Examining the role of neutral versus personal experimenter-participant interactions: An EDA-DMILS experiment

The aim of this exploratory study was first, to confirm the results found i n EDA-DMILS research and, second, to examine the role of experimenter-parti cipant interaction, as this is viewed to play a crucial role in parapsychol ogical experiments. In a total of forty sessions, a pair of participants wa s each randomly assigned to either a personal or a neutral condition. In th e personal condition, the experimenter tried to create a psi-conducive atmo sphere. In the neutral condition, participants: were given a computerized p resentation in order to keep the interaction with the experimenter to a min imum. Our results yielded a nonsignificant effect (Wilcoxon statistic) of E S = .17. Furthermore, the quality of the experimenter-participation interac tion was of minor importance for the agent's success in calming or activati ng the receiver. Interestingly, the effect size obtained from the Wilcoxon statistic for the neutral condition was three times larger than that for th e personal condition (ES = .25 vs ES = .08). The results are discussed with regard to methodological and psychophysiological considerations. First, si nce we can assume to have properly and successfully implemented the two con ditions (by analyzing post-session questionnaires) our findings are hard to reconcile with what is reported about the importance of a psi-conducive at mosphere. Second, it is suggested that for future DMILS experiments the EDA equipment, parametrization, and data-processing be adjusted to psychophysi ological standards. For example, in EDA-DMILS research, tonic components of the EDA are of interest (i.e., no stimuli are presented). Therefore, it is necessary to separate the electrodermal level from spontaneously occurring electrodermal fluctuations. In so doing, we will be able to examine any os tensible EDA-DMILS effect more thoroughly.