A01 methodical issues in paranormal research

Question 1

What are the 2 sub titles

Answer 1

Ganzfeld studies of esp

Psychokinesis (pk)

Question 2

What are the 4 sections for the ganzfeld studies of esp (extra sensory perception)

Answer 2

Researcher bias
Biased analysis
The file drawer effect
Lack of control

Question 3

Who testes researcher bias in ganzfeld esp

Answer 3

Wooffitt

Question 4

What did wooffitt do and find

Answer 4

Analysed ganzfeld interviews and found researcher bias

Found that sceptical researchers were less encouraging when asking ‘receivers’ to elaborate their images, whereas interviewers who believed in psi elicited lengthier responses that led to more positive results

Question 5

Conclusion for researcher bias on ganzfeld on esp

Answer 5

Research expectations seem to have biased the results

Question 6

What is the differential effect of beliefs on outcomes called

Answer 6

Sheep-goat effect

Question 7

Who tested biased analysis

Answer 7

Charles honorton

Ray hyman

Question 8

What did Charles honorton do and find

Answer 8

He analysed ganzfeld studies and found the performance was significantly above chance on esp

Question 9

What did ray hyman

Do and find

Answer 9

He’s a non believe and he reanalysis the same studies using a different method
Concluded there wasn’t a significant difference

Question 10

Biased analysis conclusion

Answer 10

Researcher beliefs influenced method of analysis chosen which led to results that supported the researchers beliefs

Question 11

Talk about the file drawer effect

Answer 11

Outcomes of meta analysis can change if some studies are removed

This is the file drawer effect

In 5 his case researcher beliefs are relevant because they influence which studies are left in or out.

Question 12

Talk about lack of control in ganzfeld studies

Answer 12

Some of the studies have been found to lack control

E.g. poor soundproofing of the reviewers room which means the videos that were sent as a stimuli could be heard by the receiver

Another criticism is the order of presentation of target selections. There’s a bias to selecting the 1st one displayed which means presentation should be randomised to remive bias for more reliable results

Question 13

What are the 3 sections for Psychokinesis

Answer 13

The effect of expectation

Lack of control

Ecological validity

Question 14

Who tested the effect of expectations in Psychokinesis

Answer 14

Wiseman and greening

Question 15

What did Wiseman and greening do and find

Answer 15

Like ganzfeld studies.

They found effects of expectation on results

E.g. A fake psychic with a bent key: when the psychic would tell the Pps the key was continuing to bend they were more likely to report further bending than Pps who weren’t told the key was continuing to bend

Question 16

Conclusion for the effect of expectations

Answer 16

Expectations make it more likely for a person to report a paranormal effect

Question 17

Who tested lack of control on Psychokinesis

Answer 17

Hansel

Question 18

What did hansel do and find

Answer 18

Well controlled studies tended to produce no or little support for pk

Out if 30 pk studies 13 produced positive results but they lacked control

Those producing negative results were well controlled

Question 19

Conclusion for lack of control in pk

Answer 19

The reason for positive findings would be probably due to flawed methodology

Question 20

Talk about ecological validity

Answer 20

Paranormal researchers say that the use of random # generators (reg) is inappropriate cz the original claims for pk were about physical changes and reg concerns unobserved changes

Question 21

Conclusion for ecological validity

Answer 21

Maybe pk doesn’t function at the unobserved level