The chapter delves into the concepts of debunking within parapsychology, analysis of ESP experiments like Gonefell experiments, and small effects in parapsychology studies. It discusses a study on memory techniques showing a slight pre-sentiment effect and compares parapsychology with baseball in terms of success rates. Statistical significance in ESP experiments, the role of p values, and prior biases in psilocychology are also explored.
After years of unusual episodes dating back to her childhood, Anita went to the doctor and was told there was nothing medically wrong with her. "She had a gift," she was told, and she was sent down the street to an ESP lab. Parapsychology is the scientific study of telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis, precognition, and spirits. Or is it? The field has been pushed to the fringes of science for decades now. In two episodes, I first follow the study of psychics, and then the mainstream sciences of human nature, to see if they differ enough to make one worthy of belief, and the other scorn. Guest voices include Anita Woodley, John Kruth and Sally Rhine Feather of the Rhine Research Center, and philosopher Massimo Pigliucci.
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