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The effects of experimenter-participant interaction qualities in a goal-oriented nonintentional precognition task

Hitchman, G. A., Pfeuffer, C. U., Roe, C. A. and Sherwood, S. J. (2016) The effects of experimenter-participant interaction qualities in a goal-oriented nonintentional precognition task. Journal of Parapsychology. 80(1) 0022-3387.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: Several recent studies, inspired by psi theories such as Stanford’s psi-mediated instrumental response (PMIR) model, have employed a tacit precognition protocol to test the notion that extrasensory perception may be nonintentional. After remarkable initial success, outcomes have been more inconsistent. One possible reason for the observed variability in results is that the studies were conducted by different experimenters. The current study therefore addressed a number of dimensions regarding participants’ interaction with either a male or female experimenter. 52 participants took part in 12 nonintentional precognition trials and a positive or negative outcome task contingent on their performance. The total number of precognitive hits was marginally above mean chance expectation but failed to reach statistical significance. There were significant positive correlations between participants’ precognition scores and their ratings of the positivity of their interaction with the experimenter, their rapport with the experimenter, and their level of relaxation. There were also notable differences between the two experimenters with respect to the relationships between their participant-experimenter interaction ratings and participants’ tacit precognition scores; all correlations were in the predicted direction for the female experimenter, but in the opposite direction for the male experimenter.
Uncontrolled Keywords: Extrasensory perception, nonintentional precognition, experimenter-participant interaction
Creators: Hitchman, Glenn A, Pfeuffer, Christina U, Roe, Chris A and Sherwood, Simon J
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Date: 19 August 2016
Date Type: Publication
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of Parapsychology
Volume: 80
Number: 1
Language: English
ISSN: 0022-3387
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/10960

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