Esp Research

A better name for this book would be How to Arrive at Skeptical Conclusions. Students using this text should develop better reasoning skills and, as a consequence, should become more skeptical regarding many occult beliefs. The book reviews previously debunked anomalous claims such as the Cottingley photos of fairies, the Tamara Rand Hoax, and the hundredth monkey story. Within the skeptical community, the Schick-Vaughn book will probably be heralded as an important contribution to the literature. It is a clear, well-written presentation of the skeptical orientation. Its strength lies in its analysis of the tenets of science, reviews of silly claims, and discussions of logical fallacies (McClenon, J. (1995). How to Think About Weird Things: Critical Thinking for a New Age. The Journal of Parapsychology, 59(1), pp. 83.)

According to the course syllabus we were introduced to the techniques of psychological research. This course was able to provide an understanding of how research is done, and what methods we can use to do so. By having a clear understanding of research and techniques used, it allows us to communicate effectively in regards to ideas behind the research process. In this paper, I will use myself as the case study to examine exactly what I learned about research.

A particular study done by Abowitz, Know, Zusman, and Mcneely (2009) examined the beliefs about

Dreaming, although a substantial component of our nighttime lives, remains somewhat of an enigma due to the fact that it occurs while we are unconscious. The inaccessibility of the unconscious mind weakens full analysis and comprehension of dreaming which researchers have been attempting to accomplish. However, over the years many researchers have elucidated many mysteries about dreams, such as when we dream, why we dream, and what we dream about, in order to bring forth an understanding of dreams as well as identify

As we lay ourselves down every night to put our bodies to rest, our brains begin doing something extraordinary. It begins piecing together images, creating scenarios, simulating sensory perception, and adding in emotions and fears. They can make us wake up with a smile on our face or in a cold sweat. Dreaming is such a strange and often inexplicable phenomenon, but something we all do just about every night. People have theorized the process and the utility of dreams for centuries. However, much of the accepted knowledge we have a bout dreams today is still only theory. In fact, hardly anything about the dreaming experience is concrete because it is an experience

ESP is commonly associated with illusion artists rather than with scientific relevance (Understanding Science). The efficacy of extrasensory perception is widely debated throughout the science world. “Science deals with observations of the natural world . . . to human behavior — and can shed light on natural explanations for those observations” (Understanding Science). ESP events are presented to be knowledge of events in the world and are often considered phenomena; these events can be studied well within the realm of

Various forms of communication have been identified in bats (3) and dolphins (4), for example, but have been recognized as nonexistent in humans. This suggests that the scientific community might, in time, be able to accept the existence of the paranormal if any legitimate evidence were provided. However, it must be recognized that the dubitable position maintained by psychic phenomena within academia has not diminished its visibility in today's strikingly modern and generally discriminating society. That the study of psychic phenomena is so prevalent among respected members of our society is a testament to its durability despite continued attacks by skeptics.

Mark Solms (1997), a Neuropsychologist and psychoanalyst, made a noteworthy impact on dream research by uncovering the layouts of the neural system that underlies dreaming. Nevertheless, in his later work he misjudges the history of the rapid eye movement (REM)/non-REM (NREM) controversy in a Freudian-serving way and disregards the existing, significant, systematic empirical evidence that disputes the key statements of the controversial Freudian dream theory that he is trying to restore. In addition to summarizing Solms' ideas about the history of laboratory dream investigation, this paper proposes an alternate rendition of that history and condenses the empirical discoveries that expound upon why Freudian theory is not viewed as feasible by

This semester I decided to take Psychology of Paranormal Beliefs and I did not know what to expect from it. I was not sure if we would talk about ghost stories, bigfoot, and aliens etc. Although I was unsure of why I wanted to take the course, I knew it would be interesting and possibly a good learning experience. This reflection paper will show my different thoughts, views, and opinions that I have learned throughout this course.

Ever since I was a child, I did not like beginnings and endings. Beginnings mean opening myself up to new customs, a new set of people and a new environment. Endings, on the other hand, mean saying goodbye to amazing friends, routines and great memories. I like knowing everything would be just how I left it; however, life will not always be how I want it to be. Some things end while other things begin.

Multiple studies and experiments have revolved around the tangibility and existence of lucid dreaming. Through the use of machines such as the Electromyogram (EMG), Electroencephalogram (EEG), and the Electro-Oculogram (EOG) and the donated time of volunteers, scientists were able to measure electrical signals produced by muscles, brain activity, and eye movement while people slept (Holzinger, LaBerge, & Levitan, 2006, p. 88). Despite the words of the enthusiastic testimonies of various individuals around the world, and the fact that as of 2011, it is estimated that of every ten individuals, eight of them have experienced at least one lucid dream (Voss, 2011, p. 34), many people today, especially those immersed in modern, western cultures, refuse to believe that such an amazing feat like lucid dreaming is even remotely possible. This paper examines some

The original PBS provides a measure of degree of belief in each of seven dimensions: Traditional Religious Belief, Psi, Witchcraft, Superstition, Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life Forms, and Precognition. Though the original PBS has demonstrated reliability and validity, a Revised Paranormal Belief Scale (R-PBS) has been constructed with changes in the rating scale and in item content for three subscales. These changes involve (1) use of a seven- point rating scale (from the original 5-point rating scale), (2) construction of a new Precognition subscale, (3) replacement of two of four Witchcraft subscale items, and (4) replacement of one of three Extraordinary Life Forms subscale items. These changes were made improve range and subscale reliability and validity, including cross-cultural validity (Tobacyk,

The purpose of this study is to outline an experiment that will correctly display if a

In Western culture, the founders of parapsychology were mostly people who lost their religious faith and began searching for a scientific basis for believing in the meaning of life and life after death (Alcock, 1985; Beloff, 1985).

In psychology, answers to our questions are not as succinct as in other types of sciences, and the findings essentially depend upon the underlying epistemology used. This essay seeks to define and examine the fields of qualitative and quantitative research. It will address the different epistemologies and methodologies of each paradigm, and aim to give you a brief overview of the two main research methods underlying scientific knowledge.