How Honesty Testing Works

With the demise of the polygraph following the passage of the Employee Polygraph Protection Act, honesty testing has come to be seen as an alternative approach. But it has become the subject of considerable controversy, some legal enactments, a barrage of union opposition, and a great deal of employer interest. Miner and Capps provide an understanding and the tools necessary to help human resource managers make decisions regarding the use of honesty testing. Generic types of testing instruments are assessed; the writing is straightforward, with all statistical and mathematical concepts presented with sufficient detailed explanation for those without technical training.

The employers' need to protect their organizations and reduce the potential for theft and white-collar crime versus the individual's right to privacy are polarized issues in discussing the use of honesty testing. The authors deal with the restrictions imposed by the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1991 and show that certain features of test scoring were directly influenced by legal considerations. The authors then extend the discussion to the Americans with Disabilities Act and how this enactment affects honesty testing.

JOHN B. MINER is a consultant and expert witness in the area of psychological testing. He is the author of numerous books and journal articles on industrial relations, applied psychology, and entrepreneurship.

MICHAEL H. CAPPS is the Director of the U.S. Department of Defense Polygraph Institute and previously served as president of a psychological testing firm.