Polygraph Machine Model 6308

The humble polygraph, a pseudoscientific device that promises to expose lies from guilty suspects. A stable of some police drama shows and daytime television, to figure outfit their prime suspect was lying or to supposedly detect deception in interview subjects on their programs that pertain to cheating, child abuse, and theft. Too bad that these devices can not detect lies or truths and also these same police dramas teach you who to beat on a polygraph test. The Polygraph Machine Model 6308 was manufactured by 'Keeler Polygraph' which was a division of 'Associated Research' of Chicago, Illinois. This particular polygraph machine was used from 1960 to 1974 by our very own Adams County Sheriff's Office.

Various sensors are hooked up to your body while the instruments on the machine provide three separate channels to provide continuous recording of changes in heart rate and blood pressure, breathing rate and skin resistance. During the test, the examiner typically begins polygraph test sessions with a pre-test interview to gain some preliminary information which will later be used to develop diagnostic questions. Then the tester will explain how the polygraph is supposed to work, emphasizing that it can detect lies and that it is important to answer truthfully. Then a "stim test" is often conducted: the subject is asked to deliberately lie and then the tester reports that he was able to detect this lie. Guilty subjects are likely to become more anxious when they are reminded of the test's validity. However, there are risks of innocent subjects being equally or more anxious than the guilty. Then the actual test starts. Some of the questions asked are "irrelevant" ("Is your name Fred?"), others are "diagnostic" questions, and the remainder are the "relevant questions" that the tester is really interested in. The different types of questions alternate. The test is passed if the physiological responses to the diagnostic questions are larger than those during the relevant questions. However, most professionals and agencies can agree there is little evidence that polygraph tests can accurately detect lies.

Thanks to the Adams County Sheriff's Office for loaning this polygraph machine to the Museum!