AIPR Certificate in Parapsychology—Unit Outline

Conspiracy and Controversy in Parapsychology [para-c05]

Scope

• the ‘real’ agenda of skeptics

• controversy in parapsychology

Essay Topic

Discuss the controversial nature of parapsychology.

NOTE: Essay must be no longer than 2000 words and formatted in APA-style[1]

  For a guideline in how to write essays, see:

  Writing Psychology Essays: A Student Guide   

Required Reading

Hansen, G. P. (2001a). CSICOP and the debunkers [Electronic version]. In G. P. Hansen, The trickster and the paranormal (Chapter 10). Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Corporation.   

Hansen, G. P. (2001b). Prominent “psychics” [Electronic version]. In G. P. Hansen, The trickster and the paranormal (Chapter 10). Philadelphia, PA: Xlibris Corporation. 

Radin, D. I. (1997). A field guide to skepticism [Electronic version]. In D. I. Radin, The conscious universe: The scientific truth of psychic phenomena (Chapter 13). San Francisco, CA: HarperCollins. 

Optional Reading

Bauer, E. (1984). Criticism and controversy in parapsychology—An overview [Electronic version]. European Journal of Parapsychology, 5, 141-166.

Hansen, G. P. (1992). CSICOP and the skeptics: An overview [Electronic version]. The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 86, 9-63.

Radin, D. I. (2005). What’s ahead? In M. A. Thalbourne & L. Storm (Eds.), Parapsychology in the 21^st century: Essays on the future of psychical research (Chapter 1). Jefferson, NC: McFarland.

Thalbourne, M. A. (1995). Science versus showmanship: A history of the Randi hoax. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 89, 344-366. 

Zingrone, N. L. (2002). Controversy and the problems of parapsychology. Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 3-30.

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