Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files cover image

Psychology in Everyday Life: The Psych Files

Ep 173: The First Replication of Daryl Bem's Research on Psychic Phenomenon

Apr 23, 2012
Stuart Ritchie, a researcher at the University of Edinburgh, leads a replication study of Daryl Bem's controversial work on psychic phenomena. They dive into the challenges of validating claims about retroactive influence and the importance of replication in psychology. Ritchie discusses how memory tests provide insight into human recall and the ongoing debate surrounding parapsychology. The conversation emphasizes the necessity of methodological transparency and critical thinking when evaluating such extraordinary claims.
56:01

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Quick takeaways

  • The controversy surrounding Daryl Bem's research on precognition highlights the need for skepticism and critical evaluation in interpreting ambiguous scientific results.
  • Stuart Ritchie's replication study emphasizes the essential role of replication in psychology, addressing challenges in validating significant findings and ensuring scientific rigor.

Deep dives

Exploration of Precognition and Psychical Phenomena

The episode delves into the controversial topic of precognition and psychical phenomena, spurred by Daryl Bem's study published in a leading psychology journal. Bem's research purportedly provided evidence of psychic abilities, specifically an ability to be influenced by future events. This notion sparked significant debate within the psychological community, as the topic traditionally falls outside mainstream psychological research. The podcast discusses how such findings challenge established scientific conventions and highlight the need for skepticism in interpreting ambiguous results.

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