Papers by Bryan J Williams
Journal of Scientific Exploration, 2021
Many experiments have been conducted over the past eight decades to explore whether the ostensibl... more Many experiments have been conducted over the past eight decades to explore whether the ostensible psychic ability of psychokinesis (PK, or "mind over matter") might be a genuine human potential, and the most extensive of these have involved attempts to mentally influence the output of electronic, binary-bit random number generators (RNGs). Research of this type can generally be divided into two lines: proof-oriented (concerned with the accumulation and statistical evaluation of data from controlled experiments designed specifically to test for the presence of PK effects on the microscopic scale) and process-oriented (concerned with conducting exploratory experiments designed to systematically vary certain test conditions in order to search for and identify any physical, biological, and psychological factors which might have a role in improving or moderating PK effects). To help orient novice investigators and cross-disciplinary researchers who may be considering work along these lines (as well as to offer some initial guiding insight on possible directions for future research), this paper provides a general review of some of the notable proof-and process-oriented findings that have been obtained to date in experimental microscopic PK research using RNGs. The review generally indicates that although a considerable amount of proof-oriented data for micro-PK has accumulated over the years, the relatively sparse amount of process-oriented data available at present leaves many open questions regarding the underlying factors involved, providing ample opportunity for novice investigators and cross-disciplinary researchers to make valuable research contributions in the future.
Journal of Scientific Exploration, 2019
A critical commentary is offered on a skeptical rebuttal made by Arthur Reber and James Alcock in... more A critical commentary is offered on a skeptical rebuttal made by Arthur Reber and James Alcock in the July/August 2019 issue of Skeptical Inquirer (https://skepticalinquirer.org/2019/07/why-parapsychological-claims-cannot-be-true/), which came in response to an article by Etzel Cardeña (published in the mainstream journal American Psychologist in 2018) that reviewed the extensive evidence from parapsychological experiments which seems to collectively offer support for the existence of psychic (or psi) phenomena. At the heart of their rebuttal, Reber and Alcock seek to make the counter-argument that this evidence cannot be meaningful because psi phenomena are "impossible," appearing to violate four fundamental principles of physics. It is shown here that rather than being based on any kind of substantial evidence, the criticisms that Reber and Alcock put forth in support of this counterargument are instead based on a combination of narrow personal opinion, unfounded assumption, and superficial rhetoric, leaving their claims unsound and ultimately unconvincing.
(Published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 33, No. 4, Winter 2019. pp. 599 - 616)
A paper written for a general audience which seeks to address the criticisms often made by skepti... more A paper written for a general audience which seeks to address the criticisms often made by skeptics that ostensible psychic (or psi) phenomena are incompatible with what is currently known in mainstream science. It is argued that if certain concepts from physics and neuroscience are applied to parapsychology, then psi phenomena actually start to seem a little less strange or "paranormal," offering a preliminary step in trying to rectify their seeming incompatibility with current knowledge. This paper is an updated & revised version of a piece initially prepared for the Parapsychology Research and Education ("ParaMOOC") Monthly Discussion Forum session held by the Alvarado Zingrone Institute for Research & Education (AZIRE) via the WizIQ online education portal in August 2016.
publicparapsychology.org
We present a basic primer for paranormal enthusiasts on the current state of parapsychological re... more We present a basic primer for paranormal enthusiasts on the current state of parapsychological research and perspectives relating to phenomena traditionally labeled "poltergeist." Topics such as case characteristics, experimental approaches, theoretical aspects, and the similarities and differences between poltergeist and haunt cases are discussed and supplemented with illustrative examples and anecdotes from the published case literature.
Available over the …, Jan 1, 2008
Available over the …, Jan 1, 2007
An article written for a general audience which discusses the evidence and issues currently surro... more An article written for a general audience which discusses the evidence and issues currently surrounding a set of nine general observations on the characteristics of apparitional experiences that was developed by the late parapsychologist William G. Roll in 2004. Based on an unfinished piece being written for an anthology on Roll's investigations of apparitions and hauntings that was still in the planning stages at the time of Roll's passing in 2012. Rewritten and updated by the author for the WizIQ ParaMOOC 2015 Online Discussion Forum on "Apparitions" that was held on August 30, 2015.
The Psychical Research Foundation was formally established in 1961 as an organization devoted to ... more The Psychical Research Foundation was formally established in 1961 as an organization devoted to the scientific study of phenomena related to the issue of survival of bodily death. From the time of its inception up until his passing in January of 2012, William G. Roll had faithfully served as the PRF's first and only director of research. The year 2011 marked the 50th anniversary of the PRF, and as a way to observe this milestone occasion, as well as honor Roll's memory, this paper highlights the various lines of psi research conducted by the PRF throughout the duration of Roll's tenure as research director, with particular emphasis on its survival-related research. Concise reviews of the PRF's controlled tests with mediums and psychics, its laboratory studies of out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and its field investigations of apparitions, hauntings, and recurrent spontaneous psychokinesis (RSPK, or "poltergeist") are presented, and the findings are discussed in the light of other related findings reported in the parapsychological literature. Some of the theoretical approaches to psi and survival that Roll had developed on the basis of the PRF's findings are also briefly summarized, and some hopes for the future of the PRF as it seeks to carry onward in the "spirit" of Roll's efforts are offered.
