Abstract

Comments on the article by C. Honorton et al (see record 1999-10566-003) regarding their meta-analysis of extraversion and ESP performance in forced-choice and free-response studies. It is noted that Honorton et al decided that evidence of an ESP/extraversion correlation was to be found only in those studies where the test of extraversion was administered after the ESP test was given and the results known. They speculated on 2 possible mechanisms for this effect: (1) awareness of "success" or "failure" may lead Ss to later perceive themselves as more extraverted or introverted, or (2) the experimenter expectancy effect. The current authors regard the 1st mechanism as unlikely in the extreme for most good personality tests. It is argued that the experimenter effect mechanism could just as easily be raised in the case of successful extraversion/ESP experiments where the personality test was administered before the ESP test.