Further variables relating to psi in the Ganzfeld

Four studies (each with N = 30) using a manual Ganzfeld are reported here. The studies incorporated measures of belief, personality, cognitive functio n, and target variables, all of which had been hypothesized to relate to th e occurrence of psi in the ganzfeld. A nonauditory monitored series gave a 20% hit rate, but the three subsequent auditory-monitored studies gave a co mbined hit rate of 40%. Participants reporting subjective paranormal experi ences (recruited from New Age groups and via an advertisement for those hav ing paranormal experiences) scored at a much higher rate than psychology st udents. The repeaters (who came back for a second session) also did well. F urther analysis found psi-hitting to relate to scores on the Sheep-Goat Sca le and to scores on both subscales of the Magical Ideation Scale. Whereas D efense Mechanism Test scores failed to relate significantly to psi scores, "Feeling" as a personality type on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator did. A t arget factor of "change in emotional tone" was also found to relate signifi cantly to psi-hitting. Knowledge of these contingencies may help to explain the varying success of ganzfeld replications.(1)