Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100260001-910 used to terminate an ongoing session prior to completion. Premature termination of a session may only occur in the event of a protocol violation (e.g., sender or receiver leaving their respective rooms after the beginning of the session), equipment failure, or an emergency situation. When “Abort session” is selected, the system displays a dialog box prompting the experimenter to enter his or her security password and indicate the specific reason for terminating the session. This information, along with the the participant’s ID, and the date and time are written to a series abort file. Abort session is not available after the blind judging procedure has been completed. Session log enables the experimenter to register comments concerning the current session and “Check System” performs diagnostics on the audiovisual and randomization functions of the system. Target Stimuli Target Pool Following Honorton, et al., (1990), target stimuli consist of brief (35-80 sec.) video excerpts from a variety of films and documentaries. Two target pools, each containing 40 targets (10 judging pools of four targets each), have been prepared. Each target pool is stored on one 90-rain. .5 in. VHS videocassette tape. Digital addresses on each videocassette enable frame-accurate access of targets via the video ganzfeld/PC-VCR computer link. A unique digital header is recorded on each videocassette and is read by the computer at the onset of each experimental session. Accidental insertion of a videocassette other than that containing the designated target pool is automatically detected and results in termination of the session. Based on an analysis of target success-rates in the PRL experiments, approximately half of the targets were taken from among the most successful PRL dynamic targets. The remainder of the targets are new. Pool A will be exclusively used for the Novice Screening Series and Pool B will be used for the Sender Comparison Series. Since the latter series will include sessions in which the sender will be exposed only to the audio soundtrack portion of the target, the elements in Pool B include a high proportion of targets with descriptive narration. Measurement of Target Attributes The quantification of complex target material has long eluded investigators of anomalous communication. The quantitative characterization of target attributes is important for a number of reasons, for example: e Development of more statistically powerful methods for assessing target/description correspondences, © Detection and elimination of targets associated with strong response bias (i.e., targets that tend to be selected or rejected because of their intrinsic characteristics), e Detection and elimination of targets that activate perceptual defense, APPRAY ERE Un RelA BAO G10 408 si CA MDRBE-DORSSROO3 100260001 -9
a Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100260001-9 Ganzfeld Protocol 11 ¢ Identification of elements of target environments that may be Especially amenable to retrieval via anomalous communication. Recently, major advances have been made with regard to certain aspects of this problem as it specifically applies to remote viewing studies (May, et al., 1985; 1990). While aspects of May’s conceptual schema can also be applied to ganzfeld research, there are two aspects of the latter that call for a somewhat different approach: (1) The standard ganzfeld mentation protocol focuses upon the elicitation of unconstrained spontaneous imagery rather than an explicit focus upon describing the target. (2) The video targets are themselves quite different from those typically used in remote viewing research: They include auditory components (e. g., music, dialogue, narration, sound effects), occasionally major transitions in Perspective, highly evocative drarnatic and comedic scenes, etc. For these reasons, we have adopted a somewhat different approach, consisting of two distinct aspects: (1) Specific descriptors tailored to the content of the target pools, and (2) generic characteristics derived from environmental psychology. Content-based Descriptors Each target has been coded with respect to Theme, Tone, and Content. Each item is coded Table 1. Content-based Descriptors Nature/wildlife Fantasy/religion/mythology Aggression/battles/warfare/conflict Social interactions Sports/athletics/acrobatics Art/dance/music Places/travel/exploration Cartoons/animation Humor Documentary Action Drama Wonderment/awe Light entertainment People Animals Fantasy/mythical characters Water Rocks/hills/mountains Trees/flowers/foliage Land vehicles/scenes Terrestrial flight scenes Underwater vehicles/scenes O88 CTX R15 980789R003100260001-9 echnology/objects/devices/tools Space/planets/galaxies
eee : - 001-9 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96 see canafeld Proves - on a four-point scale, where 0 = absent, 1= present, 2= prominent, and 3 =dominant. (See Table 2). The content-based descriptors are used (a) in construction of orthoginal judging pools and (b) in exploratory analysis of target attribute correlates of anomalous communication. Generic Characterization of Targets based on Environmental Psychology Approaches The above approach represents what Mehrabian and Russell ( 1974) describe as “the most common, but least parsimonious, approach... the use of the everyday language of specific events and entities” (p. 6). They point out that this approach does not permit comparison across environments, “... and it is impossible to analyze behavioral changes as functions of changes in environments so described” (p. 6). Mehrabian and Russell Survey a wide array of evidence pointing to the advantage of generic characterization of environments in terms of the primary emotional responses they elicit and a (psychologically-based) measure of information Tate. Their general framework is illustrated below in Figure 