A Lie Detector for Job Seekers: Results of a Sociological Survey
The Research Center of the Ukrainian recruitment portal Superjob conducted a sociological survey among economically active Ukrainians. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents would willingly undergo a lie detector (polygraph) test if it increased their chances of securing their desired job.
The survey was conducted across 106 localities throughout Ukraine between October 30 and November 14, 2012. It included 1,200 respondents aged 18 and over who represented the country's economically active population.
Among those who expressed a positive attitude toward undergoing a lie detector (polygraph) test—69% of all respondents—were both men and women who believed that securing a desirable job was worth participating in such an examination. Some participants had already experienced polygraph testing and reported no concerns: “I've taken one before—I don't see any problem with it.” Others commented, “Why not, if it's a reputable company?” or even more directly, “If a person has nothing to hide, there's nothing to fear.”
The study also revealed a gender difference in attitudes. While the overall willingness to undergo a polygraph test stood at 69%, men were more likely to accept the procedure than women. Among male respondents, 73% were willing to take the test, compared with 66% of female respondents.
Fourteen percent of economically active adult Ukrainians were unable to form a clear opinion on the issue. Most explained that they had never encountered such a requirement before and therefore could not predict how they would respond if faced with it.
Seventeen percent of respondents expressed strong opposition to the use of polygraph testing during the hiring process. They questioned the reliability of the procedure and considered it degrading. This opinion was more common among women (19%) than men (15%). Their arguments generally centered on several key points: “I don't want to work for an employer who treats employees this way,” “If a company can't hire an experienced HR professional…,” and “I don't want my future to be decided by a machine, especially when the accuracy of a lie detector is said to be no more than 70%.”
Indeed, some HR professionals believe that an experienced recruiter is better equipped to assess both a candidate's personality and professional qualifications than a polygraph examination. Supporters of incorporating modern technologies into HR practices, however, argue that polygraph testing can help employers quickly identify potentially dishonest applicants.
There are also practical challenges associated with implementing polygraph testing. Qualified specialists capable of accurately interpreting polygraph results are relatively few, making the expertise of professional polygraph examiners especially valuable for employers who choose to use this method as part of their recruitment process.