I
Apprmied For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
Final Report- -Objective
E,
Task 5
December
1986
Covering the Period
October
1985 to 30 September 1986
AN RNG EXPERIMENT TO TEST THE EFFECTS
OF SOURCE AND DISTANCE
By:
G. SCOTT HUBBARD
SRI
International
EDWARD STORM
Syracuse
University
Prepared
for:
PETER
J. McNELIS, DSW
CONTRACTING OFFICER'S TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE
SRI
Project
1291
Approved by:
ROBERT
S. LEONARD, Executive Director
Geoscience and Engineering Center
\
333 Ravenswood Avenue
•
Menlo
Park,
California
94025
•
U.S.A.
oved Fotm&\md&^ommm(Nb'-mP26'iW78mim2mosooo'\ -8
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
ABSTRACT
A detailed and systematic investigation to determine
(1) the effects of distance between
remote action (RA) subjects and random number generators (RNG), and
(2) the subjects
performance utilizing RNGs based on fundamentally different sources of random noise
is
described. A subcontract was let to Syracuse University for this joint venture with SRI
International.
Because of unforeseen delays in the contracting processes, no experimental
data were recorded as of September 30, 1986.
However,
all of the specialized hardware and
software necessary to generate random numbers from a noise diode, 0-decay source and a
pseudorandom algorithm have been developed and debugged.
In addition, the
telecommunications data-link software has been written, and test data have been successfully
transmitted between SRI and Syracuse.
li
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
I INTRODUCTION
In FY 1986, SRI International awarded a subcontract to the Communication Studies
Laboratory (CSL) at Syracuse University* to determine
(1) the effects of distance between
remote action (RA) subjects and random number generators (RNG), and
(2) the subjects’
performance differences in influencing RNGs based on fundamentally different sources of
random noise.
This subcontract is in part a "joint venture” because SRI
is providing three
different RNGs and a computer controlled communications link to serve as the “distant" half
of the experiment.
Unforeseen delays arose in the subcontracting process and, as a result,
the subcontract was not in place until 24 June 1986.
These delays were caused by questions
regarding the use of human subjects, differences in the cost accounting procedures of SRI and
Syracuse, a dispute over the publication approval process, and a change in principal
investigator at Syracuse.
(Professor Edward Storm has replaced Dr. Robert Morris, who
moved to Edinburgh University in January of 1986.)
*Thls Teport constitutes Objective E, Task 5, detailing an RNG experiment to test the effects of source and
distance.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
II METHOD OF APPROACH
A.
General Description
An RNG experiment consists of four basic elements:
1.
A source of a random
(true) or computer-based (pseudorandom) binary
sequence.
2.
An individual who intends to “modify” the random sequence (by menta
means alone).
.
3.
A feedback mechanism that displays the real-time statistical properties o
the sequence.
4.
An analysis procedure defined a priori .
A single trial, which encompasses these elements, might proceed as follows. An
undisplayed random process
is running continuously.
When ready, the participant presses a
button that initiates collection of a predetermined number of bits. A statistical quantity
(i.e
the accumulated number of l's to date)
is displayed to the participant for feedback, and a
Z-score
is computed as a quantitative measure of performance.
Over 300 experiments of this type have been reported in the literature.*
An initial
analysis of the existing data base shows an overall combined effect of greater than 80.
Although some of the experiments have attempted to explore the effects of distance and
source of randomness, few have dealt with these issues in depth.
B.
Specific Experiment
The proposed experiment consists of a pilot phase, in ord
- to refine the protocol and to
select participants; a formal phase, using the “best" seven Individuals from the phot phase;
and a control phase.
Six different sources for binary random sequences and two different source/participant
distances will be combined into a single trial.
Thus, for a single button press on the part of
"•
"
*,
~
luf
T
“P«ti Experiments with Random Number Generators:
the Presented Papers of the 28th Annual Parapsychological
Association*Convention, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (August 19
).,
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
the participant, N/6 bits will be collected from each of the three sources located at two
different distances.
(The total number of bits/trial, N,
will be determined during the pilot
phase.)
Feedback will be provided to allow the participant to monitor his/her progress;
however neither the participant nor the experimenter will know the source and distance being
used within a given session.
C.
Overall Hypothesis and Analysis
The overall hypothesis
is that there
is no significant difference in performance as a
function of source type or distance.
The independent variables in this experiment are source
type and distance.
The dependent variable in this experiment is the number of binary
l’s
observed in each of the N/6 sequences.
The Analysis will be an ANOVA.
Two type of control runs will be conducted:
1.
Global controls—long runs for each of the source/distance combinations
to assure long-term system stability.
2.
Local controls—a series of randomly initiated trials before and just after
an effort session to ensure short term stability of the system.
These trials
will be exactly like the effort trials except no observers will be present.
Significance criteria will be developed during the pilot phase prior to the formal
collection of data.
D.
Communications Protocol
The current design allows on-line data collection from each of two research laboratories
(SRI and CSL), such that each has reasonable confidence that the data have been generated
fairly and represent a valid description of what actually transpired.
For example, at the start
of each run of the experimental session, the experimenter sends two control bytes to SRI.
Within the
first byte. Bit 0 tells whether the
first four runs have 0 or
1 as target.
Bit
tells
whether Order 0 or Order
1 of RNG characteristics counterbalanced within and between runs
will be used.
Bit 2 declares whether or not the run
is practice or will count, and so forth.
The detailed description of this communications protocol may be found in the Appendix.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
input.
Lines 175-195 calculate the addresses needed to access the serial board, depending on
the slot to which
it is assigned.
Lines 210-219 allocate buffer and other storage to the
boards.
Each buffer space
is 128 bytes long.
Additional documentation will be provided with the report of the results of the
experimental sessions.
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8