidence is presented in court, aligning with admissibility principles outlined in landmark cases such as Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc..
• Research and Academia: Supports consistent terminology for research publications, validation studies, and educational materials within forensic psychology and psychophysiology.
• Quality Control and Training: Provides standards for terminology used in examiner education, certification programs, and internal reviews, enhancing professional competency and transparency.
• Security and Screening: Supports organizations involved in counterintelligence, applicant vetting, and sensitive government positions with standardized definitions for various examination types and outcomes.

Related Standards

Professionals utilizing ASTM E2035-12(2024) may also find relevance in the following standards and resources:

• Other ASTM Forensic Standards: Additional terminology and practice standards relating to forensic evidence evaluation and psychophysiology, available through ASTM Committee E52.
• Scientific and Technical Dictionaries: Referenced as part of the definition hierarchy for terminology development.
• World Trade Organization (WTO) Standardization Principles: Ensures ASTM’s terminology aligns with international norms for standards development.
• Legal Frameworks: Definitions and terminology usage reflect principles from cases like Daubert and Frye, which influence the admissibility and evaluation of scientific evidence.

By establishing standardized terminology, ASTM E2035-12(2024) advances the reliability, clarity, and practical use of forensic psychophysiology in both scientific and legal settings.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2035 − 12 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Terminology Relating to
Forensic Psychophysiology
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2035; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
DISCUSSION—The AFMGQT can be used in single-issue, multiple
1. Scope
facet, and multiple-issue PDD examinations. The AFMGQT uses
1.1 This is a compilation of terms and corresponding
relevant, comparison, sacrifice relevant and irrelevant questions.
definitions used in forensic psychophysiology. Legal or scien-
artifact, n—a change in a PDD tracing that is not arributable to
tific terms that generally are understood or defined adequately
a review test question, stimulus, recovery, or homeostasis.
in other readily available sources may not be included.
1.2 A definition is a single sentence with additional infor- cardiovascular tracing, n—a display of physiological patterns
of the subject’s relative blood pressure and pulse rate.
mation included in notes. It is reviewed every five years, and
DISCUSSION—The cardiograph component records this activity.
the year of the last review or revision is appended.
1.3 Definitions identical to those published by another comparison question, n—type of question, the physiological
standards organization or ASTM committee are identified with responses from which are compared to those generated by
the abbreviation of the name of the organization or the the relevant questions.
identifying document and ASTM committee; for example,
counterintelligence-scope polygraph (CSP), n—screening
ASME is the American Society of Mechanical Engineering.
examination administered by the Federal Government on
1.4 Definitions of terms specific to a particular field are
individuals with sensitive security clearances to detect and
identified with an abbreviation.
deter espionage, security breaches, sabotage, or other acts
against the government.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
DISCUSSION—Sometimes referred to as a loyalty examination.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., n—although
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
not a PDD case, the Daubert case set aside the landmark
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Frye rule’s “general acceptability” provisions in favor of the
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Federal Rules of Evidence.
DISCUSSION—This paved the way for the admissibility of PDD
2. Significance and Use
evidence in most jurisdictions.
2.1 These terms have particular application to the scientific
deception indicated (DI), n—a conventional term for a PDD
discipline of forensic psychophysiology. In addition, a hierar-
outcome.
chy of sources of definitions are used in the development of
DISCUSSION—A decision of DI means that the physiological data are
this terminology. The hierarchy is as follows: Websters’s New
stable and interpretable and that the evaluation criteria used by the
World Dictionary, Third College Edition; technical dictionar-
examiner concluded that the examinee was not being completely
ies; and the Compilation of ASTM Standard Definitions. The
truthful to the relevant issue. DI corresponds to the term significant
subcommittee developed a suitable definition after all of the
physiological responses (SPR).
sources in the hierarchy are found wanting.
deception test, n—a family of PDD examinations where direct
3. Terminology
questions are posed to the examinee during physiological
recording regarding the examinee’s involvement in what is
3.1 Terms and Definitions:
covered in the relevant question.
Air Force modified general question test (AFMGQT),
DISCUSSION—Unlike recognition tests, both truthful and deceptive
n—test format with flexible question orderings and numbers
examinees are aware of which questions are relevant, and direct
of relevant questions.
participation, not just recognition, is tested. Deception tests include
PDD comparison question tests and PDD relevant/irrelevant tests.
This terminology standard is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E52
on Forensic Psychophysiology and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
