Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) Exam with intensive study materials including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Get ready to enhance your professional knowledge and credentials in security management.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


Which practice is not recommended regarding the use of polygraphs by investigators?

  1. Using it to assess truthfulness

  2. Describing it as infallible

  3. Requiring all subjects to take one

  4. Explaining the process clearly to participants

The correct answer is: Describing it as infallible

Describing a polygraph as infallible is not recommended because it creates a false impression of the reliability and accuracy of the results. Polygraphs measure physiological responses that are believed to reflect emotional responses, such as heart rate and galvanic skin response, but they are not foolproof indicators of truthfulness. There is significant debate among experts regarding their validity as a truth-telling tool, and various factors can influence the physiological responses measured by a polygraph. This means that while polygraphs can provide useful information within the context of an investigation, they should not be regarded as absolutely reliable or definitive. In contrast, practices like explaining the process clearly to participants are beneficial because they help ensure that individuals understand how the test works, which can improve the quality of the testing environment and the participants’ comfort levels. Assessing truthfulness through polygraphs may be part of an investigative process, even though the results should be interpreted with caution. Furthermore, requiring all subjects to take a polygraph can be problematic as it may lead to ethical concerns regarding consent and the pressure it could create, contrasting with best practices in investigative scenarios.