Truth bias and regression toward the mean phenomenon in detecting deception.

A 2009 study by Masip, et al. contended that the truth bias appears in brief communications. They demonstrated a strong truth bias when truth-lie judgments were made at the beginning of the judged statement. Over time, a decrease in the truth bias and an increase in accuracy were observed. The improvement was explained by systematic information processing. The present paper suggests an alternative explanation, which rests on the phenomenon of regression toward the mean.