Abstract

Consistent missing (CM), defined as the tendency of the S in an ESP test to mistake particular symbols for certain other symbols, has been discussed as a type of information-processing error in ESP and also as a possible source of psi-missing. The present paper surveys the relevant literature and summarizes (1) the extent of occurrence of CM, (2) the relationship between scoring rate and CM, and (3) available evidence concerning factors that lead to CM. Six of the 11 Ss for whom CM analyses were carried out showed significant CM effects in all or parts of their data. The presence of CM was not consistently related to the direct-hit scoring rate, and in the 2 sets of psi-missing data that are available, CM did not appear to be the dominant factor in production of negative scoring. The factors that apparently sometimes lead to CM confusions include the similarities of meaning and associations between targets as well as the visual resemblances. (32 ref)