9. Figure 9. Mehrabian & Russell Framework for Characterizing Environments THE ENVIRONMENT Sense modality variables (@.g., color and temperature) BEHAVIORAL RESPONSES PRIMARY EMOTIONAL RESPONSES Pleasure Information rate (characterizing the spatial and temporal relationships among the stimulus components of an environment) Approach-avoidance (which includes physical approach, exploration, affiliation, performance, or other varbal and non- verbal communications of preference) Arousal Dominance Characteristic emotions associated with PERSONALITY After Figure 1.1 of Mehrabian & Russell (1974). Within this framework, environments are coded using semantic differential scales measuring the three primary emotional responses (pleasure or evaluation, arousal or activity, dominance or potency) and information rate. The scales are reproduced in the appendix. Each of the targets has been coded on these four scales. We believe that this approach may provide a basis for broader comparison across laboratories and target sets than more traditional methods. It of course remains to be seen how useful it will be as a predictor of success in anomalous communication. Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100260001-9
eee [: : -RDP96-00789R003100260001-9 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA Cunyeld Peeeat 13 Predictor Measures Extraversion and Openness to Experience Performance in anomalous communication tasks has been found to correlate with the psychological trait of extraversion in a recent meta-analysis of 15 studies by five independent investigators (Honorton, Ferrari, & Bem, 1990). The mean correlation is small (r = .20) but consistent across investigators, Studies, and personality measures. While the meta-analysis provides strong evidence that a telationship exists between anomalous communication and extraversion, it is silent as to the nature of the relationship. Extraversion is commonly associated with sociability (gregariousness), but it is now known that there are at least five other components of extraversion. For this reason, we have chosen the NEO Personality Inventory (Costa & McRae, 1985), an instrument that measues six facets of extraversion. Recent research implicates sensation seeking as an instrumental factor in the ganzfeld experience (Glicksohn, 1991) and we are especially interested in the possibility that it also correlates with performance in anomalous communication tasks. We also will use the NEO PI Openness scale, and its six facets, because a number of studies have indicated a relationship between anomalous communication and various measures of openness to experience. Table 2 lists the six facets of extraversion and openness. Table 2. Facets of Extraversion and Openness Warmth Gregariousness Assertiveness Activity Excitement Seeking Positive Emotions Fantasy Aesthetics Feelings Actions Ideas Values A computer program scores the questionnaire and presents gtaphic profiles for each of the six facets of extraversion and openness. Statistical power analysis (Cohen, 1977) indicates that a sample size of 200 subjects will achieve a 90% likelihood of detecting a correlation of .2 at p<.05. With N2200, the critical value of r (ps.05) is within the 95% CI of the meta-analysis. Other Moderators Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA-RDP96-00789R003100260001-9
OO ene eneeeesreepeem : : -RDP96-00789R003100260001-9 Approved For Release 2000/08/08 : CIA Canfeld Pree a4 Meta-analysis of three novice experiments in two independent laboratories indicates that initial anomalous communication performance in the ganzfeld is related to four other factors (Honorton, in press): e The number of types of personal “psychic” experiences subjects believe they have had, e Experience with mental disciplines such as meditation, e Classification as Feeling/Perception on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and ¢ Prior formal testing involving anomalous communication tasks. Across the three studies, only 15 subjects (about 5%) satisfied all four predictors, but 11 of them successfully identified their targets (effect size = 1.03). When the least frequently satisfied condition (prior testing) was eliminated, 99 subjects in the three studies satisfied the remaining three predictors, with an effect size of .39. Subjects who did not satisfy the three- predictor model (N = 190) produced a nonsignificant effect size of .07. Myers-Briggs Feeling/Perception is highly correlated with the NEO Openness Scale used in this study. We have developed more refined items regarding reported personal anomalous experiences, prior laboratory testing, and mental disciplines. Prior to contributing to the novice series (total N = 200), subjects will complete the NEO-PI Extraversion and Openness scales and a demographic survey incorporating measures of personal experiences and prior testing. If the predictive utility of these factors is confirmed in the new novice series, a composite predictor measure will be used in addition to novice target acquisition to select subjects for the sender comparison study. Subjects Previous research also indicates that artists and musicians are particularly successful in anomalous communication tasks (Schlitz & Honorton, 1992). For this reason, we will recruit as many subjects as possible from University music and arts departments and local creative and performing arts groups. References Cohen, J. (1977). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (rev. ed.). New York: Academic Press. Costa, P. T., & McRae, R. R. (1985). The NEO Personality Inventory manual. Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc. Glicksohn, J. (1991). The induction of an altered State of consciousness as a function of sensory environment and experience seeking. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 1057-1066. Honortony Cotdved FOPRG Inge Rad dene REPBRTATESRIOS 100260004 -9 power estimates. Report to SAIC.