Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Roundtable— 1993 Parapsychological Association Convention
Organizer: Marilyn Jean Schlitz
Title: The Skeptic/Proponent Debate in Parapsychology: A View From the Social
Sciences
Requested Time: 90 minutes
Abstract:
This roundtable considers the nature of the skcptic/proponent debate in
parapsychology from the vantage points of anthropology,
sociolinguistics,
social
psychology, and sociology. The panel is not a debate between skeptics and proponents.
Rather, the discussion will focus on the role of the social sciences in identifying underly-
ing issues within the debate as well as the position of the debate within the larger frame-
work of scientific practice.
We will consider the position of skepticism in scientific
practice, competing systems of rationality that have been articulated within the debate
discourse, the problems of proof and evidence in anomalies research, the peer review
process in the context of anomalous claims, and how parapsychology looks from the
perspective of the "mainstream.” The goal of the roundtable is to facilitate a discussion
about the problems facing parapsychology as a scientific discipline and the strategies
that might be employed to overcome them.
Participants and presentation titles:
Marilyn Schlitz (Stanford University/Cognitive Sciences Lab, SAIC),
Introduction: The Nature of the S/P Debate in Parapsychology
David Hess (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
The Social Sciences and the Defender/Debunker Debate
Marcello Truzzi (Eastern Michigan University)
Is Parapsychology Being Held to Unreasonable Standards by its
Critics?
Daryl Bern (Cornell University)
Presenting Parapsychology to the Mainstream
Lee Ross (Stanford University)
Biased Assessments and Assessments of Bias: Reflections of a
Recent Psychological Bulletin Reviewer
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Presentation Abstracts
Introduction: The Nature of the Skeptic/Proponent Debate in Parapsychology
Marilyn Jean Schlitz
Stanford University/Cognitive Sciences Laboratory, SAIC
This presentation will provide an overview of the skeptic/proponent debate in parapsy-
chology. By adopting a sociolinguistic perspective, the speaker will identify ideological
features of the debate. While an ideal view of science features open communication
between equals, she will argue that such openness, even when attempted, is frequently
limited by the underlying agendas and assumptions of the discourse participants. De-
spite the use of language, concepts, and methods that establish a common ground be-
tween sides,
effective communication among skeptics and proponents is frequently
limited at best. Building upon this observation, Schlitz will consider ways in which the
dispute resolution literature may be useful in understanding and ultimately overcoming
barriers to successful communication between skeptics and proponents of psi research.
Is Parapsychology Being Held to an Unreasonable Standard by its Critics?
Marcello Truzzi
Eastern Michigan University
In this presentation, the speaker will draw on his sociological research into anomalous
claims. He will consider the problems of burden of proof and degrees of evidence en-
countered by anomaly claimants. He will compare the standards ofproof in normal and
extraordinary science with those found in legal adjudication.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Presenting Parapsychology to the Mainstream
Daryl Bern
Cornell University
Drawing on his background in social psychology, the speaker will present his observa-
tions based on his recent publication of an article on ganzfeld-ESP research in a main-
stream psychology journal and on his presentation of the ganzfeld data to the 1992
meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He will discuss
reactions to this work from various quarters, including colleagues in mainstream sci-
ence, in the mass media, and in the various Internet forums or newsgroups.
Biased Assessments and Assessments of Bias: Reflections of a Recent Psychological
Bulletin Reviewer
Lee Ross
Stanford University
This presentation will be based on the speaker’s recent experience as a reviewer for the
Bem-Honorton article that was published by Psychological Bulletin. The speaker
considers the issue of bias in the reviewing process and considers the standards that are
used to evaluate claims of psi phenomena. Drawing on assumptions based on Baysean
statistics, he will argue that alternative hypotheses must be entertained, although stan-
dards of proof should be higher in studies of anomalous phenomena since claims are
more improbable.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
CPYRGHT
Some Aspects of Parapsychological Research
in the Former Soviet Union
Edwin
C.
