DOCSLIB.ORG

An Examination and Explanation of Paranormal Phenomena As a Legitimate and Significant Area of Communication Studies

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Examination and Explanation of Paranormal Phenomena As a Legitimate and Significant Area of Communication Studies Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1977 An Examination and Explanation of Paranormal Phenomena as a Legitimate and Significant Area of Communication Studies Leonard O. Sowers Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the Communication Technology and New Media Commons, and the Mass Communication Commons Recommended Citation Sowers, Leonard O., "An Examination and Explanation of Paranormal Phenomena as a Legitimate and Significant Area of Communication Studies" (1977). Master's Theses. 2293. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/2293 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AN EXAMINATION AND EXPLANATION OF PARANOHMAL PHENOMENA AS A LEGITIMATE AND SIGNIFICANT AREA OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES by Leonard O. Sowers, Jr. A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Arts Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1977 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In writing this thesis, I have benefited from the encouragement, advice, and constructive criticism of Professors Loren Crane, William Buys, George Robeck, and Michael Geis. My thanks go to them, as to the many others at Western Michigan University, who have given much needed help. The financial benefits of an Assistantship in the Depart­ ment of Humanities have made my pursuit and desire to obtain the Master of Arts degree a reality. Finally, and most importantly, my deepest gratitude goes out to my wife, Leslie, for her unselfish understanding throughout the duration of this project's undertaking. Leonard 0. Sowers, Jr. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS This material was produced from a microfilm copy of the original document. While the most advanced technological means to photograph and reproduce this document have been used, the quality is heavily dependent upon the quality of the original submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help you understand markings or patterns which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or "target" for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is "Missing Page(s)". If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting thru an image and duplicating adjacent pages to insure you complete continuity. 2. When an image on the film is obliterated with a large round black mark, it is an indication that the photographer suspected that the copy may have moved during exposure and thus cause a blurred image. You will find a good image of the page in the adjacent frame. 3. When a map, drawing or chart, etc., was part of the material being photographed the photographer followed a definite method in "sectioning" the material. It is customary to begin photoing at the upper left hand corner of a large sheet and to continue photoing from left to right in equal sections with a small overlap. If necessary, sectioning is continued again — beginning below the first row and continuing on until complete. 4. The majority of users indicate that the textual content is of greatest value, however, a somewhat higher quality reproduction could be made from "photographs" if essential to the understanding of the dissertation. Silver prints of "photographs" may be ordered at additional charge by writing the Order Department, giving the catalog number, title, author and specific pages you wish reproduced. 5. PLEASE NOTE: Some pages may have indistinct print. Filmed as received. University Microfilms International 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 USA St. John's Road, Tyler's Green High Wycombe, Bucks, England HP10 8HR Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. I MASTERS THESIS 13-10,492 SOWERS, Leonard Odell, Jr. AN EXAMINATION AND EXPLANATION OF PARANORMAL PHENOMENA AS A LEGITIMATE AND SIGNIFICANT AREA OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES. Western Michigan University, M.A., 1977 Mass Communications Xerox University Microfilms,Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM.................... 1 Statement of the P r o b l e m ...................... 1 Need for the S t u d y ............................ 2 Definition of Terms ............................ 3 II REVIEW OF THE L I T E RATURE...................... 6 Legitimacy and Validity ........................ 6 I m p o r t a n c e ...................................... 18 Nature of Paranormal P h e n o m e n a .................. 23 III REINTERPRETATION OF THE D A T A .....................33 Statement of the Conclusions.................... 33 Conclusion One . , .............................. 34 Conclusion T w o .................................. 39 Conclusion Three .............................. 40 Recommendations.................................. 43 REFERENCES...................................... 45 BIBLIOGRAPHY.................................... 