TY - JOUR
T1 - A computer-automated, multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial evaluating hypothesized spirit presence and communication
AU - Schwartz, Gary E.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is made possible through the active participation of many individuals, including Rhonda Eklund Schwartz, MFA, Mark Pitstick, DC, and Jennifer Horner, MS. In alphabetical order, I wish to thank Edward Close, Ph.D., Deborah Jones, Ph.D., Richard Lane, MD, Ph.D, Thomas Plante, Ph.D., Stephan Schwartz, MA, Dieter Steklis, Ph.D., Netzin Steklis, Ph.D, Stephen Weiss, Ph.D., and one senior colleague (who prefers to remain anonymous), for their helpful feedback. Funding for this multi-centered, multi-blinded, randomized control trial research has been provided by gifts from private donors, including Mr. Leslie Klein.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019
PY - 2021/7/1
Y1 - 2021/7/1
N2 - The gold standard in biomedical research is the multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial (RCT). In pharmacological research the RCT is termed a Phase III clinical trial. This paper presents the core goals and RCT methods developed to investigate automated spirit presence and communication. The goals are: (1) to use currently available, reliable, and affordable technology (total hardware cost per system less than $4,000; these systems will be provided free to collaborating laboratories), (2) to automate data collection and real-time analyses employing specially designed software, (3) to only require a quiet space (used at night) in collaborating laboratories, (4) to not necessitate human subjects committee approvals at collaborating institutions (because the participants are hypothesized spirit participants), and (5) to enable international collaboration regardless of the investigator's personal beliefs about the hypothesis. The research design and methods meet a phrase popularized by Carl Sagan: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” The design minimizes false positives and false negatives. University affiliated investigators in established laboratories who regularly publish in peer reviewed journals, and are interested in collaborating in this RCT, are invited to contact the author.
AB - The gold standard in biomedical research is the multi-center, multi-blinded, randomized control trial (RCT). In pharmacological research the RCT is termed a Phase III clinical trial. This paper presents the core goals and RCT methods developed to investigate automated spirit presence and communication. The goals are: (1) to use currently available, reliable, and affordable technology (total hardware cost per system less than $4,000; these systems will be provided free to collaborating laboratories), (2) to automate data collection and real-time analyses employing specially designed software, (3) to only require a quiet space (used at night) in collaborating laboratories, (4) to not necessitate human subjects committee approvals at collaborating institutions (because the participants are hypothesized spirit participants), and (5) to enable international collaboration regardless of the investigator's personal beliefs about the hypothesis. The research design and methods meet a phrase popularized by Carl Sagan: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” The design minimizes false positives and false negatives. University affiliated investigators in established laboratories who regularly publish in peer reviewed journals, and are interested in collaborating in this RCT, are invited to contact the author.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.explore.2019.11.007
DO - 10.1016/j.explore.2019.11.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 32205036
AN - SCOPUS:85082011055
SN - 1550-8307
VL - 17
SP - 351
EP - 359
JO - Explore
JF - Explore
IS - 4
ER -