DETECTING DECEPTION: THE RELATIONSHIP OF AVAILABLE INFORMATION TO JUDGMENTAL ACCURACY IN INITIAL ENCOUNTERS

The research examined the relationship of available and used nonverbal and total information when observers make deception attributions during initial exposure. Twelve interviewees underwent a procedure designed to induce deception; this yielded six deceitful and six truthful interviewees, as reflected in behavior exhibited during a postprocedure interview. Eight coders estimated the amount of available nonverbal and total information. Eighty observers made judgments as to the veracity of the interviewees and reported the amount of nonverbal and total information used in making these judgments. Comparison of available information and used information models indicates inconsistencies in total information estimates and an inability to predict accuracy of judgments based on these estimates.