 Caroline
Watt began working as a Research Associate with the
Koestler Chair of
Parapsychology in 1986. In 1993 she completed a part-time PhD on
the topic 'The Relationship Between Performance on a Prototype Measure
of Perceptual Defence/Vigilance and Psi Performance' - this work
consisted of a conceptual replication and extension of
parapsychological research on the relationship between performance on
the Defence Mechanism Test and psi performance. Her first degree is in
Psychology from St Andrews
University (Scotland), which probably explains why her main
interest is in psychological aspects of ESP performance.
She is now
employed as a Research Fellow, and continues with her
psychology/parapsychology interest. Her present research is mostly
concerned with experimenter and participant expectancy effects, both
in parapsychological and also psychological tasks. This research is
relevant to the question of replicability in parapsychology and also
more broadly to the issue of the complexities of doing research with
human participants.
Principally funded by the Koestler Unit, some of
her research has also been funded from the Perrott-Warrick Fund of
Cambridge University, the Society for Psychical Research, and the IGPP
in Freiburg, Germany. She also has funding for collaborative projects
with Dr Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire, mostly on
the topics of experimenter effects and the psychology of anomalous
experiences. In addition to her parapsychological research, she
teaches a Parapsychology course to final year psychology students;
this popular course has received consistently high ratings from
students for overall interest and quality of presentation.
She is also
Schools and Colleges Liaison Coordinator for the Department of
Psychology, which involves arranging visits to the Department and
making presentations on the psychology course to prospective students.
She has given invited talks on psychology and parapsychology to a
number of respected institutions, including the Royal Society. Her
main reason for being in the field of parapsychology is curiosity.
Journal Publications
Watt, C.A. (1990) The value of spontaneous cases. Journal of the
Society for Psychical Research, 56, 273-286.
Watt, C.A. (1990-1991) Psychology and Coincidences. European
Journal of Parapsychology, 8, 66-84.
Watt, C.A. (1992) Defensiveness and Psi: Problems and Prospects. In
L.A. Henkel & G.R. Schmeidler (Eds) Research in Parapsychology 1990.
Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Watt, C.A. (1993) The Relationship Between Performance on a
Prototype Measure of Perceptual Defence/Vigilance and Psi Performance.
Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh.
Watt, C.A. (1994) Meta-analysis of DMT-ESP studies and an
experimental investigation of perceptual defence/vigilance and
extrasensory perception. In E.W. Cook & D.L. Delanoy (Eds) Research in
Parapsychology 1991. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press.
Watt, C.A. (1994) Making the Most of Spontaneous Cases. In S.
Krippner (Ed.) Advances in Parapsychological Research, Volume 7, pp.
77-103. Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
Watt, C.A. (1994) Extra-Sensory Perception. In R. Cavendish & B.
Innes (Eds.) Man, Myth & Magic. New York: Marshall Cavendish.
Watt, C.A. & Gissurarson, L.R. (1995) Exploring defensiveness and
PK performance. European Journal of Parapsychology, 11, 92-101
(Research Note).
Watt, C.A. & Morris, R.L. (1995) The relationships among
performance on a prototype indicator of perceptual defence/vigilance,
personality, and extrasensory perception. Personality and Individual
Differences, 19, 635-648.
Delanoy, D.L., Morris, R.L., & Watt, C.A. (1994) A study of
free-response ESP performance and mental training techniques. In E.W.
Cook & D.L. Delanoy (Eds) Research in Parapsychology 1991. Metuchen,
NJ: Scarecrow Press, pp. 59-63.
Morris, R.L., Dalton, K., Delanoy, D.L., & Watt, C.A. (1995)
Comparison of the sender/no sender condition in the ganzfeld.
Proceedings of the 38th Annual Convention of the Parapsychological
Association, Durham, NC, pp. 244-259.
Watt, C.A. (1996) Subliminal and Extrasensory Perception. In J.
Henry (Ed.) Introduction to Psychical Research. London: Society for
Psychical Research, pp. 130-135.
Watt, C.A. (1996) What makes a good psi target? Three studies of
forced-choice ESP varying target emotionality and complexity. Journal
of Parapsychology, 60, 25-41.
Watt, C.A. (1996) Knowing the unknown: Participants' insight in
three forced-choice ESP studies. Journal of the American Society for
Psychical Research., 90, 97-114.
Watt, C.A. (1996) 'Physics Envy': The Politics of Parapsychology.
An essay-review of Women and Parapsychology: Proceedings of an
International Conference edited by L. Coly & R. White. European
Journal of Parapsychology, 12, 88-95.
Morris, R.L. & Watt, C.A. (1997) La investigación Parapsicológica
en la Cátedra Koestler. Revista Argentina de Psicologia Paranormal, 8,
147-166.