For over a century, evidence has been gathered to indicate that the two cerebral hemispheres of t... more For over a century, evidence has been gathered to indicate that the two cerebral hemispheres of the human brain each tend to have their own behavioral specializations. An issue that has long been of interest to parapsychologists is whether the ostensibly anomalous behavioral phenomena of "extrasensory perception" (ESP), in which a person seems to obtain veridical information about other people, objects, places, or events beyond the range of the body's sensory-motor system, may be a specialization function of either of the brain hemispheres. To address this issue, a review of parapsychological experiments designed to explore the potential relevance of cerebral lateralization to ESP performance was initially conducted by Broughton in 1983. He generally concluded that, although there was some possible indication of a contribution to ESP by the right hemisphere, the results were mixed and possibly confounded by issues of interpretation. In a more concise review conducted in 2002, Alexander found that a limited number of experiments continued to indicate a right hemispheric tendency, although certain others separately indicated left hemispheric involvement. Thus, the issue is still clearly unresolved. This paper seeks to build upon these two previous reviews by providing an updated and broader review of the various findings obtained in the experiments that have been conducted up to the present time. Although several experiments continue to offer modest support for a right hemispheric contribution, general interpretation of the current database remains hindered by a wide degree variability in experimental methods and outcomes, potentially confounding factors, and the scarcity of additional clarifying data. Thus, while the issue remains unresolved, there appear to be at least some potential avenues for progress in future experiments.
This paper presents a brief review of the debate between parapsychologists and skeptics regarding... more This paper presents a brief review of the debate between parapsychologists and skeptics regarding the issue of replication in experimental tests of extrasensory perception (ESP) using a sensory reduction technique known as ganzfeld. The review is followed by a basic assessment of 59 ganzfeld ESP studies reported in the period following the publication of a stringent set of methodological guidelines and recommendations by R. Hyman and C. Honorton in 1986. The assessment indicates that these 59 studies have a combined hit rate of approximately 30%, which is significantly above the chance expected hit rate of 25%. A comparison of the hit rates across four ganzfeld meta-analyses, as well as across fifteen laboratories, seems to further indicate replication of the ganzfeld ESP effect by a broad group of independent researchers.
Drafts by Bryan J Williams
Offers a critical commentary by Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell & myself in response to the article post... more Offers a critical commentary by Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell & myself in response to the article posted by Jonathan Jarry (2024) on McGill University's Office for Science and Society website (https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/telepathy-tapes-prove-we-all-want-believe). The first part of the commentary presents Dr. Powell's rebuttal to Jarry's criticisms relating to the podcast series "The Telepathy Tapes" and her research on ostensible psychic phenomena in autistic nonverbal children. The second part comments on the wider & misleading statements that Jarry makes about the field of parapsychology in general.
This is a brief letter to the editor that was submitted to Scientific American in response to the... more This is a brief letter to the editor that was submitted to Scientific American in response to the opinion piece "The Houdini Rule" by Naomi Oreskes (May 2024 issue), which touched upon the study of ostensible psychic phenomena. The letter was not subsequently published five months later, and so it is being archived here for posterity.
This article offers a critical commentary on a blog entry (with accompanying video) by Kenny Bidd... more This article offers a critical commentary on a blog entry (with accompanying video) by Kenny Biddle that looks back on the 1984 Columbus Poltergeist case involving the then 14-year-old Tina Resch (https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/revisiting-the-columbus-poltergeist). It is pointed out that Biddle makes several errors, unverified assumptions, and non-sequiturs in his entry that ultimately do not offer good support for his skeptical arguments regarding the case.
Do we share in a form of "collective consciousness" whenever we all focus our thoughts, feelings,... more Do we share in a form of "collective consciousness" whenever we all focus our thoughts, feelings, and attention toward a common activity, event, or cause? There is a considerable amount of empirical evidence which suggests that we do, and it may have some implications for thinking about the concept of "paraunity," often used by the ghost hunting & paranormal enthusiast communities to encourage cooperation & camaraderie among their members.
Written for a lay audience, this draft article gives a general overview of field RNG research, provides a concise summary of an ongoing field RNG study being conducted in relation to the "World's Largest Ghost Hunt," and offers some possible implications for "paraunity."
Aimed at the paranormal enthusiast community and other general audiences, this paper highlights s... more Aimed at the paranormal enthusiast community and other general audiences, this paper highlights some possible lessons, gleaned from various parapsychological findings, which might be useful to practically consider when conducting ghost hunts, particularly when it comes to trying to have a personal sighting or experience with a ghost. Part of the aim here is to help sort what might be fact from what might be folklore, particularly when it comes to popular media claims about ghosts and ghost hunting.