47 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM This study was intended to determine whether extrasensory per­ ception and projection (ESP) or paranormal phenomena are important means of communication, and whether such phenomena are legitimate areas of academic study. The study was undertaken from a bibliographical or historical approach. The survey approach was immediately ruled inapplicable by the investigator as not truly addressing the nature of the problem. Initially, much consideration was given to the experimental approach. However, while reviewing the literature in an attempt to lay a foundation for subsequent experimental consideration of the problem area, the investigator determined such a foundation to be lacking. This failure to find a proper and suitable foundation prompted the investigator to utilize the historical or bibliographical approach. It was the purpose of the study to lay such a foundation. As will be seen, the study focused essentially on three criteria: legitimacy, importance and the nature of paranormal phenomena. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM The study (culminating in this report) sought to resolve three questions. 1. Is extrasensory perception a valid phenomenon and/or a legitimate area of academic and scientific study? 2. Is extrasensory perception an important means of communica­ tion? 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 3. What is the nature of extrasensory perception? NEED FOR THE STUDY The investigator initially observed that a number of people would probably question the need for any such examination of paranormal phe­ nomena in the first place. There are those who "intuitively know" that paranormal phenomena are real occurrences. Alternatively, there are those who have no doubt that such phenomena are, of course, impossible. Both groups, in the investigator's opinion, best illustrated the im­ portance and need for the study. Attitudes (especially in the United States) towards paranormal phenomena consisted of reactive emotional impressions with little if any regard given to a determination of the facts. In the investigator's opinion such attitudes (whether suppor­ tive or critical of the validity of paranormal phenomena) were both unscientific and damaging to the serious consideration of these phe­ nomena. Indeed, Leathers (1976) identified the "true believer" in ESP as a major obstacle to acceptance of serious research in this area: "... the true believer also presents a problem for the dedi­ cated parapsychologist. Ironically, the disbelievers in psychic phe­ nomena often disbelieve because they find the true believers so un­ believable." (p. 170). Leathers went on to say "The field of extra­ sensory perception and extrasensory communication has often been attacked because of the gullibility of the true believer ..." (p. 190). The need for the study was further underscored by the lack of a comprehensive method for consistently describing the significant var­ iables in the examination of paranormal phenomena. In the review of Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. the literature it will he seen that there were practically as many theories attempting to explain paranormal phenomena as there were authors on the subject. Generally, these theories were marked by in­ ternal inconsistencies, a lack of credibility, and a failure to ex­ trapolate explanations of the authors' selected phenomena to other phenomena worthy of serious consideration. The investigator observed a final but equally important need for undertaking the study. Overall, the history of psychic research to date in the United States (as well as elsewhere in the world) had been limited to those in the discipline of psychology (parapsychology being an offshoot of psychology). The investigator observed the importance of (l) examining
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Remote Viewing by Tim Rifat Introduction
    Remote Viewing by Tim Rifat Introduction At the height of the Cold War, a new twist to weapons development occurred. The Soviet Union systematised its investigations in to how to harness the paranormal and use it for military purposes. What in other times was seen as magic or witchcraft -laying a curse, predicting the future, having second sight - had already gained scientific respectability in the USSR with the recognition of clairvoyance and the acceptance of psychic phenomena; research into telepathy had started in the Soviet Union in the twenties and thirties. However it was stopped by Stalin, who thought it smacked of idealism and superstition. Now the Russians plunged into a large-scale research programme. Billions of roubles were poured into the investigation and development of psychic energy (psi) and electronic mind-control technology. To convince hard-nosed military men that psychic phenomena can win wars may, on the face of it, appear to be a forlorn task. In fact, it happened the other way, around as some of the leading minds in the Russian military convinced their leaders to spend fortunes on this effort. Science fiction writers have not come close to the reality of the actual research undertaken since then. The aim was no less than to produce psychic agents, capable of visualizing top-secret sites and installations located thousands of miles away, reading the minds of their country’s enemies, intervening and altering thought processes, and even killing through psychic attack. The first step was the development of remote viewing. People displaying psychic sensitivity were sought out all over the USSR and trained under the strictest secrecy as spies with a difference.
