Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0
UnCLflSSIFIED
PARAMETER EVALUATION SERIES
PURPOSE
:
To systematically search for physical and psychophysical
parameters that are important to parapsychological performance:
-
Candidate physical parameters would include distance to
target,
shielding,
type of feedback.
-
Candidate psychophysical parameters would include
individual cognitive style,
RV session strategy,
targeting
methodologies,
and possibly nature of the target.
GENERAL APPROACH:
Development of a target pool of
80 targets that permits
systematic examination of some candidate parameters
is central to
this evaluation series.
Several proven individuals,
as well
as
those with predetermined potential will be required.
Some type
of psychological/neurophysiological profiling will also be
necessary
(e.g.,
personality type,
cognitive style).
Parameters
of interest can be explored systematically with proper session
design.
Session variables could include distance to target,
feedback conditions,
type of targeting
(beacon person,
abstract)
.
For the distance parameter,
either the individual would travel to
a variety of locations,
or a duplicate target pool could be moved
around
.
It would be desirable to have all sources perform on all
targets
in the pool.
This would maximize the chances of
identifying variables,
including subtle aspects,
that may have
a
role
in phenomena operation.
TARGET POOL:
The target pool
in this series will have the following four
categories:
CATEGORY A:
This category comprises of twenty targets that are
"form" dominant.
That
is,
they are pictorial target of generally
simple geometric shapes or forms
(e.g.,
Egyptian pyramids,
cones)
.
Only
a
few colors will be dominant,
and background,
if
any,
will not be a significant feature.
The context,
scale,
or
function/purpose of the target scene or object may not be
apparent,
and
is not of prime interest in this category.
Consequently,
evaluation of RV data from Category A targets will
UnCLflSSIFIED
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0
UnCLflSSIFIED
focus on "form-color"
elements,
not on the analytical aspects.
CATEGORY
B:
This category
is comprised of twenty pictorial
targets that are combinations of form/content .
Consequently,
both shape and content correlations are equally important
in
evaluating the raw data.
The targets will be as simple as
possible,
although they will have a variety of elements that will
be relatively unique across targets.
In addition,
background or
setting will be important elements,
as will the overall context
of the target contents.
Some of these targets will have features
that indicate,
or imply,
specific dynamic aspects or other target
attributes
(e.g.,
temperature,
direction of motion).
Category B
targets will have a mix of unique forms/shapes, may have
a
variety of colors,
a variety of settings or backgrounds,
and will
be natural
(e.g.,
scenes,
people,
wildlife), manmade
(e.g.,
buildings,
devices),
or combinations of these.
The targets will
not be overly complex so that evaluation can be facilitated and
so that cross-target comparisons can be made,
if desired.
Although pictorial material
is emphasized,
a few targets could be
combinations of printed and pictorial elements, with relevant
words or sentences superimposed on the target picture.
CATEGORY
C:
These targets
(20 totaled)
will be representative of
operational projects.
They will be complex
in nature,
have
a
variety of target elements including pictorial,
printed material,
or combinations.
Although each target will have unique aspects,
there could be some overlap with other targets.
Consequently,
fine discrimination,
precise form,
exact spatial relationships,
or accurate assessment of target content
(e.g.,
specific
location,
specific function of device)
would be required to
determine how well the source's data matched the target.
CATEGORY
D:
These twenty targets will permit exploration of
target features or aspects not necessarily contained in the first
three categories.
These targets would include 3-D objects or
unusual
forms of target representation.
Some of the targets
could be 3-D versions of pictorial targets in the previous
categories.
Such targets will permit determination of
"dimensional effects",
if any,
on the individual viewers'
perceptions
.
UIICLHSSIFIED
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0
UIICLHSSIFIED
EVALUATION:
Data evaluation would be accomplished
in several ways:
rank
order
(subgroups)
,
figure of merit,
concept analysis,
or use of
"fuzzy set" methodology.
In addition,
raw data-target element
correlation analysis would be required
in order to assess
effects,
if any,
of some of the variables such as distance,
shielding,
targeting methods,
etc.
Each target category may
require
a separate evaluation approach;
however,
the series could
be evaluated by using a "meta-analysis" method as well.
It
is
envisioned that sufficient variety will exist in the 80 targets,
and in target pool/subject manipulation,
that certain key
parameters regarding phenomenon functioning and reliability could
be identified at completion of this parameter evaluation series.
ALTERNATE USE:
An abbreviated version of the target pools developed for this
parameter evaluation series could be used for screening/selecting
people with potential.
For example,
four or five targets from
each of the four categories could be incorporated into some form
of easy-to-use capability testing approach.
Candidate
individuals would perform a specified number of trials,
and
results could identify potential candidates and their targeting
or subject matter preferences.
UIICLHSSIFIED
Approved For Release 2000/08/08
: CIA-RDP96-00789R002900370001-0