Is lie detection software accurate? Exercise A.23 on page 147 describes a study in which 48 individuals read a truthful passage while under stress and while connected to a lie detector. The lie detection software inaccurately reported deception in 57% of the cases. A bootstrap distribution shows an estimated standard error of 0.07.

(a) Give a point estimate for the population parameter of interest.

(b) Give a 95% confidence interval for this population parameter.

(c) Comment on the accuracy of this lie detector. Do you think results from this lie detector should hold up in court?

Exercise A.23 on page 147

Is lie detection software accurate? A recent study was conducted in order to test the accuracy of a commonly used method of lie detection. The researchers are specifically interested in how lie detectors perform when an individual is stressed. A sample of 48 participants were gathered and attached to the lie detection device. They were asked to read deceptive material out loud while receiving an electric shock (to add stress). The lie detector failed to report deception in 17 of the 48 participants.