The effect of target language proficiency on deception detection among undergraduate students

I examined the impact of targets’ language proficiency on observers’ lie detection accuracy, discrimination, bias, and confidence. Observers (N = 132) were randomly assigned to make deception judgments about targets (N = 56) from four proficiency groups (i.e., native, advanced, intermediate, and beginner English speakers). Overall, observers’ accuracy differed based on targets’ level of proficiency. Specifically, accuracy and discrimination were poorest when observers judged beginner English speakers compared to targets from any other proficiency group. Moreover, observers exhibited a truth bias only when they judged native English speakers. They were also more confident when detecting targets who were lie-tellers than truth-tellers. Implications and directions for future research were discussed in light of these results.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminology

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Solodukhin, Elizabeth

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Leach, Amy-May

• Deception detection
• Language proficiency
• Discrimination
• Bias

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/550

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/550