Has there been any scientific backing or proof to say that psychic ability exists?

shanetrane

"Psychical research is largely conducted in the field of parapsychology. Parapsychological research uses a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies in an attempt to find evidence for psychic ability. The experimental methods of parapsychologists include the use of random number generators to test for psychokinesis, mild sensory deprivation in the Ganzfeld experiment to test for extra-sensory perception, and research trials conducted under contract by the U.S. government to investigate remote viewing. The statistical methods of parapsychologists have generated a number of meta-analytical studies, which combine the data from several previous experiments into one large data set. Although all of the research methods of parapsychology have contributed to the field, the experimental and statistical methods have attracted much attention and debate. Parapsychology is a fringe science because it involves research that does not fit within standard theoretical models accepted by mainstream science. Scientists such as psychologists Ray Hyman and James A. Alcock, among others, are critical of the methodology and results of parapsychology. Skeptical researchers suggest that methodological flaws best explain apparently successful experimental results, as opposed to the paranormal explanations offered by many parapsychologists. Some critical analysts argue that parapsychology crosses the line into pseudoscience. To date, no evidence has been accepted by the mainstream scientific community as irrefutably supporting paranormal phenomena." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychic#Validity_of_psychic_abilities Feb 12 08, 5:15 PM

Baloo55th

The basis of a subject being included in 'science' is that an experiment or observation can be repeated by other people. In psychic research - and certain branches of psychiatry - this doesn't seem to happen. This is not to say that the phenomena do not exist. I have observed some occurrences that were not explainable by scientific means. They were also not repeatable. One main problem in these areas is that reaserch is carried out by two classes of person. Believers and anti-believers. Truly neutral people don't tend to get involved. Not surprisingly, believers produce positive data, and anti-believers produce negative data. Shane's quoted point about statistics is a good one. The believers spin webs of figures that remind one of the epicycles that the planets were once reckoned to follow (instead of fairly neat orbits). They also remind me of Government statistics... If we could get the truly neutral experimentation, there might be less name-calling, fudging and gullibility - and there might be a scientific outcome. However, finding these neutral experimenters would be quite a task. Sources: Personal study of psychic and related phenomena; study of experiments carried out at Duke University and other places; knowledge of the rules of scientific experimentation. Personal position: Believer that professional mediums and fortune-tellers are mainly fakers, and that unexplained phenomena do exist, but that they at present are not provable. Feb 12 08, 5:54 PM

BRY2K

There is one man who has made it a life's work to upstage and reveal psychic wannabees- The Amazing Randi. The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) is a Fort Lauderdale, Florida non-profit organization founded in 1996 by magician and skeptic James Randi. The JREF's mission includes educating the public and the media on the dangers of accepting unproven claims, and to support research into paranormal claims in controlled scientific experimental conditions. The organization offers a prize of one million U.S. dollars which it claims it will pay out to anyone who can demonstrate a supernatural or paranormal ability under agreed-upon scientific testing criteria. To date I do not believe that anyone has claimed this prize, not Uri Geller, not Sylvia Browne, not even Karnac! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Randi_Educational_Foundation Feb 12 08, 6:21 PM

satguru

The great sleptic Dr Richard Wiseman ran a test now taken in various laboratories where people are shown random photos. They all reacted a fraction of a second before the nasty ones, and even he can't explain how it happens. I have personally carried out telepathy tests for years and most people pass them once shown what to do to open the ability. Each power has to be tested in turn though, just because one happens you can't assume the others are real. If I can find the first study I'll add a link. Feb 12 08, 7:06 PM