An attempted replication of the PRL ganzfeld research - Psychophysical Research Laboratories - Autoganzfeld, part 2

Journal of Parapsychology, The, Sept, 1997 by Richard S. Broughton, Cheryl H. Alexander

The work of Charles Honorton and his collaborators at the Psychophysical Research Laboratories (PRL) has established the ganzfeld technique as one of the most reliable methods of eliciting evidence of ESP in the laboratory (Bern & Honorton, 1994; Honorton et al., 1990). This has, in turn, led to new, independent ganzfeld experiments that attempt to replicate the original findings and to extend our understanding of the underlying processes. Among the principal efforts underway are those at the University of Utrecht (Bierman, Bosga, Gerding, & Wezelman, 1993; Van Kampen, Bierman, & Wezelman, 1994) and at the University of Edinburgh (Dalton, 1997; Dalton et al., 1994).

In the early 1980s the Institute for Parapsychology began a similar program of ganzfeld research rising a nonautomated procedure. The overall success rate in the Institute's manual series has been lower than that obtained by PRL researchers, but essential features of the PRL work have been replicated in our program (Kanthamani & Broughton, 1994).

Following the closure of the PRL, Honorton donated the equipment that had been used in the automated ganzfeld series to the Institute for Parapsychology where it was reassembled and installed by Kathy Dalton. Dubbed Autoganzfeld II, this installation essentially reproduces the testing system used at PRL, though the physical arrangement of the laboratory is very different. The soundproof room used at PRL was not moved to the Institute.

From October 1993 through March 1996, we conducted formal collection of ESP-ganzfeld data using Autoganzfeld II. The principal aims of this project were as follows:

1. An independent replication of the PRL work with a completely different team of researchers in a different location. (We recognize that it is not a 100% independent replication since we are using the same hardware and software.)

2. An extension of PRL's and our research into personality variables and ganzfeld success using a more detailed personality assessment, the NEO-PI-R (Costa & McCrae, 1992), which has been adopted by other ganzfeld researchers.

3. To examine a subset of first-time participants consisting of emotionally close sender-receiver pairs.

4. To develop content-analysis methods that will identify patterns in the participant's mentation report that may predict adjustment to the ganzfeld test situation and its success or failure as an ESP test. This aspect of the project is continuing and will be reported in the future.

Following the approach of Honorton, Autoganzfeld II was planned as an ongoing project composed of fixed-length series of 50 sessions each. As a first phase of the project, we decided to conduct a formal replication of the PRL work. This would consist of three series (150 trials) with first-time participants ("novices," in PRL terminology). Within the replication, one series would be confined to "emotionally close" sender-receiver pairs. When it became apparent early in the program that there were a number of individual volunteers for whom no sender was readily available, we created a clairvoyant (no sender) series. Finally, to accommodate participants who wished to be tested additional times, we created a general series, for which the stopping point was to be when the formal replication series were completed. Neither the Clairvoyant series nor the General series was considered part of the PRL replication.

Autoganzfeld II was terminated in 1996 with three replication series, one clairvoyant series, and 8 sessions in the general series. Those data are reported here.(1)

METHOD

Automated Testing System

A detailed description of the autoganzfeld testing system is given in Honorton et al. (1990, pp. 100-110). Here we will present only a summary of our version of that system, focusing on the principal differences between our system and the original.

The original automated ganzfeld testing system used an Apple II computer to control a VCR that showed the target material to the sender and later presented the target pool to the receiver for judging. The computer programs paced the experiment by timing the various parts and prompting the experimenter when actions were needed. The programs also handled data storage, which was backed up with paper records.

Following a period of storage, the components were reassembled at the Institute for Parapsychology by Kathy Dalton. After confirming that the equipment was functioning, Dalton installed the system in the rooms that were to be used at the Institute. R. S. B. reviewed the computer programs and made minor changes to accommodate differences between the PRL setup and the present one.

Autoganzfeld II uses essentially the same hardware and software to control the ganzfeld experiment as outlined in Honorton et al. (1990), with certain exceptions. The RNG was relocated from an expansion chassis to the Apple II itself, and the expansion chassis along with a silent printer was removed from the system. Appropriate changes were made to the software.

The target pool remained the same as that used at PRL, consisting of 80 static targets (still photos and art prints on video) and 76 dynamic targets (film clips). One target pack has always been excluded due to a fault (see Honorton et al., 1990, p. 119n).