USE OF GOAL-ORIENTED IMAGERY STRATEGY ON A

PSYCHOKINETIC TASK WITH "SELECTED" SUBJECTS

Psychokinesis (PK) is the paranormal influence upon a physical object or

situation by mental effort or intention by an observer . A variety of

sophisticated ways of studying PK in the laboratory have been reported in

the parapsychological literature. The number and type of PK target objects

range from the early use of dice, metal balls and coins, to radioactive emis-

sions, magnometers, and computer systems. Within this voluminous research

there is rarely a mention of the strategies employed by the observers (sub-

jects) when attempting a PK task.

Recent experiments by Morris, Nanko and Phillips (1978) approached this

problem by assigninig visualization strategies to subjects. These visuali-

zation strategies were derived from a survey of the popualr literature on

psychic development. The advice secured in this survey of 74 books represen-

ting 57 authors was extracted and pinpointed down to common themes that occu-

red throughout the books ( Morris, 1976).

Morris et al. (1978) using a binary random generating device as the PK

target, found that observers instructed to use a " goal-oriented" imagery

strategy had a hit rate significantly greater than that produced by observers

instructed to use a "process-oriented" imagery strategy. The goal-oriented

strategy was very basic and direct whereas, the process-oriented strategy

required a more elaborate visualization work-up.

This result of higher scoring for the goal-oriented strategy was found

whether the observer was assigned to experimental conditions or had a choice

of imagery strategy ( as evidenced in a follow-up study).

The present study was aimed at further exploration of the goal-oriented

imagery strategy on similar PK attempts by 10 persons selected from the Morris

et al. (1978) experiments. The criterion for selection was based on whether
 PK

the individual had "above" chance scoring on a prior PK task, felt comfortable

generating goal-oriented imagery, and had the time and willingness to partici-

pate in another experiment.

APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE

The equipment used for the present study was the same used in the Morris et

al (1978) study. It is a four-module multi-purpose testing system designed for a

variety of parapsychological research (See Placer, Morris and Phillips, 1976,

for a detailed description of the available functions). It maintains an

internally generated source of random binary decisions by amplifying Zener diode

noise with a two-transistor amplifier, then converting the amplified noise to

logic levels with an LM 339 comparator. The resulting logic signal is then

divided by two to insure that equal time is spent in the high and low

states. This random logic signal oscillates at frequencies up to about 200kHz and

it can be sampled and clocked into a shift register whenever a new random decision

is desired. A counter-decoder sequencing circuit interfaces this information

with a display to the subject and a counter which tallies the number of

trials ( decisions) and the number of hits (trials in which the decision matched

the preselected outcome registered on the special console).

The present study used a display for the subject that consisted of a
ring of sixteen lights, each light being a red LED that was 0.4 cm. in diameter.

The entire ring was seven cm in diameter. The binary random decisions were

employed to advance the illuminated light one step clockwise or counterclockwise,

thus producing a"random walk" back and forth on the circle. The hit counter had

been preset to count only clockwise steps as hits. Therefore, when the target

goal is to move the lights in the clockwise direction, a higher score is desired.

Since only the clockwise steps are counted as hits, when the counterclockwise

direction is the target direction a low score is desired,

 The procedure for each session was as follows. In session one,

subjects were asked to meet with the experimenter and practice maintaining imagery

for 2-5 minutes at a time and were re-introduced to the apparatus. For the

experimental session each subject was taken down the hall to a room, two rooms

away from the experimental apparatus and was seated comfortably in front of

the subject console and the circle of lights. The subject was shown how to

initiate a run by depressing a button on the console so that the illuminated LED

would shift around the circle 256 consecutive times at a rate of one shift every

second. As was the case with their prior participation, the task was to bias

the lights for each run of 256 trials in either the clockwise (CW) or counter-

clockwise (CCW) direction depending on the instructions given to them in a

concealed envelope. There were 8 such envelopes, each of which contained a

specific order of directions (CW and CCW) for each of the 10 runs (the length

of the experimental session). This order was counterbalanced for direction

within the 10 runs such that each subject would be asked for half of the runs to

influence the lights in the CW direction and CCW for half of the runs. Each of

the 8 envelopes contained a different order of directions. A sample target was

used to illustrate these points to the subject.

