Poltergeist

[Tiberius]

Yes it could be down to chance. However, I have cited 39 experiments which arrived at a higher than expected hit rate.

No, you have stated without evidence that 39 experiments arrived at a higher than expected hit rate. Citing involves actually referencing the experiments.

The chances of all of these experiments becoming victims of chance independently of each other is rather ludicrous in my opinion. Indeed Hyman (a noted sceptic) and Honorton both concluded that the chances of all the results of the Ganzfeld experiments being down to chance as unfounded. Perhaps you can tell me why you consider the Ganzfeld experiments all down to chance? Perhaps you have conducted or come across a study I am not aware of which proves Hyman and Honorton wrong?

I don't consider them all down to chance, I just questioned your math that led to a 10 million to 1 chance that people could get have a 2/5 score rather than a 1/5 score. If these studies are true then there is evidently something other than chance happening. Whatever that something is, is unknown. It still takes a massive leap to go from this to "psychic energy exists". Unless you know of an empirical experiment that can demonstrate psychic energy.

The method of randomisation varies between experiments. I think the similarities between the results of the different randomisation procedures means that the chance of all the positive hits above the statistical threshold being down to insufficient randomisation are slim to none.

Or...all the randomness methods could have the same flaw. You still didn't answer my question, which was what randomness methods were involved.

The majority of the studies cited I have read out with the internet hence giving you a link is difficult. The Wikipedia page holds sufficient information to give a brief outline though http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganzfeld_experiment

Up until now you have not cited anything. If the studies you have stated are on the internet, then I would have thought that giving a link would have been quite easy? The Wikipedia page is very useful, because it gives a nice debunk similar to what I have stated (about the experiments not proving anything, and the effectiveness of randomness procedures)

However, this seems to be the only viable hypothesis put forward at the present time hence I will go with that until a better theory comes to the fore. Perhaps you have one?

Viable hypothesis? You have no reason other than preconceptions. There is literally no evidence that it even exists. You then decide that this hypothesis is a theory, and yet a theory is an explanation of the fact. Psychic is not an explanation, it is as useless as saying "God did it" to explain the origins of life. It's a non-answer.

The idea of psychic energy is related to the poltergeist phenomenon hence has a place in this thread. Poltergeist seem to come into being around children and young people when they are still in their formative period. I think that in this formative and ever changing period of life our brains/psyche change along with our bodies and this can sometimes create a poltergeist. However, the theory hinges on the existence of some form of psychic energy hence by presenting evidence for one I help the case of the other.

I'm still waiting for the evidence for Poltergeists, and if the "theory" (which it is not) relies on the existence of psychic energy, then you will need to provide the evidence of psychic energy as well. So far, you cited experiments that only show that something else might be at work. This isn't evidence of anything.