{"id":171,"date":"2008-02-29T21:28:05","date_gmt":"2008-03-01T01:28:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blogx\/?p=286"},"modified":"2008-02-29T21:28:05","modified_gmt":"2008-03-01T01:28:05","slug":"ten-questions-with-dr-caroline-watt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=171","title":{"rendered":"Ten Questions with Dr Caroline Watt"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. What is parapsychology? <\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s the scientific study of the factors underlying apparently paranormal experiences. At the Koestler Parapsychology Unit, we\u2019ve always taken a broad approach to this topic, including (for example) \u2018what\u2019s not psychic but looks like it\u2019, the psychology of paranormal belief, and the social and historical context of paranormal experiences and beliefs. So for us it\u2019s not solely about testing the psi hypothesis (psi being the blanket name for paranormal abilities \u2013 pronounced \u2018sigh\u2019).<\/p>\n

2. According to the Parapsychological Association\u2019s website you completed a part-time PhD on the topic \u201cThe Relationship Between Performance on a Prototype Measure of Perceptual Defense\/Vigilance and Psi Performance\u201d. Um, what is that?<\/strong>
\nYes, it\u2019s a snappy title, eh? Basically, it was looking at similarities between subliminal perception and extrasensory perception.<\/p>\n

3. Can you explain to our readers what the term \u201cexperimenter effect\u201d means? <\/strong>
\nIn parapsychology, it refers to the situation where certain experimenters seem to consistently obtain evidence for psi, whilst others seem to always get chance results. In psychology, it refers to the situation where the experimenter inadvertently influences the participant in his or her experiment, often to give results in line with the experimenter\u2019s expectations. My studies have suggested that an important factor in parapsychology\u2019s experimenter effect is the experimenter\u2019s own belief in the paranormal.<\/p>\n

4. What makes replicability important to parapsychology?<\/strong>
\nReplicability would occur if parapsychologists could discover the \u2018recipe\u2019 for obtaining evidence for psi in their laboratory studies. It is important first because if we had a replicable effect then we could make quicker progress in understanding psi, and second because most scientists believe that if a claimed experimental effect is not replicable, then it is probably not valid, and third\u2026 there is no third.<\/p>\n

5. I know this is a broad question, but can you tell us your thoughts on the psychology of paranormal beliefs and experiences?<\/strong>
\nBecause most paranormal experiences occur out in the real world, I think there is a huge amount of psychology going on with these experiences (the role of expectancy, belief, memory, suggestibility, motivation, for example). While some people believe in the paranormal because of an experience that they have had, about half believe for other reasons (e.g., religious or other world views, and hearing about paranormal phenomena in the media etc.) \u2013 so it\u2019s a really complicated issue. Because of this, most parapsychologists turn to more controlled laboratory settings, with more artificial tests (for better or for worse), when trying to formally test whether there is any evidence for psi.<\/p>\n

6. What do you think about television shows that touch on parapsychological topics, like \u201cSea of Souls\u201d?<\/strong>
\nI can\u2019t bear to watch them! I can usually only last a few seconds before switching off because their depictions are so, ummm, \u2018colourful\u2019 \u2013 after all, these programmes are coming out of the entertainment strand, not factual.<\/p>\n

7. Being the acting head of the Koestler Parapsychology Unit at Edinburgh University I just have to ask\u2026haggis, delicious Scottish meal or paranormal phenomenon?<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t believe what the cryptozoologists say \u2013 there are no haggi running wild on the hills of Scotland! Delicious in my view \u2013 both the meaty and the vegetarian versions. MacSween\u2019s are the best!<\/p>\n

8. What is one thing that you would like every Average Joe to understand about parapsychology?<\/strong>
\nThere are lots of normal factors that can cause people to have experiences that look and feel paranormal, but are not. I really am not a raving skeptic \u2013 honest! \u2013 but it\u2019s so difficult to come to a clean conclusion on real-world, spontaneous paranormal experiences, that I think we have to turn to laboratory settings in order to be more confident about our conclusions.<\/p>\n

9. On behalf of an estimated \u00be of our readers and my husband, how can I be you when I grow up?<\/strong>
\nI think you need to have a good training in methodology, statistics, and critical thinking. A degree in psychology would be a good starting point. After that, you need to get a feel for what\u2019s already out there in parapsychology-land \u2013 see my answer to question 10.<\/p>\n

10. Parting shot! Ask us here at The Magical Buffet any one question?<\/strong>
\nI am thinking of setting up a distance learning (i.e. online) \u2018introduction to parapsychology\u2019 course \u2013 would you be interested?<\/p>\n

Interested? I already went to your website and took the survey to express my interest.<\/em><\/p>\n

About Dr Watt<\/strong>
\n $\"\"$ <\/a>Dr Caroline Watt obtained her first degree in Psychology from the University of St Andrews in 1984, the year in which the University of Edinburgh announced that it would host the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology. The first Koestler Professor, Robert L. Morris, took up his post in late 1985. A few months later, Morris recruited Caroline Watt as his research assistant.
\nHaving been awarded a psychology PhD supervised by Morris, on the topic of perceptual defensiveness and extrasensory perception, Dr Watt continued to conduct parapsychological research and teach at the University\u2019s Department of Psychology, first as Research Fellow and then Senior Research Fellow.
\nDr Watt worked with Bob Morris until his death in 2004. She was then appointed to a Senior Lectureship in psychology, her current position. In 2004 she became a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bial Foundation. She served as President of the Parapsychological Association (PA) 2004-2005, and currently holds a position on the PA Board.<\/p>\n

Born in 1962 in Perthshire, Scotland, Caroline Watt lives in Edinburgh with her two sons.<\/p>\n

websites:
\nmy own website: http:\/\/carolinewatt.co.uk<\/a>
\nKoestler Parapsychology Unit site: http:\/\/moebius.psy.ed.ac.uk<\/a>
\nAnd for haggis\u2026 http:\/\/www.macsween.co.uk\/<\/a> (no, I am not on commission!)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"