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.) “This report 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 Il 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 mental means alone). 3. A feedback mechanism that displays the real-time statistical properties of 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 1'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 pilot 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 =. “Radin, D. I., May, E. C., and Thomson, M. J., “Psi Experiments with Random Number Generators: Meta-Analysis, Part 1," Proceedings of the Presented Papers of the 28th Annual Parapsychological Association Convention, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts (August 1985).. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8 | a
ad we 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 1'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 1 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 III RESULTS AND DISCUSSION At this time, the hardware and communications protocols have been debugged but no experimental trials have been conducted. This delay was caused by unforeseen difficulties at both Syracuse and SRI. Work is currently underway to remedy this situation and we expect results in all areas during FY 1987. We suggest a detailed reading of the Syracuse report (see Appendix) for a more complete understanding of the procedural complexity of the experiment. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8
a Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8 Appendix INVESTIGATION OF PSYCHOENERGETIC DISTANCE EFFECTS OBTAINED FROM NOISE SOURCES WITH DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS Edward F. Storm, Principal Investigator Communication Studies Laboratory School of Computer and Information Science Syracuse University Syracuse, New York Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200090001-8