ABILITY TO DETECT COVERT OBSERVATION

A study was conducted to evaluate persons' purported ability to detect hidden observers. Anecdotally, most people (87%) report that covert o bservation can be detected. A total of 140 college students individual ly sat in a room with a two-way mirror and video-monitor camera. They were told that they might be observed for any or all of the subsequent 5 min. Participants noted whether they felt a hidden observer watched them during each minute of the 5-min. session. After the session, stu dents reported if a possible hidden observer watched via a two-way mir ror or video camera or if they were not watched. Students were unable to detect observation beyond chance. Possible reasons for the persiste nce of the belief in detection of covert observation are posited as im petus for further research.