The Effects of Warnings, Computer-Based Media, and Probing Activity on Successful Lie Detection

This study on computer-mediated deception features an experiment involving an interactive interview of deceitful applicants for a fictitious scholarship, using one of three different computer-based communication media. Results showed that people were successful at deceiving others no matter what medium was used, but interviewers who used interactive, as opposed to non-interactive, media probed interviewees more during the interviews. Probing led to better lie detection. Also, interviewers who had received simple warnings about the possible presence of deception were better at detecting deception than were interviewers who had received no warnings. However, warnings alone were not sufficient to increase interviewers' probing.