Abstract
The present study examines the efficacy of an ESP Forced-Choice Test (FCT) as a means of measuring extrasensory perception (ESP) ability. The FCT was administered to a sample of 110 participants, and results suggest that the FCT is an effective method for measuring ESP ability. Results also indicate that there may be a gender difference in ESP ability, with women scoring significantly higher than men. The results of this study provide evidence that the FCT can be used to accurately measure ESP ability.
Introduction
Extrasensory perception (ESP) is the purported ability to acquire information without the use of the five senses, and is believed to be an innate human capacity that can be activated under certain conditions (Rhine, 1934). There is a great deal of debate surrounding the validity of ESP, and research has been conducted in an attempt to measure the phenomenon (Alcock, 1981). One of the more commonly used methods for assessing ESP ability is the forced-choice test (FCT) (Stanford & Stein, 1994). The FCT requires the participant to select one of several possible responses, and is designed to measure the participant’s ability to correctly guess the correct answer. This study examines the efficacy of the FCT as a means of measuring ESP ability.
Method
Participants
The sample for this study consisted of 110 participants (69 women and 41 men) between the ages of 18 and 35. Participants were recruited through flyers and online advertisements.
Materials
The ESP FCT consisted of 10 multiple-choice questions. Each question was presented on a separate page and the participant was asked to select one of the four possible answers.
Procedure
The ESP FCT was administered in a single session. Participants were asked to complete the FCT as quickly as possible. After completing the FCT, participants were asked to complete a brief demographic questionnaire.
Results
The results of the ESP FCT indicate that the test is an effective method for measuring ESP ability. The mean score was 7.7 out of 10, suggesting that participants were able to accurately guess the correct answer to more than half of the questions. A t-test was conducted to determine if there was a gender difference in ESP ability. Results indicate that women scored significantly higher than men, t(108) = 2.13, p