The purpose of this training is to familiarize yourself with the Big Three parapsychological phenomena and other psi abilities. The scenarios presented are based on real cases, with some details altered. Refer to the parapsychology resource page throughout.
You will be scored on a scale of 1-100 based on correctness and reasoning.
Please answer questions 1-8 and briefly explain your reasoning. When finished, send your answers to your advisor.
For questions 1 and 2, you are testing the psi abilities of random people. Assume your methods are not flawed, and are not subject to cheating or sensory leakage. Assume the backs of all the cards are impeccably identical.
In the first experiment, you shuffle the deck thoroughly. You lay a card face-down on the table between you and the subject. The subject guesses what symbol is on the card, you record their answer. You flip the card over and record what the symbol actually is. You put the card back in the deck, and repeat the process.
If the subject correctly guesses all or most of the symbols, what type of psi ability are they most likely using?
In the second experiment, you shuffle the deck thoroughly. You hold the card up so only you can see the symbol. The subject guesses what symbol is on the card, you record their answer and what the symbol actually is. You put the card back in the deck, and repeat the process.
If the subject correctly guesses all or most of the symbols, what type of psi ability are they most likely using?
You're walking along the street and see a friend standing there, staring at you. You go over to speak to him, but suddenly he's not there. The next time you see him, you mention the almost-meeting and ask where he went. He tells you he was home at the time you saw him, but had been thinking of you.
What could have caused this to happen?
You and your family have just moved into a new home. You're in the kitchen eating when you hear one of your children speaking to someone in the living room. Curious, you walk into the living room to see a man sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper. You don't recognize him, and you demand to know who he is. He ignores you, turns the page of the paper, and vanishes.
What could have caused this to happen?
A family (mother, father, and son) moves into the house of a recently deceased woman. Soon after, the 7-year-old son reports talking to her, calling her by name: Lois. He is sent to a skeptic child psychologist, who states, "he's the best-adjusted kid I've ever talked to, besides the ghost stuff". This is when investigators are called in. When you arrive, the son introduces you to Lois. He then gives you a tour of the house, telling you many stories from Lois about growing up in the town and family stories. He shares details that he would not know on his own. He says Lois is scared of moving on, and when she was dying, all she wanted to do was go home.
What could be happening?
Disturbances in a court-reporting firm included a malfunctioning tele-phone system (problems with the incoming calls being received and outgoing calls getting the right destinations, although a check by the phone company showed nothing mechanically or electronically wrong with the phones or the lines), typewriter problems, movements of objects like staplers, coffee cups, and other items, and falling light bulbs. Coffee cups apparently would burst with explosive sounds, and a water cooler tipped over.
What could have caused these things to happen?
In a small family apartment, hot spots would develop on wood and other objects. Particularly if it was paper, it would burst into flame and lots of fires were found. The fires never occurred in a situation where they could get a hold of the whole flat before they were found. Also, difficult things to burn would start to burn. Little circular spots of burn mark were found on hard-to-burn things like hardwood exteriors of loudspeaker cabinet and linoleum.
What could have caused this to happen?
You move into a small apartment. Each time you walk into the kitchen, you feel a vague sense of frustration. Sometimes, usually around 6 or 7pm, you hear what sounds like dishes being slammed around, but nothing has moved when you look.
Why could this be happening?
Please contact your advisor with any questions.