E52.06 on Terminology.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2024. Published January 2024. Originally For more information, see Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as E2035 – 12 (2017). (1992), 509 U.S. 579, 125 1. Ed 2d 469; United States v. Frye 54 App D.C. 46,
DOI: 10.1520/E2035-12R24. 293 F 1013.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E2035 − 12 (2024)
differential salience, n—an expression that characterizes the investigative PDD procedures, n—routine PDD examinations
tendency for the magnitude of physiological responses to that are used to explore wider issues than evidentiary PDD
examinations and are not intended to meet exacting eviden-
reveal the perceived psychological significance an individual
tiary standards.
attaches to specific stimuli which, under controlled
DISCUSSION—Investigative procedures may include applicant testing,
conditions, permits a reliable inference of either recognition
PCSOT, and multiple-facet criminal testing.
or deception by the comparison of response magnitudes to
all stimuli within a defined grouping.
irrelevant question, n—An irrelevant question is designed to
be a non-emotion provoking question (also referred to as
disclosure examinations over sexual history, n—a clinical
norms or neutral questions).
polygraph examination intended to explore pre-conviction
modified general question test (MGQT), n—test format
“lifetime” sexual behavioral histories and activities which
patterned after the Reid test and modified by the U.S.
include the disclosure of additional victims, sexual education
military. It contains relevant, irrelevant, and comparison
sources, victimization, exposure and utilization of
questions.
pornography, the onset of masturbation, paraphilias, sexual
DISCUSSION—The MGQT is widely used in the field and has a body
deviance, and therapeutic issues.
of validity research.
DISCUSSION—It is a utility-designed multiple-issue polygraph test,
subject to the successive hurdles decision approach.
monitoring examination, n—A clinical polygraph examina-
tion specifically intended to uncover whether the offender
electrodermal tracing, n—the display of physiological pat-
has committed any illegal sexual act(s) with a child or any
terns of either skin resistance or skin conductance obtained
other sexual act forbidden by law during a sex offender’s
through exosomatic recording with a galvanograph compo-
period of supervision.
nent.
DISCUSSION—The requested test timeframe can be since the imposi-
tion of the offender’s parole or probation, since his last test, or since any
evidentiary PDD examination, n—test procedures that are
other period designated by supervision officers. This is exclusively a
designed to meet minimum standards for admissibility in
single-issue polygraph test.
court or administrative hearings.
multiple-facet polygraph test, n—a test in which the relevant
DISCUSSION— Among the necessary components are: electronic
questions cover the same event, though the questions may
recording of the session, use of a PDD technique for which the
cover different aspects of that event.
preponderance of the published peer-reviewed research shows an
DISCUSSION—Because the relevant questions all relate to the same
average accuracy of 90 % or better; individually validated scoring
event, in field conditions the examinee would typically be entirely
rules, and optimized decision rules. Use of a movement sensor is also
either truthful or deceptive to all questions, though this is not a
recommended.
condition of the multiple-facet polygraph test. One multiple-facet PDD
format is the Reid test.
false negative, n—misclassification of a deceptive person as
truthful.
multiple-issue polygraph test, n—a test in which the relevant
questions cover two or more areas that are partially or
false positive, n—misclassification of a truthful person as
completely independent from one another.
deceptive.
DISCUSSION— Forms of multiple-issue polygraph testing include
PCSOT, applicant testing, and counterintelligence screening.
forensic psychophysiology, n—the scientific discipline deal-
ing with the relationship and applications of PDD tests
no deception indicated (NDI), n—a conventional term for a
within the legal system.
PDD outcome.
DISCUSSION— It encompasses the academic discipline that provides DISCUSSION—A decision of NDI means that the physiological data are
the student, the practitioner, and the researcher with the theoretical and stable and interpretable and that the evaluation criteria used by the
applied psychological, physiological, and psychophysiological funda- examiner concluded that the examinee was being completely truthful to
mentals for a thorough understanding of PDD tests and the skills and the relevant issue. NDI corresponds to the term no significant physi-
ological responses (NSR).
qualifications for conducting PDD examinations. The modifier “
forensic” delineates and delimits this discipline from the broader
noise, n—in PDD, it is the random variation in the recorded
discipline of psychophysiology.
data that has no diagnostic value, and when excessive, may
format, n—the established sequence or rules for ordering take the identification of diagnostic patterns more difficult.
questions for presentation during testing.
no opinion (NO), n—a PDD examination finding which
indicates that no decision could be made because the testing
homeostasis, n—a complex interactive regulatory system by
protocol was incomplete, distorted, or interfered with in such
which the body strives to maintain a state of internal
a way as to prevent proper evaluation.
equilibrium.
DISCUSSION—This lack of completion could be due to the failure of
the examinee to cooperate, premature termination of the examination,
inconclusive, n—a PDD examination finding that indicates the
or any other event which prevents the successful completion of testing
testing phase was completed and the data did not contain
or the proper collection of the physiological data.
suffi
...