Quantifying The Phenomenology Of Ghostly Episodes: PART I – Need For A Standard Operationalisation

OKeeffe, Ciaran and Houran, James (2018) Quantifying The Phenomenology Of Ghostly Episodes: PART I – Need For A Standard Operationalisation. Journal of Parapsychology. ISSN 0022-3387

[img]
Preview
Text
17550_Okeeffe_C.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (972kB) | Preview

Abstract

We review conceptualizations and measurements of base (or core) experiences commonly attributed to haunts and poltergeists (i.e., “ghostly episodes”). Case analyses, surveys, controlled experiments, and field studies have attempted to gauge anomalous experiences in this domain, albeit with methods that do not cumulatively build on earlier research. Although most approaches agree, to an extent, on the base experiences or events that witnesses report, the literature lacks a standard operationalization that can be used to test the factor structure of these occurrences or allow meaningful comparisons of findings across studies. Towards filling this gap, our review and deliberation identified 28 base experiences that include subjective (or psychological) experiences more typical of haunts, and objective (or physical) manifestations more common to poltergeist-like disturbances. This qualitatively-vetted list is proposed as the foundation for new measurement approaches, research designs, and analytical methods aimed to advance model-building and theory-formation.

Item Type: Article
Keywords: Ghost, Haunt, Phenomenology, Poltergeist, Psychometrics
Depositing User: RED Unit Admin
Date Deposited: 15 Jan 2019 11:08
Last Modified: 18 Feb 2020 11:12
URI: https://bnu.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17550

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item