The subject at this time was also asked to relax through deep-breathing

exercises and to practice their imagery until they felt comfortable with it and

were able to generate a vivid image at will. The subjects were told that this

imagery strategy had been suggested by a search of the literature and that it

was felt by this investigator that it would be useful for the present task.

The subject was reminded to take a few minutes to build up imagery between

runs and then was shown the target envelope which contained the experimental

target order. The target order for each session was chosen by a sub-experi-
3
menter not involved with the study. The other seven target envelopes

were kept in a drawer in yet another experimental room.

Subjects were not informed on the location of the targets, only that

their target envelope was selected randomly from the set and that the sub-

experimenter did not know the target order. After given a few minutes to

prepare, the subject was instructed over a one-way intercom to open the

target envelope and when to begin the first run.

When the trial counter on the main console registered 256 trials, the

experimenter recorded the number of CW steps taken (as registered on the hit

counter). The subject was notified at the end of each run of the number just

completed and the number of the next run. At the end of the 10 runs the

experimenter entered the key number of the target onto the permanent tape,

recorded the target directions for all runs, number of hits and misses, and

gave the subject some general feedback.

At the end of the session a carbon copy of the unscored target and the

REG output was submitted to R.L. Morris for independent tallying. Morris

would also verify this target material with the computer permanent tape record.

No discrepancy was found.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The random events generator produced decisions in accordance with the

subject's target instructions (hits) 51% of the time. There were a total of

10,488 hits out of 20,480 possible trials. The results of this study

demonstrate that an anomaly in the data did occur highly suggestive of

psychokinesis (Z = 2.90, p<.002). This result would theoretically occur by

chance alone one time in 500.

The present study may be considered a replication of the Morris et al

research due to the fact that the goal-oriented imagery continued to facilitate
PK-like scoring with selected subjects. It should be noted that the present

experimenter also served as experimenter for the Morris et al study. However, an

independent researcher has also produced positive results for the goal-oriented

type of imagery strategy on a similar type of PK task (Levi, 1979).

A well known problem in parapsychological research, especially of the

laboratory , is that the task often becomes tedious and loses any relevance or

meaning for the subject. This problem is accentuated when automated responses

are involved. The same may be true for the experimenter, however, the vested

interest in obtaining data at any costs often overrides. It was encouraging to

find that subjects in the present study were able to maintain interest and PK

ability into a second experiment where• essentially the same

response task was involved.

An additional aspect of this study has to deal with the relationship

among the experimenter and the subjects. There was increased communication

and openness between both sides of the experimental situation. Discussion

regarding the personal and universal implications of results were spontaneously

covered both before and after experimental sessions. All subjects were en-

couraged to bring up their concerns about this line of research. In fact,

many participants frequented the laboratory for further conversations regarding

the impact of parapsychological research on their lives and all offered to

participate in furure studies.

It is believed by this investigator that the increased

5 rapport, partially a

result of the humanistic treatment of experimental participants facilitated a

postive psi context, thus leading to positive results (PK).

 Confirmed efforts aie underway by this experimenter to investigate

other performance variables that may affect PK results. This includ e s

further research into visualizatior strategies and other PK conducive states.

effective PK targets and displays, the role of the experimenter, and the

psychological and philosophical concerns of experimantal participants as

they relate to PK research.

 References

Levi, A. The Influence of Imagery and Feedback on PK Effects.

Research in Parapsychology, 1979, pp 57-58.
Morris, R.L., The Airport Project. A Survey of the Techniques
for Psychic Development Advocated by Popular Books. Research in
Parapsychology, 1976 pp 54-56.
Morris, R. L., Nanko, M. J. and Phillips, D. Intentional
Observer Influence upon Measurements of a Quantum Mechanical
System: A Comparison of Two Imagery Strategies. Research in
Parapsychology, 1978, pp 146-150.
Placer, J., Morris, R.L., and Phillips, D. MCTS: A Modular
Communication Testing System. Research in Parapsychology, 1976,
pp 38-40.