    [Show full text]
  • {FREE} Limitless Mind: a Guide to Remote Viewing Kindle
    LIMITLESS MIND: A GUIDE TO REMOTE VIEWING PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Russell Targ | 176 pages | 03 Mar 2004 | NEW WORLD LIBRARY | 9781577314134 | English | Novato, CA, United States Limitless Mind by Targ Russell Forgotten password Please enter your email address below and we'll send you a link to reset your password. Not you? Reset password. Download Now Dismiss. Reserve online, pay on collection. Or, add to basket , pay online, collect in as little as 2 hours, subject to availability. Your order is now being processed and we have sent a confirmation email to you at. This item can be requested from the shops shown below. If this item isn't available to be reserved nearby, add the item to your basket instead and select 'Deliver to my local shop' UK shops only at the checkout, to be able to collect it from there at a later date. When will my order be ready to collect? Following the initial email, you will be contacted by the shop to confirm that your item is available for collection. Call us on or send us an email at. Learn More - opens in a new window or tab. Report item - opens in a new window or tab. Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing. Item specifics Condition: Like New: A book that looks new but has been read. Cover has no visible wear, and the dust jacket if applicable is included for hard covers. May be very minimal identifying marks on the inside cover. Very minimal wear and tear. See all condition definitions - opens in a new window or tab Read more about the condition.
    [Show full text]
  • The Body in Wellbeing Spirituality
    JAY JOHNSTON The body in Wellbeing Spirituality Self, spirit beings and the politics of difference Introduction New religious movements of the nineteenth century—notably the Theo­ sophical Society and Spiritualism—endowed western culture with an ener­ getic concept of the self: that is, with a model of the body that proposed the individual to be constituted by a ‘spiritual’ or subtle substance. This model of the body—the subtle body—was not new to western esoteric traditions, however, its presentation at this time melded with subtle body schemes from Hindu traditions (primarily Yoga traditions) and provided the groundwork for the popularisation of a concept of the body and self as being comprised of an energetic anatomy. This model of the self has continued unabated into con­ temporary consumer culture and underpins the vast majority of mind–body concepts in Complementary and Alternative Medical (CAM) practices. This article is concerned with the subtle body models currently found in Wellbeing Spirituality healing modalities. In particular, it considers their ontological and metaphysical propositions with regard to an ethics of difference: both ener­ getic and cultural. Therefore, two distinct types of discourse will be examined and discussed: that of popular culture and that of Continental philosophy (especially feminist and post­structural). Both provide methods for under­ standing the enduring popularity of subtle body concepts of the self and the challenging ethical relations that the model presupposes. ‘Difference’ herein refers to the term’s use in the Continental philosophic­ al tradition, in particular following the thought of Emmanuel Levinas in the proposition of a radical difference, or alterity.
    [Show full text]
  • What They Donâ•Žt Want You to Know About Planet X: Surviving 2012
    University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Communication Studies Faculty Publications Communication Studies 7-25-2014 What They Don’t Want You to Know About Planet X: Surviving 2012 and the Aesthetics of Conspiracy Rhetoric Ian Reyes University of Rhode Island, [email protected] Jason K. Smith Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/com_facpubs The University of Rhode Island Faculty have made this article openly available. Please let us know how Open Access to this research benefits you. This is a pre-publication author manuscript of the final, published article. Terms of Use This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable towards Open Access Policy Articles, as set forth in our Terms of Use. Citation/Publisher Attribution Reyes, Ian and Jason K. Smith. "What They Don't Want You to Know About Planet X: Surviving 2012 and the Aesthetics of Conspiracy Rhetoric." Communication Quarterly, vol. 62, no. 4, 2014, pp. 399-415. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2014.922483. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01463373.2014.922483 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Communication Studies at DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication Studies Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact [email protected]. “What They Don’t Want You to Know About Planet X: Surviving 2012 and the Aesthetics of Conspiracy Rhetoric” Ian Reyes Department of Communication Studies Harrington School of Communication and Media University of Rhode Island Davis Hall Kingston, RI 02881 [email protected] Jason K.
