parapsychologists

Parapsychologists are researchers who study phenomena that are claimed to lie beyond ordinary sensory channels, collectively known as psi. The core topics include telepathy, clairvoyance and remote viewing, precognition, and psychokinesis. Some researchers also investigate anomalous experiences such as near-death experiences, apparitions, and claims of reincarnation. The goal is to test for psi under controlled conditions, understand possible mechanisms, and assess the reliability and theoretical implications of such phenomena.

Research in parapsychology relies on experimental and field methods, including standardized laboratory tasks, randomized trials, and meta-analyses. Common experimental approaches have included Ganzfeld procedures, card-guessing protocols, and remote-viewing experiments, as well as investigations of spontaneous experiences and physiological measurements.

Historical roots extend to the late 19th century with the Society for Psychical Research, and the mid-20th century with J. B. Rhine's laboratory work on ESP at Duke University, which popularized experimental methods. Contemporary parapsychology is pursued in university-affiliated labs, independent research centers such as the Rhine Research Center, and professional associations like the Parapsychological Association.

Reception in the broader scientific community is mixed and generally skeptical. Critics emphasize small samples, methodological flaws, nonreplication, and statistical concerns, while supporters cite meta-analytic results and robust protocols as evidence for psi. No psi phenomenon has achieved wide consensus as a proven effect, and parapsychology remains a controversial, fringe area of inquiry in science.