Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Assessing public perspectives of parapsychology through YouTube commentaries

Murphy-Morgan, C., Cooper, C. E. and Smith, L.-A. (2022) Assessing public perspectives of parapsychology through YouTube commentaries. Australian Journal of Parapsychology. 22(2), pp. 153-177. 1445-2308.

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Item Type:	Article
Abstract:	YouTube as a social media platform plays an important role in sharing public views about a range of scientific topics such as parapsychology: an area of science committed to exploring the workings behind anomalous experiences or abilities. This qualitative study analyses how conversations about public perspectives of research into parapsychology, take place on YouTube. Reflective Thematic Analysis (RTA) is used to examine comments on the threads for two comparative films posted by two leading academics with opposing views. Three central themes have emerged: (i) Confirmation Bias; (ii) Laws of Nature, and (iii) Trashing the Holy Altars. Following on from this study, it would be beneficial to carry out a larger study with an additional social media platform for further in-depth analysis of public perceptions of parapsychology and how they are presented online.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cyberpsychology, Dawkins, internet, parapsychology, telepathy, Sheldrake, YouTube
Creators:	Murphy-Morgan, Claire, Cooper, Callum E. and Smith, Lesley-Ann
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:	Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date:	31 December 2022
Date Type:	Publication
Page Range:	pp. 153-177
Journal or Publication Title:	Australian Journal of Parapsychology
Volume:	22
Number:	2
Language:	English
ISSN:	1445-2308
Status:	Published / Disseminated
Refereed:	Yes
Related URLs:	https://pure.northampton.ac.uk/en/public...
URI:	http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/18469

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