Think you’re psychic? Prove it and get yourself $1million

James Randi, through the James Randi Educational Foundation, offers a prize of $1million to anyone who can prove the existence of the paranormal.  Initially launched in 1964, the prize fund started as $1,000 of Randi’s own money but grew to $1million following funding from additional donors.

Forty five years later, not only has nobody claimed the $1million prize, but no entrants have even made it past the preliminary application stage.  This article examines what exactly the challenge involves and discusses possible reasons as to why it has failed to attract the interest of well known psychics such as John Edward and Uri Geller.

So, what exactly is the challenge?  James Randi asks that you are able to demonstrate “evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event” whilst under “proper observing conditions”.  The testing protocols are designed alongside the applicant so that they are mutually acceptable.  Once complete, a preliminary test takes place which, if passed, promotes the applicant to a “claimant”.

Sounds easy enough, right? Then why is it that nobody has ever passed the preliminary test?  And why, of all the thousands and thousands of people who believe they have psychic ability, are there less than 200 applications listed on Randi’s website in the last 5 years (http://forums.randi.org/forumdisplay.php?f=43)?

I believe the answer may lie partly in what constitutes “evidence” when it comes to this challenge.  For example, in one of the tests of someone claiming to be a psychic, she was asked to create a reading for ten randomly selected volunteers.  After creating the readings, the volunteers were asked to examine all ten of the readings and select which one they believed was created for them. In the experiment design protocol, the “pass” rate was established as being FIVE out of TEN volunteers to correctly identify their own reading.  While this figure is WAY above the realm of ‘chance’, the challenge must be this way – otherwise they could be paying out $1million for a lucky long-shot break! According to reports, the odds you must beat in the preliminary test are around 1000 to 1, rising to 1,000,000 to 1 for the actual experiment.  Chris Carter, who wrote Parapsychology and the Skeptics, said:

“If Randi were genuinely interested in testing unusual claims, then he would also not insist upon odds of at least one million to one against chance for the results. Anyone familiar with scientific studies will be aware that experimental results against chance of say, 800,000 to one would be considered extraordinary; but results this high would be, according to Randi, a “failure.””

Incidentally, the psychic testing referred to above was not a success.  With a  “pass” rate of five out of ten, actually NONE of the volunteers correctly identified their own reading.

Sceptics have referred to the $1million prize as being “irresistible” to those with psychic ability – why would anyone NOT want to apply? And perhaps that’s the reason we aren’t seeing well known / celebrity psychics taking part – they already have enough money :) Perhaps it’s not worth ruining their reputation over.

All in all, I think many believe that this is not a scientifically fair experiment – but scientific experiments don’t usually come with a $1million reward either. There are many scientists and people who believe they have psychic ability who would rather spend time in real scientific studies where the results are meaningful, rather than proving ability in a one-off show courtesy of the James Randi Educational Foundation.

(Hub 7 / 30 for 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge)