Thursday 4 December 2014

Jeremy Kyle again

The Jeremy Kyle show constantly uses so called 'lie detector tests'
Calling it a lie-detector suggests that a polygraph machine can detect lies. The device actually measures nervous excitement. It operates on the premise that if a person is telling the truth they will remain calm.
If fact the polygraph has been shown to have a 50% chance of detecting the truth ie. it is entirely random see Lykken, D. (1984). Polygraphic interrogation. Nature, 307, 681-684
the National Research Council an organization of scientists conducted a systematic evaluation and concluded that the test is lacking in scientific validity

Yet despite this being easily available public knowledge - Jeremy Kyle uses polygraph tests to humiliate people, to accuse them of lying to get them to end relationships, to stay in unsuitable relationship.  This is surely a breach of the relevant codes

The programme ought to be taken off air.