1995 NRC Correspondence with CIA R&D on their views of Remote Viewing Studies
This one-page fax, sent May 5, 1995 from the National Research Council (NRC) to the CIA's Office of Research and Development, responds to a CIA request to have the NRC evaluate its remote viewing studies. Barbara Boyle Torrey, writing for the NRC's Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, references the Council's 1988 report 'Enhancing Human Performance: Issues, Theories and Techniques,' which included a section titled 'Scientific Assessment of Remote Viewing.' She quotes the report's conclusion that after roughly 15 years of study the literature on remote viewing produced 'only one possibly successful experiment' not seriously flawed in methodology, characterizing the case for remote viewing as 'not just very weak, but virtually nonexistent.' Torrey states that convening the NRC committee process for a limited set of studies so soon after the last report does not seem warranted, and offers the existing report to guide the CIA's own assessment. The document was released through the CIA Reading Room and marked 'Approved For Release 2003/04/18.' It bears redaction markers (SG1B, SG1I) consistent with the STAR GATE remote viewing program files.
Description
A May 5, 1995 fax from Barbara Boyle Torrey of the National Research Council's Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education to the CIA Office of Research and Development, declining to convene a new NRC committee to evaluate the CIA's remote viewing studies and citing the Council's 1988 report 'Enhancing Human Performance.'
Claims
The NRC declined to convene its committee process to evaluate the CIA's limited set of remote viewing studies so soon after its 1988 report.
90%The NRC declined to convene a committee to evaluate the CIA's remote viewing studies so soon after its 1988 report.
90%After approximately 15 years of claims, the remote viewing literature produced only one possibly successful experiment not seriously flawed in methodology.
60%By scientific and parapsychological standards the case for remote viewing is 'not just very weak, but virtually nonexistent.'
60%After approximately 15 years of research, the remote viewing literature produced only one possibly successful experiment not seriously flawed in methodology, providing only marginal evidence for ESP.
60%By scientific and parapsychological standards, the case for remote viewing is virtually nonexistent.
60%The prominence of remote viewing among proponents results from exaggerated claims and illusory correspondences between descriptions and target sites.
60%
Events
May 4, 1995
NRC fax to CIA declining remote viewing evaluation
NRC responds to CIA request to evaluate remote viewing studies, declining to convene a new committee.
Dec 31, 1987
Publication of 'Enhancing Human Performance' report
NRC report assessing paranormal phenomena including remote viewing.
Apr 17, 2003
CIA approved for release
Document cleared for public release through CIA declassification review.
May 4, 1995
NRC fax to CIA declining new remote viewing evaluation
Barbara Boyle Torrey faxes the CIA Office of Research and Development declining to convene a new NRC committee and citing the 1988 NRC assessment.
Dec 31, 1987
Publication of 'Enhancing Human Performance'
NRC report reviewing paranormal phenomena including a section on scientific assessment of remote viewing.
Apr 17, 2003
Approved for Release
CIA declassification/release stamp on the document.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Phenomena
People
Extracted text (OCR)
05/05/95 11:25 202 334 2201 CBASSE EXEC OFF [a1 002 Approved For Release 2003/04/18 : CIA-RDP96-00791R000200030006-8 NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL COMMISSION ON BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES AND EDUCATION 2101 Constitution Avenue Wayhington, D.C, 20418 OVPICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TELEPHONE: (202) 334-23 SGi1l SG1B SG1I FAX: (202) 334-2201 May 5, 1995 Office of Research and Development, CIA Ames Building, Room 846 Washington, D.C. 20505 Fax: | | We appreciate your thinking of the National Research Council (NRC) in terms of evaluating your remote viewing studies. As you know, we did a very thorough look at a number of paranormal phenomena in a study enticled Enhancing Human Performance, Issues Theortes and Techniques published by the National Academy Press in 1988. One section of that report was entitled "Sclentlfic Assessment of Remote Viewing" beginning on p. 178. The report reviewed the major studies and concluded: "In summary, after approximately 15 years of claims and sometimes bitter controversy, the literature on remote viewing has managed to produce only one possibly successful experiment thal is not seriously flawed in its methodology - and that one experiment provides only marginal evidence for the existence of ESP. By both scientific and parapsychological standards, then, the case for remote viewing is not just very weak, but virtually nonexistent. It seems that the preeminent position that remote viewing occupies in the minds of many propanents results from the highly exaggerated claims made for the early experiments, as well as the subjectively compelling, but illusory, correspondences that experimenters and participants find betwean components of the descriptions and the target sites.” The comparative advantage of the NRO is in evaluating a field of research. To put the machinery of the NRC committee process into place for the. evaluation of a limited set of studies docs not seem warranted so soon after the last report. What I hope is that our recent report will be helpful in guiding your own assessment of remote viewing studies. Please let me know if I can be of help. ugptely, Barbara Boylé Torrey , The Nations BSB TONER EOP RENEE SEBO BIOL 18 Net ARP 9B-00F 94 ROVORAIN200 9 GnBncering Sodernrtent aid other orgunizations cc: John Swets Sandy Wigdor Dan Drueckman
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