Cognitive, Personality & Biological Factors How can we explain why some people experience PSI and other’s don’t? WHY do YOU think?

Cognitive Factors AO1 Wiseman and Watt (2006) 1.) Intelligence 2.) Finding links between distantly related objects Brugger et al (2002) suggests that ‘believers’ are more likely to see an image where it doesn actually exist. 3.) Probability misjudgment Brugger et al (1991) found that believers overestimate statistical sig. of events

Cognitive Factors AO2 1.) Intelligence argument: Studies have found conflicting evidence for role of IQ. Eg. in a New Scientist Survery (what type of person reads this?) – 67% regarded ESP as a FACT or VERY POSSIBLE! 2.) ++ SUPPORT for Brugger’s claim: Study: Brugger (2002) People with more Dopamine in brain = more likely to see a face or word where there isn’t one. Furthermore - when ‘non-believers’ given Dopamine – answer similarly to ‘believers’

Cognitive Factors AO2 Probability More ecologically valid studies have NOT found probability misjudgment to be linked to paranormal belief. Eg. Blackmore (1997)

Personality AO1 Neuroticism: Williams (2007) found a link between neuroticism & paranormal beliefs Why? Paranormal beliefs may help some people escape negative states. Locus of control – what is this?? Allen & Lester (1994) found a link between external locus of control and paranormal belief.

Personality AO2 Research may suggest that belief in paranormal activity is pathological. BUT links not found with other mental disorders. Must be careful no to ‘label’ or regard it as necessarily negative – in fact some research has found positive mental states link to paranormal belief (Clark, 1993)

Biological Factors AO1 1.) High levels of Dopamine 2.) Genes: Twin studies have found that Identical twins are more likely than non-identical twins to share the same religious beliefs.

So what could this mean for the research findings?? Biological Factors AO2 ++ Support (Brugger 2002): Study on levels of Dopamine and belief when nothing is there! BUT -- research is yet to be replicated… So what could this mean for the research findings??

How would YOU measure these things?? General AO2 The Question of Validity… Research validity depends on: 1.) The measure of what is potentially causing that belief (IV) 2.) The measure of belief (DV) How would YOU measure these things??

General AO2 If either tool used to measure is flawed.. Then this calls into question the validity of the results. (Eg. look at contradicting results found by Brugger & Blackmore) Measures of belief: Many different types are used. TASK: Design a questionnaire that you think adequately measure people’s belief in the paranormal. Some find correlations with certain behaviors and others don’t EG. Locus of control measures only correlate positively with specific measure of paranormal belief.