Timed Antagonistic Response Alethiometer
Encyclopedia
The Timed Antagonistic Response Alethiometer, or TARA, is a type of lie detection
technique that relies upon cognitive chronometry
.
The TARA is a computer-based technique. It requires respondents to classify a succession of mixed statements as true or false, as quickly and accurately as they can, by pressing one of two keys. The faster they do so, the more likely they are to be telling the truth; the slower they do so, the more likely they are to be lying.
The TARA works by manufacturing an artificial situation in which lying is more challenging than truth-telling. Specifically, it permits truth-tellers to complete two alternating tasks using the same strategy, but requires liars to complete them using contradictory strategies. Hence, if both truth-tellers and liars complete the TARA accurately as stipulated, then the former will complete it more quickly than the latter, all else being equal.
Structurally, the TARA bears some affinities with the Implicit Association Test
, or IAT, because it generates differences in average reaction time on the basis of differences in response compatibility.
The TARA remains to be field-tested. However, initial laboratory studies obtained accuracy rates in the region of 85%, suggesting that the technique holds promise.
Lie detection
Lie detection is the practice of attempting to determine whether someone is lying. Activities of the body not easily controlled by the conscious mind are compared under different circumstances. Usually this involves asking the subject control questions where the answers are known to the examiner...
technique that relies upon cognitive chronometry
Cognitive chronometry
Cognitive chronometry refers to the systematic measurement of response time as a means of illuminating either mental operations or mental associations. Two measuring instruments relying on cognitive chronometry are the Implicit Association Test, or IAT, and the Timed Antagonistic Response...
.
The TARA is a computer-based technique. It requires respondents to classify a succession of mixed statements as true or false, as quickly and accurately as they can, by pressing one of two keys. The faster they do so, the more likely they are to be telling the truth; the slower they do so, the more likely they are to be lying.
The TARA works by manufacturing an artificial situation in which lying is more challenging than truth-telling. Specifically, it permits truth-tellers to complete two alternating tasks using the same strategy, but requires liars to complete them using contradictory strategies. Hence, if both truth-tellers and liars complete the TARA accurately as stipulated, then the former will complete it more quickly than the latter, all else being equal.
Structurally, the TARA bears some affinities with the Implicit Association Test
Implicit Association Test
The Implicit Association Test is a measure within social psychology designed to detect the strength of a person's automatic association between mental representations of objects in memory. The IAT was introduced in the scientific literature in 1998 by Anthony Greenwald, Debbie McGee, and Jordan...
, or IAT, because it generates differences in average reaction time on the basis of differences in response compatibility.
The TARA remains to be field-tested. However, initial laboratory studies obtained accuracy rates in the region of 85%, suggesting that the technique holds promise.
External links
- http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/113445634/ABSTRACT Link to the abstract of the first published scientific paper. Retrieved 2007-07-15.