A01 pseudoscience and parapsychology

Question 1

What’s the meaning of anomalous

Answer 1

Sonething irregular and doesn’t fit into existing explanations

Question 2

What is pseudoscience

Answer 2

A term used to describe false science

Researchers claim to be scientific in their research but fail to fulfil the criteria effectively

Question 3

What are the 5 sections for the features of parapsychology that suggest it’s a pseudoscience

Answer 3

Lacks falsifiability
Lacks carefully controlled replicable research
Lacks theory to explain the effects
Burden of proof misplaced
Lack ability to change

Question 4

Tall about lacks falsifiability

Eg

Answer 4

You can’t falsify the hypothesis

Example
Study finds no evidence for esp but some paranormal psychologists say the lack of supporting evidence is cz of sceptics being present and the phenomena dissappear under such conditions (jealous phenomena). So the hypothesis is then non-falsifiable

Question 5

Talk about lacks controlled research

Answer 5

Ganzfeld studies are examples of how paranormal phenomenonStudies that claim to be highly controlled are actually not.

Question 6

Who studied replicable section

Answer 6

Bem

Ritchie et al

Question 7

What did bem aswell as Ritchie do and find

Answer 7

Bem
People remember words better if they rehearsed then afterwards, so a future event was affecting the present. His study supported people can sense future events before they happen.

But Ritchie couldn’t replicate this result using the exact same procedure this challenges the objective nature of the research.

Question 8

Talk about lacks theory to explain the effects

Answer 8

Aim of scientific research to construct a theory. Paranormal phenomena overwhelmingly have t been given theoretical explanations

Eg how does esp happen ir what is it that allows people to move objects without touching them.

Question 9

Talk about burden of proof misplaced

Answer 9

Psi phenomena supporters say burden of proof lies with the sceptics. But such disproof is difficult cz its not easy to show something isnt real. Scientists say burden of proof lies with the believer not the sceptics.

Question 10

Talk about lack ability to change

Answer 10

Unlike science where explanations change, psi phenomena will continue to explain in the same way for centuries despite lack of evidence