Pseudoscience & Scientific Status of Parapsychology

Objectivity; 

• Not affected by the expectations of the researcher
• Carefully controlled tests conditions in a lab

Empiricism; 

• Information is gained through observation or experiment rather than by reasoned argument or unfounded beliefs
• Direct Testing proves things to be true

Replicability; 

• Repeating observation or experiment
• If outcome is the same then it confirms original beliefsStandardised procedures

Rational;

• Facts alone are meaningful 
• Explanations and theories must be created to make sense of the facts
• Theory--> a collection of general principles explaining observations and facts
• Theories help predict supernatural and understand it

Falsifiable;

• Trying to prove a theory by setting out to disproof the theory so that you show the original theory is correct
• Non-falsifiable --> cannot be proven or disproven

Pseudoscience= False Science

Lacks Falsifiability;

• Aim of a scientific method is to test the hypothesis and prove its wrong (Falsify it)
• However, its not always possible as ESP for example is hard to prove either way
• Psychologists say a lack of support is due to sceptics and the phenomena disappearing under conditions
• Many of the hypothesis related to anomalous experience are of this nature making them Psedoscientific

Lacks Carefully Controlled Replicable Research;

• Many studies of paranormal phenonmenon claim to be highly controlled aren't  e.g. Ganzfield Studies which encouraged particular answers
• Many sceptics have failed to gain the same results as believers when following the same procedures which challenges objective nature of research e.g. Bem 2011

Lacks Theory to Explain Effect;

• Aim of Scientific Research to construct theories
• Most paranormal phenomena have not been given theoretical explanations e.g. How does ERP Work
• Psychical research will not attain scientific respectability until it has some agreed theoretical basis (Society for Psychical Research)

Burden of Proof Misplaced;

• Science--> burden of proof with believer not sceptic
• Supporters of psi phenomena say it is up to sceptics to disprove the reality of the psi phenomena
• Hard as its difficult to prove a photo is fake e.g. Cottingley Fairies

Lacks Ability to Change;

• Science: explanations are adapted as a result of hypothesis testing and scientist falls to find support= new hypothesis
• Psi Phenomena--> continued to be explained the same way for centuries despite lack of evidence