May,
Ph.D.,
Larissa Vilenskaya
Cognitive Sciences Laboratory-
Science Applications International Corporation
(SAIC)
Menlo Park,
California
'
Abstract
This
paper
provides
an
in-depth
discussion
of
research
of
anomalous mental phenomena
(AMP)
in the former Sovie
^
Union.
e
authors spent approximately two months in Ruseie in 1992
,
and
interacted with
researchers
in Moscow and Novosibirsk.
The
authors
primarily
discuss
experiments
in
anomalous
perturbation
(often referred to as psychokinesis—PK and bio-PK) which have been
the
main
focus
of
anomalous
mental
phenomena
(AMP)
research
programs
in the Soviet Union.
In particular,
the authors discuss
methodologies
and
results
of
experimental
attempts
by
human
operators
to
affect
the
following
inanimate
and
animate
target
systems:
(1) microcalorimeters,
(2) electric noise generators,
cellular
cultures,
(4)
plant
seeds,
(5)
plant biopotentials,
(6)
frequency
of impulses
emitted by an electricity:generating fish
(7)
eating behavior of mice,
(8)
person's reaction time,
and
(9)
parameters of human EEG.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
QPYRofftproved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5
1 .
introduction
In
this
paper ,
we
present
some
of
our
oh,--ations^of
anomalous
mental
phenomena
(AMP)
september/ootober
of
Union resulting
from our
k in May c f 1993 .
The purpose of
1992 and to Moscow and Hiwsjbxira
®Y
A
of
the
Russian
our
paper
. is
to
provide
^rial
we . have
is
in-
research.
With
tew
except.loi
'
h nsive
assessment
of
the
sufficient
to
provide.
(1)
a _
J\
meta-analysis of classes of
experimental details,
or
(2)
a
rrations)
As we begin to work
studies
(e.g., all the ?“^L
wf s\an
provile
the® important
with
our
Russian
colleagues,
we
sndil
^
additional analyses when the data are available.
«
-s
r-i
fho
qntri of
Union
hciv©
piriirimnly
AMP
research
programs
in
.distant influence" on animate
focused on experimental
stu.
"(Ik)
and bio-PK.
Here
and inanimate
systems,
1 *®*'
P.J
t
pK experimentation with pur-
we
can
recall
numerous
attempts
at
PK e^erim^
^ Volchenko
portedly gifted individua ^ ®u
mental
influence
on
various
et
al.,
1984),
extensive
studies
of menta^^
&
shraivman,
1986;
physical
systems
Korniiov & Rayevsky,
1991), plant
Gurtovoy & Parkhomov,
1991,
[ gQ9
^991) andplant biopotentials
growth (e.g.,
Lemeshko,et al.,
1993),
and
(Dolin et al.,
1992,
Doll
,
yY
surements Qf plant seeds before
an^afte^o^tens^^
^^-?^^^
luence^Reshetnikova^l989^1991^.
we
focis
gour
pape?
n
on
a
?he analysis of PK and bio-PK studies.
2.
"Distant influence" on Physical Systems
2.1.
"Distant Influence" on Microcalorimeter
Since
early
1980s
Prof.
Laboratory on Applying
president
of ^he
International
Institute
of
Ophthalmology
Mosc0w)
and
physicist
Alexander
hss»
sn
-
electric noise generators.
The set-up of one of the microcalorimete^deviceSeUsed in the
experiments is shown in
F.
i
g -
• m
‘
icrocaiorimeter,
consisting of an
external heat insul
.^
t
, 3 a * and a MMT (metal-metal-thermocouple) type
airtight copper shell
(
)
about 20 mg was located in a metal
thermistor
(4) with a weight of about *u mg
nearby,
but
it
contained ^the
^
The ^tem is
e«?emSy
Ywln
S
shielded “from
9 the environment.
According to
Gur-
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5