Approved For Release 2000/08/07 ;,CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1 Se CRET ‘S-15,083/DT-5A THRU: weg Background Paper for SUBJECT: Recent Adverse Publicity on Parapsychological Research (U) aa ae z 1. (S) PURPOSE: To provide background on the recent adverse publicity in the event questions are raised regarding possible relationship to the DoD GRILL FLAME project. 2, (S) POINTS OF MAJOR INTERES’ a. (S) SUMMARY: A well-known magician recently released a story to TV and the press claiming that he succeeded in a hoax involving parapsychological research. This magician, Mr. dames Randi, claimed that parapsychological researchers at an academic facility in St. Louis, Missouri, were taken in by trickery, and that most, if not all of parapsychological research is suspect. These claims are in fact gross distortions, since the researchers involved never stated they had observed evidence of psychic ability in formal experiments. Since this controversy may raise questions on this research area in general, the basic difference between the academic laboratory under attack and the Do GRILL FLAME contractor (SRI International) are also discussed. It is shown that considerable differences exist, and that this recent negative Publicity should not have any adverse impact on the GRILL FLAME project. b. (U) DISCUSSION: (1) (U) Some aspects of parapsychological research in an academic laboratory have recently come under attack by a well-known magician, Mr. James Randi. In a press conference on 28 January 1983, Mr. Randi revealed details of @ hoax that he had designed to show weakness in the experimental techniques and protocol of the McDonnell Laboratory for Psychical Research, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. This hoax involved two teenage "plants," under Mr. Randi's tutelage, who attempted to demonstrate apparent psychic ability by use of trickery. This hoax spanned a 3-year period, and amounted to about 5 weeks of laboratory testing tine. (2) (U) Mr. Randi, in the January 1983 press release, claimed that the McDonnell Laboratory had been duped and that the researchers had fallen for a major hoax. These statements by Randi have received considerable TV and press attention recently (for example, see The Washington Post article on 1 March 1983, page 1: "Magicians Score a Hit on Scientific Researchers.") th (0T-SA) OADR. EG GOR Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-| 16-00788R001100360001-1Approved For Release 2000/07 (CY (3) (U) While it is true the McDonnel1 Laboratory researchers never declared publicly that they suspected a hoax was in progress, and even though they thought some of the early preliminary investigations (not formal scientific experiments) showed promise, they never claimed nor published anything that remotely indicated these ‘teenagers had valid psychic ability. In a 1 September 1981 press release, the laboratory researchers summarized ‘their work with these two individuals by the following: "... thus, although several events of interest have transpired, we do not claim that evidence conclusive of “psychic ability" has yet been’ demonstrated in our research." In fact, the McDonnell Laboratory discontinued research with these individuals in duly’ 1982 when it ‘became clear that they could not demonstrate psychic abilities under the tight controls of formal scientific experimentation. RI }-00788R001100360001-1 RET (4) (U) Thus, it is apparent that Mr, Randi has presented an extremely one-sided view of this hoax attempt. He even claims that all parapsychological research is of questionable value. Most TV and press coverage thus far also reflect these views. As a result, the general public is given highly biased perspectives of this research area in general. This could generate negative reactions toward all parapsychological research, even for those laboratories where controls are tight and where unsolicited subjects are not accepted. (5) (U) It is clear Mr. Randi is solely interested in promoting his image as a clever magician, and in enhancing his career as a showman, at the expense of reporting accuracy. The use of tactics involving “plants” raises significant ethical issues as well. c. (S) POSSIBLE QUERIES: This issue is brought to your attention in anticipation of questions that may arise during discussions with representatives of Congress regarding DoD GRILL FLAME activities. These people may associate the McDonnell Laboratory work with all parapsychological research (including the SRI effort). There are considerable differences between the McDonnell Laboratory research and the SRI effort in this field. d. (S) COMPARISON TO GRILL FLAME PROJECT: The DoD GRILL FLAME project relies on an on-site (DIA) monitor to insure that tight experimental protocols are in fact followed, and the target material used in the experiments or sessions is never disclosed until after all data is recorded. The types of experiments receiving the most severe attack by Mr. Randi involve Psychokinesis (PK), an aspect of parapsychology that is not examined under the SRI contract. PK experiments of the type conducted at the McDonnell Laboratory are inherently more difficult to fraud-proof than the investigations involving Jong distance remote viewing pursued at SRI. In additiion, the people used as remote viewers are not from open public volunteer sources. They have a long- time association with SRI personnel and are known to have extremely high ethical standards. SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1Approved For Release 2000/0B/OT AGIA ROPY4DOTEBROO! 400360001-1 3. (U) EXPECTED DEVELOPMENTS: a. (S) Consequently, this recent adverse publicity to the field of para~ psychology should not have any adverse impact on the GRILL FLAME project. It should in fact have an overall beneficial effect on open parapsychological Jaboratories that are not as tight in experimental technique and subject selection as they could be. b, (U) Should it become necessary, additional background can be provided on this matter. 4. (U) RECOMMENDATION: None. PREPARED BY: a APPROVED BY: Jack Veron Fick Urroae IT i 45860 SGiJ x41157 2 Enclosures 1. The Washington Post Article, 1 Mar 83, “Magicians Score a Hit on Scientific Researchers" (u) 1 cy 2. "Public Statements on Research ...," 1 Sep 81, McDonnell! ‘Laboratory for Psychical Research, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri (U) 1 cy SECRET Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1 Encl 1 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDP96-00788R001100360001-1 kK AARCH (983: ase Peep org Magicians Score a Hit On Scientific Researchers CPYRGHT By Philip J. Hilts During more than 120 hows of experiments ina university lab in St. Lous, two young men performed amazing feats ‘They bent dinnerware, moved objects without. touching them, spun rotors protected by glass covered! cases, moved the hands of watches and made a digital warned of “pay watch go haywirg ‘They saw through’ shielded” envelopes. ‘They made tiny fuses burn out suddonly, they created weird in ages on fl All were fakery. More than three years after the beginning of the experi ments, magician James Randi exposed the feats as one of the ftaken [Randi’s] help earlier,” but slyest scientific hoaxes in years. [lve added that he was glad that Randi said he masterminded fin the end “we never made any feonclusive claims” in print about ‘om now on, hhe end to accept CPYRGHT trusted hig research subjects completely and foels “there are ethical issues involved” in lying to researchers. AL one point, he said, ho was “80 percent sure” the psychie powers of the young men were real Now he says, “I should have the hon to show that scent research on psyehic powers is not_ [fhe psychics a scientific as it should be and that psychic researchers cefiwse from out of the help of magicians to design Ik the back: experiments th at fakery. ffeaind of those subjects. with Physicist Peter R. Phillips, ffvhorn he we director of the laboratory where |] Many experiments ia psychic Ue es said that he See HOAX, AT, Cal. 5 Approved For Release 2000/08/07 : CIA-RDPOSAOZPEROS! 100369091 be3/o7- SA