{"product_id":"elusive-quarry-9780879755041","title":"Elusive Quarry","description":"\u003cp\u003eEver since the Society for Psychical Research was founded over a hundred years ago  parapsychologists have been attempting to prove the existence of paranormal phenomena - things like clairvoyance  telepathy  precognition  and remote viewing. This research into what is now often called \"psi\" has become increasingly technical. \"Controlled\" laboratory experiments have replaced \"systematic surveys of spontaneous occurrences\"; complicated statistical analyses have replaced anecdotal data. In short  psychical research has aspired to the standards of \"hard science.\"With what results? Ray Hyman is supremely qualified to say. A research psychologist held in the highest esteem by both parapsychologists and skeptics  Ray Hyman here reviews the history and methods of psychical research. The Elusive Quarry is Hymans fascinating  fair-minded critique of the field  a book designed not to debunk but to discern.In Part 1  \"Parapsychology \" Hyman gives us a historical overview: Over the past hundred years  what have been the strongest claims made for the paranormal? Hyman gives close scrutiny to what have been called \"ganzfeld experiments \" a body of research considered by parapsychologists to be especially compelling. Part 2  \"Scientists and the Paranormal \" focuses on the scientists themselves - from Michael Faraday and Sir William Crookes in the last century to Helmut Schmidt and his recent work with random-event generators. Scientists have been interacting with an admittedly unique group of people: psychics. Are their methods of testing and reporting appropriate for the phenomena under examination?Hyman steps outside of the laboratory for his books third part  \"Psychic Phenomena \" and evaluates the claims of \"water witching \" occult healing  and remote viewing. In doing so  he demonstrates that ones interpretation of scientific data is strongly affected by ones underlying belief - or lack of belief - in paranormal phenomena.In Part 4  \"The Psychology of Belief \" Hyman vividly explains \"cold reading\" - that ability psychics have to convince strangers that they know all about them. Its an ability anybody can develop  Hyman says. The psychology is common  not psychic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45647904899125,"sku":"ByrdShop_0879755040","price":31.73,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780879755041.jpg?v=1781699643","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/elusive-quarry-9780879755041","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}