EXTRA-SENSORY PERCEPTION

Evening Star, Issue 22805, 13 November 1937, Page 13

EXTRA-SENSORY PERCEPTION

GIRLS WIN TELEPATHY TEST _ Group tests for extra-sensory perception carried on at New k ork University’s School of Commerce, Accounts, ana Finance at Washington Square East since March, 1930, revealed that volunteer girl students taking part in the experiment achieved a 50 per cent, higher score than the men students, says the New York ‘ Times.’ The experimental data compiled and analysed in tho study conducted by Dr Clarence C. Clark, of the school’s general science department, and Vernon Sharp, his assistant, covered a total of 126,075 trials by 69 students. The experiment on the whole showed that 06 per cent, of the subjects tested over many periods were able to maintain a scoring rate far above chance. Of the total there were 46 who had positive deviations from chance and 23 who had negative deviations. Five packs of extra-sensory perception cards were used at a single time in tho tests. The packs of 25 cards, devised by Dr J. B. Rhine, of Duke University, include five different symbols. The packs were shuffled by tho observer, and laid out in a row on a desk where everyone could seo them. Tho students got record sheets which had columns for the calls made and for the correct calls. Tho students recorded their guesses as to the symbols on each of these record sheets. As soon as all had finished one pack, the correct order of the cards was called by tho observer. These calls wore written in the “ correct ” column and then chocked against the guesses made. The pack was then .shuffled by the observer while the students recorded tLoir rails on tho no;;!:, pack. Tho shuffled pack was then placed at the hack of tho tabic. At tho end of five packs, those previously shuffled cards wore moved forward without lifting and placed at the front again. They Were rearranged so that the first in the

old order might be the third or fourth, etc., in the new order. . Tho experiments were ..divided m two series. The first series began, in March, 1936, and continued for eight weeks. The second series, likewise continuing for eight weeks, began in November, 1936, and was concluded in January, 1937. In the first series 17 girls scored 152 calls above chance, using 1,310 packs of cards of 25 each. The men students scored but 48 calls above chance, using 2,117 packs of cards. In the November series 16 girls achieved 249 calls above chance, using 567 packs of cards, while 21 men tallied 193 calls above chance, using 642 packs of cards. In the first series, composed largely of group tests, the size of the groups ranged from two to 24. _ In the second series both group and individual tests were made. . It was said that experience in taking the tests appeared to increase the subject’s ability to call the cards correctly. How long additional experience would i causo an increase in scoring ability was not determined by tho tests. Tho tests also showed that the attitude and presonality of the observer when present seemed to have some effect upon extra-sensory perception ability. This is suggested by the fact, Dr Clark and Mr Sharp said, that the observer who gave most of the tests i experienced a period when he was mentally disturbed and distracted while ‘ carrying out the study. In the normal period ho obtained results with a significant positive deviation, while during the distracted period the results show a small negative deviation. The experimenters said that some observers were definitely distracting to the subjects, and thus were unable to secure positive results, while other observers were better able to secure good 1 results. Subjects working individually with ! the instructor, the results show, are able to get higher totals thnu they do when working in groups.