The experimental evidence for parapsychological phenomena: A review

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Physics
• Parapsychology

Background:

• Historical reports of events defying common sense views of space and time.
• Psychologists' expertise in perception, memory, belief, and consciousness influences research and criticism of psi phenomena.
• Parapsychological (psi) phenomena have been investigated with sophisticated research protocols and theories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively integrate current experimental evidence and theories regarding psi phenomena.
• To clarify the domain of psi and present recent theories making psi plausible.
• To provide an overview of recent meta-analyses supporting the reality of psi.

Main Methods:

• Review and integration of experimental evidence and psychological/physical theories.
• Summary of recent meta-analyses on psi phenomena.
• Analysis of criticisms against the field and refutation based on evidence quality.

Main Results:

• Cumulative evidence supports the reality of psi phenomena.
• Psi phenomena cannot be readily explained away by methodological flaws, fraud, or analytical errors.
• The evidence for psi is comparable to that for established psychological and other scientific phenomena.

Conclusions:

• The reality of psi phenomena is supported by current evidence.
• Further research recommendations include multidisciplinary studies, developing nonconscious measures, falsifiable theories, and exploring psi within consciousness studies.
• There is a need for increased researcher openness and improved study methodologies to advance the field.