Anomalistic Psychology

• Many parapsychologists assume that paranormal forces exist
• Many believe they should now focus on how not if paranormal forces operate
• Critics of parapsychology, such an anomalistic psychologists, remain unconvinced
• They investigate alternative explanations for evidence for psi

•  Tendency to invoke ad hoc hypotheses
•  Absence of self-correction --- intellectual stagnation
•  Empahsis on confirmation rather than refutation
•  Tendency to place the burden of proof on sceptics
• Excessive reliance on anecdotal evidence
•  Evasion of the scrutiny afforded by peer review
• Absence of 'connectivity' with other areas of science
•  Use of impressive sounding jargon
•  Absence of boundary conditions

• Parapsychology meets the criteria of science better than those of pseduoscience (Mousseau 2003)
• Parapsychology, at its best, is a true science

•  Fraud in all areas of science (Broad & Wade 1982)
• May remain undetected if underlying theory correct
• Pressure to publish may motivate fraud
• Famous cases in  parapsychology: Soal; Levy
• Trickery by Victorian mediums and 'mini Gellers' 
• Scientists would benefit from advice of skilled conjurors to expose fake physics Project Alpha (Randi 1983a, 1983b)
• Bravery of whistle-blowers (Blackmore 1987a, 1996a)
   

• Pseudoscience - a grey area
• The scientific status of parapsychology
• Impact of fraud in parapsychology and in science generally

Ganzfeld technique tests for telepathy

• Above chance 'hit rates' claimed (Honorton, 1978)
• Hyman's challenge (1985)
• Meta-analyses of ganzfeld studies are controversial

Psychokinesis: macro-PK and micro-PK

• No compelling evidence for macro-PK 
• REGs used to test micro-PK (Schmidt, 1973)
• Conflicting results from meta-analyses of PK studies
• Publication bias and different sample sizes responsible?

Evaluation of issues relating to ganzfeld studies of ESP and psychokinesis

• Disagreement over ganzfeld of ESP
• Disagreement over studiesof psychokinesis (PK)
• Experimenter effects in parapsychology

Research into cognitive factors:

• Cognitive biases and faulty reasoning (e.g. syllogisitc)
• Much research by sceptical anomalistic psychologists

Research into personality factors:

• Schizotypy, manic deptression, dissociation and fantasy proneness
• Correlation with susceptibilty to false memories

Research into biological factors:

• Role of temporal lobe activity in OBE's and NDE's
• Association with sleep paralysis

Evaluation of issues relating to ganzfeld studies of ESP and psychokinesis:

• Pyschological profile of typical paranormal believers
• Implications for the psi hypothesis
• Cause or effect

• Functional significance of paranormal beliefs
• Cultural significance of paranormal beliefs

Evaluation of research:

• Paranormal belief and lack of control
• Paranormal belief and childhood trauma
• Reciprocal relationship between paranormal belief and culture
• Positive aspects of paranormal and related beliefs