The Elusive Quarry: A Scientific Appraisal of Psychical ResearchEver since the Society for Psychical Research was founded over a hundred years ago, parapsychologists have been attempting to prove the existence of paranormal phenomena - things like clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition, and remote viewing. This research into what is now often called "psi" has become increasingly technical. "Controlled" laboratory experiments have replaced "systematic surveys of spontaneous occurrences"; complicated statistical analyses have replaced anecdotal data. In short, psychical research has aspired to the standards of "hard science."With what results? Ray Hyman is supremely qualified to say. A research psychologist held in the highest esteem by both parapsychologists and skeptics, Ray Hyman here reviews the history and methods of psychical research. The Elusive Quarry is Hyman's fascinating, fair-minded critique of the field, a book designed not to debunk but to discern.In Part 1, "Parapsychology," Hyman gives us a historical overview: Over the past hundred years, what have been the strongest claims made for the paranormal? Hyman gives close scrutiny to what have been called "ganzfeld experiments," a body of research considered by parapsychologists to be especially compelling. Part 2, "Scientists and the Paranormal," focuses on the scientists themselves - from Michael Faraday and Sir William Crookes in the last century to Helmut Schmidt and his recent work with random-event generators. Scientists have been interacting with an admittedly unique group of people: psychics. Are their methods of testing and reporting appropriate for the phenomena under examination?Hyman steps outside of the laboratory for his book's third part, "Psychic Phenomena," and evaluates the claims of "water witching," occult healing, and remote viewing. In doing so, he demonstrates that one's interpretation of scientific data is strongly affected by one's underlying belief - or lack of belief - in paranormal phenomena.In Part 4, "The Psychology of Belief," Hyman vividly explains "cold reading" - that ability psychics have to convince strangers that they know all about them. It's an ability anybody can develop, Hyman says. The psychology is common, not psychic. |
Contents
An Interview with Ray Hyman | 7 |
Introduction | 15 |
The Psi Ganzfeld Controversy | 63 |
Copyright | |
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accepted actual Alfred Russel Wallace alleged psychics argue arguments believe binary hits chance cheating clairvoyance client cold reading colleagues conducted convinced critics Crookes data base direct hits diviners effect effect size error evaluation evidence example experimental extra-sensory perception fact flaws Florence Cook fraud ganzfeld experiments Hare Henry Slade Honorton Hyman indices individual investigators Journal judge laboratory medium meta-analysis multiple testing observations occult outcome Panati paper paradigm paranormal claims paranormal phenomena Parapsychological Association pathological science percipient phenomenon possible problem procedures psi-missing psychic phenomena Psychical Research psychokinesis psychological question random number reader reading reasons remote viewing experiments replication reported Research in parapsychology Rhine Schmidt's scientific community scientists score seances sensory leakage significant skeptics Soal Society for Psychical spiritualism spiritualistic standards statistical successful Targ and Puthoff target telepathy tion trials trickery trying Uri Geller Wallace Wallace's water witching Zoellner