    [Show full text]
  • Remote Viewing Can Enhance the Auditing Process Stephen L
    Review of Business Information Systems – Third Quarter 2010 Volume 14, Number 3 Remote Viewing Can Enhance The Auditing Process Stephen L. Woehrle, Minnesota State University, Mankato, USA ABSTRACT Remote viewing is a branch of parapsychology involving mental telepathy to view targeted objects. Significant studies and applications are cited that have legitimized remote viewing as a credible and valuable technique. This paper explores the application of remote viewing to some aspects of the auditing process. The author’s premise is that remote viewing can be used to detect anomalies in accounting systems. Its most relevant use may be for assessment questioning in a fraud investigation. Keywords: Remote viewing, fraud investigation, auditing techniques INTRODUCTION emote viewing is defined as the ability to experience and describe events beyond normal perception. It could also be called enhanced intuition, unconventional internal perception, or sixth sense. The term was coined by Laser Physicists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ, in 1972, while working at the Stanford Research R1 Institute . Starting in the mid 1970s, The United States’ Department of Defense contributed over $23 million dollars to the Stanford Research Institute for the development of remote viewing techniques and applications, over a 20 year period. Some of those applications included the 1988 location of the shipwrecked Brig, Leander, in the Bahamas; the location of the kidnapped Patricia Hearst in 1974; and the location of a nuclear Soviet Bomber during the Carter Administration.2 U.S. research found that physics and psychology merge in the study of remote viewing abilities, because the human mind is linked to other connections by way of natural phenomena.
    [Show full text]
  • Soma and Haoma: Ayahuasca Analogues from the Late Bronze Age
    ORIGINAL ARTICLE Journal of Psychedelic Studies 3(2), pp. 104–116 (2019) DOI: 10.1556/2054.2019.013 First published online July 25, 2019 Soma and Haoma: Ayahuasca analogues from the Late Bronze Age MATTHEW CLARK* School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Department of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University of London, London, UK (Received: October 19, 2018; accepted: March 14, 2019) In this article, the origins of the cult of the ritual drink known as soma/haoma are explored. Various shortcomings of the main botanical candidates that have so far been proposed for this so-called “nectar of immortality” are assessed. Attention is brought to a variety of plants identified as soma/haoma in ancient Asian literature. Some of these plants are included in complex formulas and are sources of dimethyl tryptamine, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and other psychedelic substances. It is suggested that through trial and error the same kinds of formulas that are used to make ayahuasca in South America were developed in antiquity in Central Asia and that the knowledge of the psychoactive properties of certain plants spreads through migrants from Central Asia to Persia and India. This article summarizes the main arguments for the botanical identity of soma/haoma, which is presented in my book, The Tawny One: Soma, Haoma and Ayahuasca (Muswell Hill Press, London/New York). However, in this article, all the topics dealt with in that publication, such as the possible ingredients of the potion used in Greek mystery rites, an extensive discussion of cannabis, or criteria that we might use to demarcate non-ordinary states of consciousness, have not been elaborated.
