The impact of model statements on verbal differences between truth and lies when using a comparable truthful baseline
Purpose Baselining is a deception detection technique that compares a statement of interest to a baseline. This study focused on verbal baselining: it examined differences in detailedness between the baseline and the statement of interest as a cue to deception. Method Across two experiments, partici...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2026
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| In: |
Legal and criminological psychology
Year: 2026, Volume: 31, Issue: 1, Pages: 202-216 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | Purpose Baselining is a deception detection technique that compares a statement of interest to a baseline. This study focused on verbal baselining: it examined differences in detailedness between the baseline and the statement of interest as a cue to deception. Method Across two experiments, participants watched two crime videos and provided two statements: one truthful baseline and one statement of interest, which was either truthful or deceptive depending on the condition. To manipulate expectations for detail, half of the participants were shown a model statement (i.e., an example of a richly detailed statement) before giving their responses. Results In Experiment 1 (using written statements), both the model statement and the baseline independently improved truth/lie discrimination. In Experiment 2 (using spoken statements), however, these effects were not replicated. Importantly, combining a model statement with baselining did not further improve truth/lie discrimination in either experiment. Conclusion These findings underscore the complexity of verbal lie detection and highlight the need to better understand when and how baselining techniques are most effective. |
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| ISSN: | 2044-8333 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/lcrp.70009 |
