The Effect of Body Language on Believability

You have been selected to participate in a survey to see which actions, facial expressions, and/or demeanors are present in people who are lying. After watching six video-taped interviews, you will then have to answer questions telling how much you believed each speaker. You will then have to fill out a checklist stating which characteristics you noticed most in each speaker. These results are confidential and will not be published with names. Participation in this study is voluntary; if you choose to withdraw at any time, you will not be penalized in any way. There are no foreseeable medical issues or risks that may stem from taking this test, but should issues occur you will be treated at your own expense and encouraged to contact necessary authorities. Benefits of participating in this study are that you will be playing a very important role in this study and that you may learn how to either be a better liar or get better at spotting liars in everyday conversations.


A red asterisk (*) indicates required questions.

  1. I would like to participate in this survey.*
    Yes
    No


  1. I believed that speaker #1 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #1?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.


  1. I believed that speaker #2 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #2?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.


  1. I believed that speaker #3 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #3?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.


  1. I believed that speaker #4 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #4?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.


  1. I believed that speaker #5 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #5?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.


  1. I believed that speaker #6 was telling the truth.*
      1 2 3 4 5  
    Strongly agree   Strongly disagree


  1. What actions/characteristics did you notice in speaker #6?*
    Lack of eye contact
    Fidgeting
    Slouching
    Pauses before answering questions
    Not able to answer questions
    Seeming nervous in general
    Other
    I did not notice any unusual behavior in this speaker.