    [Show full text]
  • Paranormal Beliefs: Using Survey Trends from the USA to Suggest a New Area of Research in Asia
    Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research - ISSN 2288-6168 (Online) 279 Vol. 2 No.4 August 2015: 279-306 http://dx.doi.org/10.15206/ajpor.2015.2.4.279 Paranormal Beliefs: Using Survey Trends from the USA to Suggest a New Area of Research in Asia Jibum Kim1 Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea Cory Wang Nick Nuñez NORC at the University of Chicago, USA Sori Kim Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea Tom W. Smith NORC at the University of Chicago, USA Neha Sahgal Pew Research Center, USA Abstract Americans continue to have beliefs in the paranormal, for example in UFOs, ghosts, haunted houses, and clairvoyance. Yet, to date there has not been a systematic gathering of data on popular beliefs about the paranormal, and the question of whether or not there is a convincing trend in beliefs about the paranormal remains to be explored. Public opinion polling on paranormal beliefs shows that these beliefs have remained stable over time, and in some cases have in fact increased. Beliefs in ghosts (25% in 1990 to 32% in 2005) and haunted houses (29% in 1990, 37% in 2001) have all increased while beliefs in clairvoyance (26% in 1990 and 2005) and astrology as scientific (31% in 2006, 32% in 2014) have remained stable. Belief in UFOs (50%) is highest among all paranormal beliefs. Our findings show that people continue to hold beliefs about the paranormal despite their lack of grounding in science or religion. Key Words: Paranormal beliefs, ghosts, astrology, UFOs, clairvoyance 1 All correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jibum Kim at Department of Sociology, Sungkyunkwan University, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-745, Republic of Korea or by email at [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • The Science of Mediumship and the Evidence of Survival
    Rollins College Rollins Scholarship Online Master of Liberal Studies Theses 2009 The cS ience of Mediumship and the Evidence of Survival Benjamin R. Cox III [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarship.rollins.edu/mls Recommended Citation Cox, Benjamin R. III, "The cS ience of Mediumship and the Evidence of Survival" (2009). Master of Liberal Studies Theses. 31. http://scholarship.rollins.edu/mls/31 This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by Rollins Scholarship Online. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master of Liberal Studies Theses by an authorized administrator of Rollins Scholarship Online. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Science of Mediumship and the Evidence of Survival A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Liberal Studies by Benjamin R. Cox, III April, 2009 Mentor: Dr. J. Thomas Cook Rollins College Hamilton Holt School Master of Liberal Studies Winter Park, Florida This project is dedicated to Nathan Jablonski and Richard S. Smith Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................... 1 The Science of Mediumship.................................................................... 11 The Case of Leonora E. Piper ................................................................ 33 The Case of Eusapia Palladino............................................................... 45 My Personal Experience as a Seance Medium Specializing
    [Show full text]
  • Shamanic Wisdom, Parapsychological Research and a Transpersonal View: a Cross-Cultural Perspective Larissa Vilenskaya Psi Research
    International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 15 | Issue 3 Article 5 9-1-1996 Shamanic Wisdom, Parapsychological Research and a Transpersonal View: A Cross-Cultural Perspective Larissa Vilenskaya Psi Research Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Psychology Commons, and the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Vilenskaya, L. (1996). Vilenskaya, L. (1996). Shamanic wisdom, parapsychological research and a transpersonal view: A cross-cultural perspective. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 15(3), 30–55.. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 15 (3). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies/vol15/iss3/5 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SHAMANIC WISDOM, PARAPSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND A TRANSPERSONAL VIEW: A CROSS-CULTURAL ' PERSPECTIVE LARISSA VILENSKAYA PSI RESEARCH MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA, USA There in the unbiased ether our essences balance against star weights hurled at the just now trembling scales. The ecstasy of life lives at this edge­ the body's memory of its immutable homeland. -Osip Mandelstam (1967, p. 124) PART I. THE LIGHT OF KNOWLEDGE: IN PURSUIT OF SLAVIC WISDOM TEACHINGS Upon the shores of afar sea A mighty green oak grows, And day and night a learned cat Walks round it on a golden chain.
    [Show full text]
  • A Handbook for Practicing the Original Reiki of Usui and Hay Pdf, Epub, Ebook
    LIGHT ON THE ORIGINS OF REIKI: A HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICING THE ORIGINAL REIKI OF USUI AND HAY PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Tadao Yamaguchi | 195 pages | 01 Jan 2008 | LOTUS PRESS | 9780914955658 | English | Wisconsin, United States Light on the Origins of Reiki: A Handbook for Practicing the Original Reiki of Usui and Hay PDF Book Transcriptions Revised Romanization yeonggi. Read an excerpt of this book! Parapsychology Death and culture Parapsychology Scientific literacy. Adrenal fatigue Aerotoxic syndrome Candida hypersensitivity Chronic Lyme disease Electromagnetic hypersensitivity Heavy legs Leaky gut syndrome Multiple chemical sensitivity Wilson's temperature syndrome. Learn the basics, get attuned, and develop a solid self-care and meditation practice. Reiki is a Spiritual Discipline. Melissa Fotheringham rated it it was amazing Feb 10, Invest in Yourself. Four Faces is an adventurous survey of a universe that is deeper than science can measure. Learn how to enable JavaScript on your browser. Reiki is a powerful healing energy. Level I and II required. None of these have any counterpart in the physical world. None of the studies in the review provided a rationale for the treatment duration and no study reported adverse effects. More filters. Jack Tips. By spreading the course over 8 or more lessons, you get the time to incorporate the Reiki energy into daily life. Members for A. Master Level. Pseudoscientific healing technique. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The existence of qi has not been established by medical research. Kathia Munoz rated it really liked it Jan 28, You can learn Reiki so that you can become a conduit for helping others, or you can learn it for your own spiritual development.
