Abstract

Two experiments with human Ss explored the paper maze technique devised by W. J. Levy (see record 1973-24097-001) as an analog of devices used in testing the "random behavior" hypothesis of animal psi. Exp I with 72 unselected Ss yielded no evidence of departure from mean chance expectation. Exp II was done with 75 Ss selected individually for interest in psi or probability of exhibiting psi. The departure of the overall hitting rate (50.9%) from mean chance expectation (50%) was significant at the .01 level. The departure from chance was so small that this method is of little promise for the study of factors influencing hitting rate unless ways are found to make the apparent effect larger or more stable; however, possible effects of experimental variables were looked for in the data. Two such variables--dominant vs nondominant hand, and type of psi target- -yielded no significant results. Random vs nonrandom behavior showed no significant difference, and the tendency was opposite to that reported in the animal experiments. A type of behavior intermediate between random and nonrandom yielded a post hoc finding suggestive for future research with the maze or other techniques.