Writing Psi Dowsing

How not to test dowsing In a recent television show, illusionist Alistare Cook carried out an experiment into dowsing involving a group of football fans with no knowledge or experience of dowsing. They had the task of using L-shaped rods to detect an object under one of several boxes. They were told in advance which box the object was under and so their rods reacted over that particular box - but not the other boxes. Cook then revealed that there was a similar object under every box. Cook said that it proved that dowsing was psychological; when you know where the object is you move the rods - you are tricking your mind. But although Cook had shown quite effectively the *ideomotor effect there was no attempt to test the actual claim of dowsing - that an experienced dowser can find an object when they don't know where the object is. To test dowsing is a simple affair. Invite one of the supposedly experienced dowsers at the Society of Dowsers to take part in an experiment. Use a member of the public as a control; without telling either of them where an object is hidden, ask both to find the object using an L-shaped rod. The ideomotor effect will be the same for both the lay person (control) and the experienced dowser. If the dowser succeeds in finding the object - and the control does not, it is evidence for dowsing! What's difficult about that? Confusing the ideomotor effect with the claims of dowsing is sloppy research. *With the ideomotor effect; it is difficult to hold one's hand completely still and the tiniest movement will cause the rod to cross. If you know in advance where water or an object is its very difficult to hold one's hand completely still and you will make the tiny motion while not realising it. The rods cross! Top Copyright © 2004 by Michael Davies