    [Show full text]
  • Pseudoscience and Science Fiction Science and Fiction
    Andrew May Pseudoscience and Science Fiction Science and Fiction Editorial Board Mark Alpert Philip Ball Gregory Benford Michael Brotherton Victor Callaghan Amnon H Eden Nick Kanas Geoffrey Landis Rudi Rucker Dirk Schulze-Makuch Ru€diger Vaas Ulrich Walter Stephen Webb Science and Fiction – A Springer Series This collection of entertaining and thought-provoking books will appeal equally to science buffs, scientists and science-fiction fans. It was born out of the recognition that scientific discovery and the creation of plausible fictional scenarios are often two sides of the same coin. Each relies on an understanding of the way the world works, coupled with the imaginative ability to invent new or alternative explanations—and even other worlds. Authored by practicing scientists as well as writers of hard science fiction, these books explore and exploit the borderlands between accepted science and its fictional counterpart. Uncovering mutual influences, promoting fruitful interaction, narrating and analyzing fictional scenarios, together they serve as a reaction vessel for inspired new ideas in science, technology, and beyond. Whether fiction, fact, or forever undecidable: the Springer Series “Science and Fiction” intends to go where no one has gone before! Its largely non-technical books take several different approaches. Journey with their authors as they • Indulge in science speculation—describing intriguing, plausible yet unproven ideas; • Exploit science fiction for educational purposes and as a means of promoting critical thinking; • Explore the interplay of science and science fiction—throughout the history of the genre and looking ahead; • Delve into related topics including, but not limited to: science as a creative process, the limits of science, interplay of literature and knowledge; • Tell fictional short stories built around well-defined scientific ideas, with a supplement summarizing the science underlying the plot.
    [Show full text]
  • Para Psychic Beliefs in Iran and Germany – Gender and Age Differences in Two Countries
    Para psychic Beliefs in Iran and Germany – Gender and age differences in two countries Der Gemeinsamen Fakultät der Geistes – und Sozialwissenschaften der Universität Hannover zur Erlangung des Grades eines Doktors der Philosophie ( Dr. Phil. ) genehmigte Dissertation von Mohammad Reza Taheri geboren am 30. 03. 1961 in Iran / Teheran Referent: 1 – Prof. Dr. Alois Wacker 2 – Prof. Dr. Ingolf Ehlers 3 – Prof. Dr. Dietrich Eggert Tag der Promotion: 02. 06. 03 Table Of Contents Page Abstract ......................................................... 1 Zusammenfassung ......................................................... 2 Glossary & Schlagworte …………………………………….. 3 Introduction ......................................................... 4 – 9 Aim of the Study ......................................................... 9 Hypotheses ........................................................ 9 – 10 Method Subjects ........................................................ 10 – 12 Procedure ........................................................ 12 – 13 Results ........................................................ 13 - 15 Principal Components Analysis ........................................................ 15 – 25 First Hypothesis ........................................................ 25 – 31 Second Hypothesis ........................................................ 31 – 40 Third Hypothesis ........................................................ 40 – 58 Discussion ........................................................ 59 – 63 Conclusions, Implication
    [Show full text]