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Psi Research and Fraud
Michele Dinicastro

The most serious scholars in the field of psi research admit that the problem of fraud in this environment is very heartfelt and by now is well-known. This problem, however, does not make parapsychology different from the other sciences, in that it does not possess characteristics which predispose it to fraud any more than other fields of study. As a matter of fact, it is easily observed how, not only in all human social environments, but also in those of many animal species, it is possible to see certain deceptive behaviours. These are certainly evolutionary ruses that guarantee these species greater possibilities of survival and procreation.

Compared to the rare cases of fraud committed by parapsychologists, there are many cases of conscious and unconscious fraud among the subjects that they study, often of an ingenuous nature. The objectives which drive these people to commit fraud vary, yet are linked to particular psychological mechanisms.

Obviously, not even the detractors of parapsychology, the sceptics, are immune to fraud. This is a curious fact for who uses and has used for years the arguments of fraud and self-deception as principal weapons against parapsychology.

The antidotes that parapsychologists must adopt to combat fraud are rigorous scientific methodologies linked with strict investigational protocol and independent cross-checking of results by different researchers. The researcher must also keep in mind that if, in an experiment, there is even the remotest possibility that a subject has committed fraud, the results of that experiment must be considered invalid

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