Watt, C.A., McDermott, Z. & Ravenscroft, J. (1997) Exploring the
limits of remote mental interaction: A comparison of blocking versus
cooperating strategies. In R. Wiseman (Ed.) Proceedings of the 40th
Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association, Brighton, pp.
464-478.
Delanoy, D.L., Watt, C.A., Morris, R.L., & Wiseman, R. (1998) A new
methodology for free-response ESP testing outwith the laboratory:
Findings from experienced participants. In N.L. Zingrone, M.J.
Schlitz, C.S. Alvarado & J. Milton (Eds), Research in Parapsychology
1993, pp. 68-72. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Watt, C.A. (1998) Perceptual defence/vigilance and extrasensory
perception: A successful replication study and a comparison of
implicit and explicit measures. In N.L. Zingrone, M.J. Schlitz, C.S.
Alvarado & J. Milton (Eds), Research in Parapsychology 1993, pp.
120-123. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press.
Watt, C., Ravenscroft, J., & McDermott, Z. (1999). Exploring the
limits of direct mental influence: Two studies comparing "blocking"
and "co-operating" strategies. Journal for Scientific Exploration, 13,
515-535.
Watt, C. Psychology and Parapsychology. In J. Henry (Ed.) A-Z of
Parapsychology. Book chapter. (not published yet)
Watt, C. & Nagtegaal, M. (1999). Luck in action? Belief in good
luck, psi-mediated instrumental response, and games of chance. Journal
of Parapsychology, 63, 229-231. (abstract of refereed conference
presentation)
Wiseman and Watt, 8 Oct 1999, "Soft subjects suffer low esteem",
Times Higher Education Supplement.
Wiseman, R. & Watt, C. (1999). Rupert Sheldrake and the Objectivity
of Science, Skeptical Inquirer, 23 (5), 61-62. (Follow-Up)
Watt, C. & Wiseman, R. (1999). Rupert Sheldrake and the Objectivity
of Science, Journal of Scientific Exploration, 13, 538. (Letter to
Editor)
Watt, C. (1998-1999). The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth
of Psychic Phenomena by Dean Radin. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 14, 146-148. (book review).
Watt, C. (1998-1999). Guidelines for Extrasensory Perception
Research by Julie Milton and Richard Wiseman. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 14, 137-138. (book review).
Watt, C. (1999). The Future of Psychology: Parapsychology's Role.
In Brander, T. et al. (Eds) The Future of Psychology. Amsterdam:
Stichting VSPA Ledenservice. (pages 17-20). (book chapter)
Watt, C. (2001). Paranormal Cognition. In R. Roberts & D. Groome (Eds)
Parapsychology: The Science of Unusual Experience. London: Arnold.
(book chapter) ISBN 0 340 76169 5 (hb) 0 340 76168 (pb)
Sherwood, S. J., Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Watt, C. (2000).
Dream clairvoyance study II using dynamic video-clips: investigation
of consensus voting judging procedures and target emotionality.
Dreaming, 10 (4) 221-236.
Watt, C. & Ravenscroft, J. (2000). A study of non-intentional psi
in a reciprocal helping task: Testing PMIR. Journal of Parapsychology,
64, 39-52.
Watt, C. & Nagtegaal, M. (2000). Luck in action? Belief in good
luck, psi-mediated instrumental response, and games of chance. Journal
of Parapsychology, 64, 19-38.
Watt, C. & Ravenscroft, J. (1999). Defensiveness, neuroticism and
extrasensory perception. Journal of the American Society for Psychical
Research, 93, 341-354 (published June 2002).
Wiseman & Watt, Jan 12 2001, "Why we believe the internet can
enhance psychology". Times Higher Education Supplement.
Watt, C., & Brady, C. (2002). Experimenter effects and the remote
facilitation of attention focusing: Two studies and the discovery of
an artifact. Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 49-71.
Watt, C., & Baker, I.S. (2002). Remote facilitation of attention
focusing with psi-supportive versus psi-unsupportive experimenter
suggestions. Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 151-168.
Wiseman, R., Watt, C., Stevens, P., Greening, E., & O'Keeffe, C.
(accepted for publication) An investigation into alleged 'hauntings'.
British Journal of Psychology.
Wiseman, R., Watt, C., Greening, E., Stevens, P., & O'Keeffe, C.
(2001). An investigation into the alleged haunting of Hampton Court
Palace: Psychological variables and magnetic fields. Journal of
Parapsychology, 65, 384-385 (abstract of refereed conference
presentation). We thanks the Parapsychological Association Board (www.parapsych.org) for the permission to publish the above material.
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