The paper is the extended version of a presentation given on March 30, 2023, as part of the Parapsychology: Research and Education massively open online course (ParaMOOC 2023) devoted to the theme of “Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists,” which was hosted by the Alvarado-Zingrone Institute for Research and Education (AZIRE) and supported by the Parapsychology Foundation.
The idea that some kind of "memory"-like psychic impression relating to a certain person, object,... more The idea that some kind of "memory"-like psychic impression relating to a certain person, object, or event from the past can somehow be retained by, or otherwise be closely associated with, a specific place over time - which has been referred to as "place memory" - is one that has been around since the early days of psychical research. But in more recent years, this idea seems to have largely been unrecognized, overlooked, or even disregarded within parapsychology, particularly as a possible contender hypothesis for alternately thinking about some types of veridical haunting apparitions. Why might that be? Perhaps one reason is that the empirical case for seriously considering this idea has not been too clear.
This paper aims to address this issue by reviewing certain parapsychological findings which seem to have some implications for the concept of place memory, as well as for the theory of its possible establishment through psychokinesis as proposed by Pamela Heath (2004, 2005). At the very least, these findings would seem to suggest that place memory should not summarily be taken out of consideration as a working hypothesis, and that more research may be warranted in order to further explore its potential both as a genuine psi-related phenomenon and as a developing theoretical concept for alternately thinking about veridical hauntings.
Originally presented on March 21, 2023, as part of the Parapsychology: Research and Education massively open online course (ParaMOOC 2023) devoted to the theme of "Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists," which was hosted by the Alvarado-Zingrone Institute for Research and Education (AZIRE). It is meant to be complementary to the ParaMOOC talk "How Mind-Matter Interaction May Play a Role in Place Memory" given by Pamela Rae Heath on March 20, 2023 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b57DhieuVmM).
Written for a general audience, this draft piece provides a concise review of selected parapsycho... more Written for a general audience, this draft piece provides a concise review of selected parapsychological studies aimed at exploring possible psychic abilities in pets & other domesticated animals (e.g., dogs, cats, birds, horses). Includes a section on the question of life after death in animals. Originally written for the August monthly discussion forum held as part of the 2018 Parapsychology Research & Education massively-open online course (ParaMOOC 2018) hosted by the Alvarado-Zingrone Institute for Research and Education (AZIRE), and slightly revised for the November 2021 Parapsychological Association (PA) Psi Agora online discussion table on "Animal Psi" that was co-hosted by Tamra Temple and myself.
Draft of a brief commentary I prepared for the 2017 Parapsychology Research & Education massive-o... more Draft of a brief commentary I prepared for the 2017 Parapsychology Research & Education massive-open online course (ParaMOOC 2017) discussion forums that highlights some of the critical issues inherent in recording and interpreting samples of ostensible instrumental transcommunication (ITC), which will be important to be mindful of, and address, in further empirical and field studies within this domain. Posted as a supplement to comments given in the discussion of Anabela Cardoso's "Paranormal Review ITC paper," which she hosted here on Academia in May of 2022 (https://www.academia.edu/s/ff796b3ae5).
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Papers by Bryan J Williams
(Published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, Vol. 33, No. 4, Winter 2019. pp. 599 - 616)
Drafts by Bryan J Williams
Written for a lay audience, this draft article gives a general overview of field RNG research, provides a concise summary of an ongoing field RNG study being conducted in relation to the "World's Largest Ghost Hunt," and offers some possible implications for "paraunity."
The paper is the extended version of a presentation given on March 30, 2023, as part of the Parapsychology: Research and Education massively open online course (ParaMOOC 2023) devoted to the theme of “Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists,” which was hosted by the Alvarado-Zingrone Institute for Research and Education (AZIRE) and supported by the Parapsychology Foundation.
This paper aims to address this issue by reviewing certain parapsychological findings which seem to have some implications for the concept of place memory, as well as for the theory of its possible establishment through psychokinesis as proposed by Pamela Heath (2004, 2005). At the very least, these findings would seem to suggest that place memory should not summarily be taken out of consideration as a working hypothesis, and that more research may be warranted in order to further explore its potential both as a genuine psi-related phenomenon and as a developing theoretical concept for alternately thinking about veridical hauntings.
Originally presented on March 21, 2023, as part of the Parapsychology: Research and Education massively open online course (ParaMOOC 2023) devoted to the theme of "Apparitions, Hauntings, & Poltergeists," which was hosted by the Alvarado-Zingrone Institute for Research and Education (AZIRE). It is meant to be complementary to the ParaMOOC talk "How Mind-Matter Interaction May Play a Role in Place Memory" given by Pamela Rae Heath on March 20, 2023 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b57DhieuVmM).