Controversies

Debate has always surrounded psychical research, not only over evidence but over methods, interpretation and standards of proof. This Skeptical Views subcategory gathers articles on major controversies in the field, outlining the issues at stake and the ways disputed claims have sharpened both criticism and further investigation.

Blackmore-Sargent Controversy – A Reconsideration

This article presents a new analysis of cheating accusations made by Susan Blackmore.

Cold Reading

Discusses the psychological strategies that can be used to simulate a mediumistic communication or psychic reading.

Criticisms of Reincarnation Case Studies

This article addresses objections critics have raised to the reincarnation case research of Ian Stevenson and others.

Fraud in Parapsychology and Other Sciences

Psi researchers have sometimes been caught in fraud but so have scientists in other fields.

The One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

Prize offered until 2015 by the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) but never awarded.