A diverse group of investigators consisting of university level researchers and self-described paranormal experiencers published data Tuesday from Project Core, a private venture in which surveys were professionally analyzed from over 200 individuals reporting experiences of paranormal phenomena. Respondents provided descriptions of their experiences and answered a variety of questions that investigators hope will pave the way to additional credible and scientific study.
"The survey responses suggest investigators have several exploitable opportunities," researchers stated in the 'Synopsis of Results', asserting a stance that contradicts the widespread interpretation that scientists are unable to investigate such reports in systematic manners.
Significant numbers of those surveyed reported experiencing multiple events with multiple witnesses, circumstances project personnel suggested provide researchers with opportunities to corroborate reports and possibly even anticipate future events. Physiological and medical conditions of reported experiencers could also be explored much more than is currently the case among researchers of the paranormal, Project Core suggested.
Surveys were collected via various online venues for a period of one year. Researchers clarified in initial survey instructions that information obtained through the use of hypnosis should not be submitted for consideration due to its low likelihood of accuracy.
"Creating an accurate, unbiased database of alien abduction experiences, one that is not predicated exclusively on hypnotic regression methods is long overdue," Project Core asserted, noting that past researchers have made almost no use of witnesses reporting unaided conscious recall of such events.
Reported experiences included perceptions of ufological, ghost and psychic phenomena. Respondents were asked to avoid providing interpretations of experiences, but to describe them as sincerely as possible, regardless of how bizarre. An extremely low percentage of respondents reported their experiences to be accurately portrayed in media.
"Our hypothesis was that, in order for this to be an accurate assertion," project personnel explained, "most of these accounts must in whole or in part contain elements that are so bizarre as to be edited out of the media narrative(s) and/or left aside as outlier data."
While analysis did not conclusively prove the hypothesis, researchers felt it revealed a trend in that direction too obvious to ignore. Additional findings deemed worthy of further research included, among others, potential correlations between IQ scores and levels of creativity reported by those perceiving paranormal events. Researchers also suggested that future initiatives would be well served to more effectively integrate technological advances, such as conducting cost effective DNA analysis and related forensic investigation procedures.
The Project Core team consists of Jeff Ritzmann, Jeremy Vaeni, Dr. Tyler A. Kokjohn, Dr. D. Ellen K. Tarr and Dr. Kimbal E. Cooper. The reports, which include a synopsis of results, graphical representations and summaries authored by team members, are freely available and may be viewed in full at projectcore.net.
