Abstract

Examined the use of psychokinesis to influence the output of a random number generator. 48 Ss each completed 1 session consisting of 3 2,500 -trial sets. There was no immediate feedback. Two of the 6 hypotheses were confirmed. As predicted, the absolute critical ratio scores of the sets were significantly higher in the experimental series than in the baseline series. Because the baseline absolute critical ratio scores were, however, significantly below chance, an experimenter effect appeared to be at least partly responsible for the finding. The absolute critical ratio scores also confirmed the release-of-effort hypothesis. Post hoc analyses indicated that the effect occurred only in the first half of the set and seemed to involve intermittent psychokinetic bursts of short duration. The predicted startle, decline, and differential effects were not found. (23 ref)