How knowing the facts about the polygraph test alters pharmacy students' attitudes

This study involved the measurement, by questionnaire, of attitudes and knowledge concerning the polygraph procedure. Subjects were pharmacy students who were exposed to a 50-minute lecture about the polygraph. After the lecture, significantly fewer subjects believed that the procedure should be used to screen applicants for employment, for routine periodic honesty checks, or for investigative purposes after a theft has occurred. In addition, significantly fewer subjects felt that, as practicing pharmacists, the procedure would "protect their job" or that it was "a good thing," while more indicated that they would "fear for their job." After the lecture, significantly more respondents would refuse to take the polygraph test as part of an employment application or routine periodic test of honesty. Also, more respondents objected to the procedure on grounds of poor validity/reliability, or ethical/legal grounds, and significantly more said the procedure should be outlawed. No significant difference was detected in the number of respondents who would be angry and resentful, or in the number who reported "not caring one way or the other," or in the number who would object if they were requested to undergo a polygraph exam as a practicing pharmacist. Almost all respondents did care and did object before and after the lecture.