Scientific methodology in this field dates from at least 1882 at the founding of the Society for Psychical Research in London. Its members sought to distinguish psychic phenomena from spiritism and to investigate mediums and their activities. The society studied automatic writing , levitation , and reports of ectoplasmic and poltergeist activity. Americans Charles Tart and Raymond Moody , among many others continue to expand upon Rhine's work. The CIA and the U.S. military have hired parapsychologists and studied alleged psychics such as Ingo Swann .
Parapsychologists have many other publications , as well.
Traditionally, research in this area has been characterized by incompetence in setting up properly controlled experiments and evaluating statistical data, deception and fraud. When properly controlled experiments are done, they have usually yielded negative results, i.e., have been unable to demonstrate a single clear case of psychic power or paranormal phenomena. Researchers who claim to have found positive results usually systematically ignore or rationalize their own studies if they don't support their claims. Many, if not most, psi researchers allow optional starting and optional stopping . Many are fascinated by numbers and experiment with another kind of parlor trick turned high-tech.