Mediumship accuracy: a quantitative and qualitative study with a triple-blind protocol

Abstract

In this study 9 mediums produced 38 pairs of results for readings related to 38 deceased individuals chosen by 36 sitters using a triple-blind protocol with no direct interaction with the sitters themselves. In this protocol, the medium was only provided with the deceased’s name by the interviewer, the latter having no further knowledge about the deceased. In each session the medium was asked to provide information about each deceased person. This information, excluding generic details, was entered into two anonymous lists. The information of these two readings were sent to the research assistant charged with maintaining contact with the sitters. Each sitter was asked to assign a value to each piece of information listed on a four- point Likert scale from ‘totally wrong’ to ‘totally correct’, and to provide a global score for each reading result. Quantitative data indicate that the sitters correctly recognized the results pertaining to their deceased loved one 65.8% of the time. Furthermore, results which were correctly identified had on average 29.5% more correct information than the results judged as wrong. Qualitative data indicate that mediums attain information both passively and actively, as if they were directly interacting with the deceased. This study provides further proof that some mediums are able to obtain accurate information about deceased people from only knowing the deceased’s name, and with no interaction with sitters; it also supports the hypothesis that in some cases the sources of the information are the deceased themselves.

Exploring Cognitive Processes Used by Mediums During Alleged Communication with the Deceased

“…This type of research has produced a growing body of evidence suggesting that the information conveyed by mediums is often considered highly relevant by the intended recipient of the communication (Beischel & Schwartz, 2007;Roy & Robertson, 2001;Schwartz et al, 2003). However, despite recent studies being designed to eliminate conventional explanations (e. g., cold reading) and telepathy as explanations for the information received (Beischel & Schwartz, 2007) or other paranormal explanations such as super-psi (Tressoldi et al, 2021), the debate continues regarding the nature and source of this information (Beischel & Rock, 2009;Braude, 1992Braude, , 2014Sudduth, 2009).…”