Abstract

Experimental work reported by C. T. Tart (1975-1979) as providing evidence that Ss can learn to use ESP is examined for the possibility that the highly significant scoring rates could be due to factors other than ESP by the Ss. Because the procedure involved screening experimenters (Es) as well as Ss, and the highly significant results were obtained by only one E, it is likely that the screening actually served to select a successful E. Analyses were carried out to investigate the possibility that the results were due, at least in part, to an influence on the targets such that they matched the Ss' calls. Significant results were found in support of this hypothesis. Determining the mechanism that was dominant in the production of the highly significant overall results of this experiment will probably be difficult, but hypotheses other than ESP by the Ss must be considered. Several weaknesses in the design of the experiment are discussed so that they can be avoided in follow-up studies. (24 ref)