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 skeptic/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 titlcs: 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 Bem (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 of proofin 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 Bem 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 Soviet Union. The authors spent approximately two months in Russia in 1992 and 1993, 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, (3) 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
CPYRCAPProved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5 1. Introduction In this paper, we present some of our observations of anomalous mental phenomena (AMP) research in the former Soviet Union resulting from our trip to Moscow in September/October of 1992 and to Moscow and Novosibirsk in May of 1993. The purpose of our paper is to provide a narrative overview of the Russian research. With few exceptions, the material we have is in- sufficient to provide: (1) a comprehensive assessment of the experimental details, or (2) a formal meta-analysis of classes of studies (e.g., all the bio-PK investigations). As we begin to work with our Russian colleagues, we shall provide the important additional analyses when the data are available. AMP research programs in the Soviet Union have primarily focused on experimental studies in "distant influence" on animate and inanimate systems, j.e., psychokinesis (PK) and bio-PK. Here we can recall numerous attempts at PK experimentation with pur- portedly gifted individuals such as Nina Kulagina (e.g-, Volchenko et al., 1984), extensive studies of mental influence on various physical systems (€.9-, Bobrov, Kolesnikova, & Shraivman, 1986; Gurtovoy & Parkhomov, 1991, 1992; Kornilov & Rayevsky, 1991), plant growth (e.g., Morozova, et al., 1989, 1991) and plant biopotentials (Dolin et al., 1992; Dolin, Davydov, Lemeshko, et al., 1993), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements of plant seeds before and after ostensible bio-PK influence (Reshetnikova, 1989, 1991). Following this trend as observed in available Russian literature, we focus our paper on the analysis of PK and bio-PK studies. 2. "Distant Influence" on Physical Systems 2.1. "Distant Influence" on Microcalorimeter Since early 1980s, Prof. Georgy K. Gurtovoy (Chief of the Laboratory on Applying Isotopes in Ophthalmology at the Research Institute of Ophthalmology and President of the International Academy of Human Potential in Moscow). and physicist Alexander Parkhomov (Gurtovoy, Dubitsky, & Parkhomov, 1993; Gurtovoy & Parkhomov, 1991, 1992) have been engaged in studies of "mental influence" .on physical systems such as microcalorimeters and electric noise generators. The set-up of one of the microcalorimeter devices used in the experiments is shown in Fig. 2.1. A Dewar flask (1) served as the external heat insulation. The microcalorimeter, consisting of an airtight copper shell (3) and a MMT (metal-metal-thermocouple) type thermistor (4) with a weight of about 20 mg was located in a metal beaker (2)- There was also a similar shell (5) nearby, but it contained the control thermal stable resistor (6). The system is reportedly sensitive to changes in temperature up to 107°°c., It is extremely well shielded from the environment. According to Gur- 2 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003000490001-5