3 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4 I INTRODUCTION A. Overview Traditionally, psychoenergetic experimenters at SRI have relied on the remote viewing ability of a relatively small number of talented persons. But, as the number and nature of experiments and/or applications increases, the necessity for discovering additional talented individuals becomes acute. In FY 1984, in anticipation of more process~oriented experiments, the Cognitive Sciences Project at SRI International began to increase the number of remote viewers available for experimental work. Three directions were pursued: (1) train selected individuals, (2) screen using psychological correlates to remote viewing ability, and (3) screen groups of people using a carefully developed remote viewing task.*t This report details the continuing screening work conducted during FY 1989, as well as the work to evaluate the claims of individuals who purport to have remote viewing abilities.t B. Objective Although it has not been documented to what extent remote viewing abilities exist in the general population, certain individuals appear to have a capacity for accessing information not available by known sensory processes. Some of these persons may have had spontaneous experiences that lead them to be more or less aware of an extrasensory potential while others with such potential may not have had these experiences and thus remain unaware of their remote viewing abilities. The goal of the FY 1989 group screening effort was to identify individuals who possess a natural talent for remote viewing. To accomplish this goal, we used a two-stage process, which we developed in FY 1988, for screening large numbers of people. The objective was to screen several hundred people at the first stage and then to invite the most promising persons to participate in eight individualized laboratory trials in anticipation of finding a few persons who would show robust and consistent remote viewing performance. Lantz, Nevin D., Edwin C. May, Mass Screening For Psychoenergetic Talent Using A Remote Viewing Task, Final Report, Objective B, Task 1, Project 1291, SRI Interna- tional, Menlo Park, CA (September, 1988). + This report constitutes the deliverable for Statement of Work, item 6.0.5. 1 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4 II METHOD OF APPROACH A. General Description A two-stage screening process was used to find high-quality remote viewers. The first stage included a lecture presentation summarizing remote viewing research conducted at SRI International during the past 17 years. This presentation was designed to attract interested audiences of 25 or more persons. Following the lecture, the audience was asked to voluntarily participate in four remote viewing trials using targets randomly selected from a previously constructed target pool. Based on a qualitative assessment of the data collected during the first stage, the best individuals were chosen to participate in further screening activity. The second-stage screening consisted of a formal test with the selected individuals using independent trials. B. Group Screening Protocol 1. Targets A special set of 16 targets was constructed for the screening procedure. The target pool contained both dynamic (targets with motion) and static (still photographs) targets. Dynamic targets consisted of action film clips edited from popular movies. The static targets were a series of thematically related still photographs shown in succession for five seconds each. The targets ranged in length from approximately 60 to 100 seconds and were stored on two video disks. The 16 targets were divided into four categories of four targets each. Categories included: Military, Scientific/industrial, Natural/non-technical, and Projects. Targets in the first three categories were film clips of the dynamic variety. Each target in the fourth category showed a project title (e.g., Project Blue Book) interspersed with images related to the purpose of the project (e.g., UFOs). Four categories were chosen to allow for the possibility that different types of targets might be easier to view than others. No attempt was made to maintain target orthogonality (i.e., significant differences) across categories, but considerable effort was expended to maintain within-category orthogonality. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4 Two factors were considered in choosing the targets. Within each category, the targets were chosen because they were thematic, interesting and possessed geometric elements that could be drawn easily. Secondly, they were selected to be as distinct as possible, so that the other targets within that category could be used as decoys in the analysis procedure. Tables 1a-d show the target categories, the specific targets within a category, and a brief description of each target. Table 1a Military Target Category Aircraft carrier Control room Russians in space Atomic bomb blasts Final Countdown--Multiple takeoffs of mostly F-16s. Characterized by triangular shapes and high drama. --Control room sequence. Characterized by rec- tangular shapes and rotating lights. --EVAs and the collision of two satellites. Characterized by tubular shapes and Russian singing. Atomic Cafe--Continuous series of atmospheric atomic blasts. Characterized by fireballs, bright light, buildings be- ing destroyed, and trees in violent motion. Table 1b Scientific/Industrial Target Category Bottling factory Building construction Tacoma Narrows bridge Launch of John Glen ~-Bottles on a conveyer belt. Characterized by multiple cylindrical shapes. Stee]~-Girder construction by helicopter. Characterized by rectangular shapes “floating” in air. i r--Wild oscillation of the bridge. Characterized by linear shapes in tortional motion. The Right Stuff--Single rocket launch. Characterized by singular tubular shape and bright light. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4
Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4 Table 1c Natural/Non-technical Target Category Skiing The Spy Who Loved Me--James Bond skiing fast. Charac- terized by snowy mountain scenes and dramatic skiing off a cliff. Ostriches Animals are Beautiful People--Ostriches in synchronized dance. Characterized by black and white, fluffy birds. Waterfall Emerald Forest--Aerial view of a waterfall. Characterized by dramatic vertical fall and flying raptor. Greek temple Jacques Cousteay--Helicopter view of the Posiden temple ruins. Table id Project Target Category Manhattan Project Various Still Photographs--Oppenheimer, Fat Man, Little Boy, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and an air blast. Project Blue Book Various Stil] Photographs-~Hynek, UFOs, and “landing” imprints. Project Deep Quest In Search Of--Schwartz and others, underwater submers- ible, and large rectangular block. Project Ultra Various Still Photographs--Turing, code machine, and bombed-out cathedral at Coventry. 2. Subjects Potential subjects were recruited by offering an evening lecture program to local adult groups having an interest in educational seminars. The lecture described remote viewing research at SRI International and promised voluntary audience participation in four remote viewing trials. During FY 1989, screening was conducted with members of a San Francisco Bay Area social/cultural club and two university alumni groups. Each of these screening programs involved groups of between 30 and 160 people with all individuals participating in the same trial simultaneously. (Because participation was voluntary, not all audience members submitted trial response papers.) Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R002200580001 -4