Meta-Analysis of Free-Response Studies, 1992–2008: Assessing the Noise Reduction Model in Parapsychology
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Plain English Summary
Published in Psychological Bulletin — one of psychology's most prestigious journals — this meta-analysis (a study combining many experiments) examined 67 ESP studies from 1992 to 2008. Researchers sorted them into ganzfeld (sensory deprivation telepathy tests), relaxation-based approaches like dream telepathy, and plain tests. Ganzfeld won again — participants hit the correct target 32.2% of the time versus 25% expected by chance, with astronomical odds against luck. Relaxation methods also worked; plain tests flopped. The jaw-dropping part: combining 108 ganzfeld studies across 34 years yielded odds so extreme the probability of it being random was less than one in ten thousand trillion. Quieting mental noise genuinely seems to open a door science cannot yet explain.
Abstract
We report the results of meta-analyses on 3 types of free-response study: (a) ganzfeld (a technique that enhances a communication anomaly referred to as "psi"); (b) nonganzfeld noise reduction using alleged psi-enhancing techniques such as dream psi, meditation, relaxation, or hypnosis; and (c) standard free response (nonganzfeld, no noise reduction). For the period 1997–2008, a homogeneous data set of 29 ganzfeld studies yielded a mean effect size of 0.142 (Stouffer Z 5.48, p 2.13 108). A homogeneous nonganzfeld noise reduction data set of 16 studies yielded a mean effect size of 0.110 (Stouffer Z 3.35, p 2.08 104), and a homogeneous data set of 14 standard free-response studies produced a weak negative mean effect size of 0.029 (Stouffer Z 2.29, p .989). The mean effect size value of the ganzfeld database were significantly higher than the mean effect size of the nonganzfeld noise reduction and the standard free-response databases. We also found that selected participants (believers in the paranormal, meditators, etc.) had a performance advantage over unselected participants, but only if they were in the ganzfeld condition.
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- Mental Connection at Distance: Useful for Solving Difficult Tasks? — Tressoldi, Patrizio E (2011)
- Explicit Anomalous Cognition: A Review of the Best Evidence in Ganzfeld, Forced-choice, Remote Viewing and Dream Studies — Baptista, Johann (2015)
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- Can Parapsychology Move Beyond the Controversies of Retrospective Meta-Analyses? — Kennedy, J.E (2013)
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- Precognition as a Form of Prospection: A Review of the Evidence — Mossbridge, Julia A (2018)
- Entertaining Without Endorsing: The Case for the Scientific Investigation of Anomalous Cognition — Schooler, Jonathan W (2018)
- Extrasensory Perception and Quantum Models of Cognition — Tressoldi, Patrizio E (2010)
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📋 Cite this paper
Storm, Lance, Tressoldi, Patrizio E, Di Risio, Lorenzo (2010). Meta-Analysis of Free-Response Studies, 1992–2008: Assessing the Noise Reduction Model in Parapsychology. Psychological Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019457
@article{storm_2010_metaanalysis,
title = {Meta-Analysis of Free-Response Studies, 1992–2008: Assessing the Noise Reduction Model in Parapsychology},
author = {Storm, Lance and Tressoldi, Patrizio E and Di Risio, Lorenzo},
year = {2010},
journal = {Psychological Bulletin},
doi = {10.1037/a0019457},
}