15 November 2006
Monash University researchers want to hear from people about their experiences of premonitions, out-of-body and near-death episodes, telepathy and apparitions.
Their international online survey, 'The Nature, Incidence and Impact of Spontaneous Paranormal Experiences', seeks to gather information about people's experiences of paranormal events that defy scientific explanation.
The supervisor of the research study, Faculty of Education senior lecturer Dr Beverley Jane, said the researchers wanted to learn about people's paranormal experiences, how frequently these phenomena occur, at what age they start, and the impact they have on those who experience them.
"In particular, we would like to hear from people who have had paranormal experiences but have been reluctant to talk about them, until now," Dr Jane said.
About 2000 people worldwide have already responded online since the survey started six weeks ago. "The respondents are sincere and they want to report what they have experienced," Dr Jane said.
The survey, which concludes at the end of this month, forms part of a study into the paranormal by Monash researcher Ms Rosemary Breen.
"There has been an explosion of interest in the paranormal in recent years, so much so that it is now considered mainstream and part of everyday contemporary life for many people," Ms Breen said. "It is also the central tenet of most cultures, and some of the earliest reports of paranormal phenomena are found in ancient scriptures including the Talmud, the New Testament and Old Testament of the Bible and the Kabbalah."
A recent Gallup poll revealed that 75 per cent of Americans hold at least one paranormal belief, and a UK newspaper poll showed that 60 per cent of Britons accept the existence of the paranormal. However, little is known about contemporary spontaneous experiences, and official surveys are rare.
Ms Breen will use the survey results as the basis for her Masters thesis on the paranormal. "The potential benefits of participation in this study include adding to the volume of academic literature on spontaneous paranormal events, and helping raise the level of understanding about the immediate and long term effects of such phenomena on the individual and on society," Dr Jane said.
For survey details, visit the Education faculty website.
For more information contact Dr Beverley Jane, Faculty of Education, on +61 3 9904 4324, or Ms Robyn Anns, Media Communications, on + 61 3 9905 9317 or 0417 568 781.
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