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From: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Newsgroups: net.physics,talk.philosophy.misc
Subject: Fraud-proof PK experiment done (Also interesting to QM/Free Will debate)
Message-ID: <771@oakhill.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 17-Sep-86 16:54:31 EDT
Article-I.D.: oakhill.771
Posted: Wed Sep 17 16:54:31 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 19-Sep-86 22:18:14 EDT
References: <428@inuxm.UUCP>
Reply-To: davet@oakhill.UUCP (Dave Trissel)
Distribution: net
Organization: Motorola Inc. Austin, Tx
Lines: 97
Xref: mnetor net.physics:2970 talk.philosophy.misc:45

[....]

An interesting parapsychological experiment which appears to be fraud proof
has shown dramatic results in it's first run.  This may have implications for
the discussion on 'quantum physics and free will' so I have included
net.philosophy.

Parapsychologist Helmut Schmidt has been working for several years on studying
PK (mind over matter) effects on random event generators (REGs.) He has
simple yet effective experiment which, if followups are as succesfull as the
orignal (which we shall soon know), practically rules out fraud and any other
explanation at flaws in experimental design.  Hard to believe?  Read on.

Helmut claimed to find out years ago that some people could actually mias so-
called random event generators.  He also discovered (and this is VERY hard to
believe) that they could even bias the REG *even if the sampled REG had
performed it's run in the past*!

The experimental protocol that was then used is as follows:

    1) Tape record a specific number of random events from an REG
    2) Make an exact copy of the tape
    3) Put one tape in a safe
    4) Use a random table to decide which way a subject should try to bias
       the tape (either more ones or zeroes to appear)
    5) Gave the tape to a subject and let them listen to it while trying to
       bias it in the proper direction.
    6) Get the tape back and test it for the bias desired
    7) Compare the tape to the one in the safe to determine that they are
       identical.

The results were that Helmut claimed a statistically significant amount of the
time (P<.05) that the tapes were found to be biased in the proper direction.

The reason for the tape in the safe is obvious.  By comparing the duplicate
from the safe with the tape the subject brought back one could determine if
the subject had physically altered the tape.  (Which would mean they cheated
or that PK had somehow flipped and altered the bits on the subject's tape.)

By the way, this type of experiment is called a time-displacement PK
experiment since the subject is trying to effect something which has already
happended.

Given the above scenario there is still room for critics.  For example, how
does Helmut choose which way the subject will bias the tape?  (He uses a
standard random number table for this.)  But most important is the spector
of experimental fraud.  After all, all the information is under the control
of the experimenter.

Here is where Helmut adds a delicious twist to the experiment which completely
removes him from any effect and allows any skeptic to fully participate at the
same time!

Helmut says to the skeptic, "Here are ten cassette tapes numbered one through
ten each with N bits of one/zero data on them.  Now that they are in your
hands you tell me for each one whether you want ones or zeroes to appear more
often on the tape.  Put them away in the safest place you know.  Now I will go
to my subjects and have them concentrate on copies of these tapes at their
leisure.  When they are done I will come back to you and you listen to your
tapes and count the ones/zeroes yourself on your tape recorder and tell me
what you find."

Now the skeptic has only him/herself to blame for the fraud since he/she not
only chose the direction of bias for each tape but also had exclusive control
of the tapes all along and determined the results at the end of the
experiment!

The first run of this experiment was done with duplicate copies of the ten
tapes given to two people, one a "well respected" parapsychologist and the
other to a scientist who was well disposed to the field.  Each of these people
had a second person involved to guarantee that the first person did not tamper
with the tapes in any way.  The results were that 9 of the 10 tapes matched
the direction of bias specified.  (I think the odds are 1 in 256 of this
happening.)

The experiment is currently being repeated but I have no futher details.  I
will report the results when I come across them.

For more information you can order a tape which describes this from CSICOP
(The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the paranormal.)
The tape is from the 1986 CSICOP conference and is all the more remarkable
as it also contains an excellent session by ex-parapsychologist Susan
Blackmore (who makes a one-line aside against Schmidt's critics.)
Anyone who thinks they have an open mind (don't we all?) would do well to
listen to Blackmore's lecture.

Order the tape from:

    CSICOP
    Box 229
    Buffalo, NY 14215-0229            (716) 834-3222


1986 CSICOP Conference Session I  $9.95 + $1.50 postage and handling.

 -- David Trissel Motorola, Austin
  {seismo,ihnp4}!ut-sally!im4u!oakhill!davet