How Do Zener Cards Measure Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP)? By Derek Rogers At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Zener cards are a tool that is often used to measure a person's extra-sensory perception. These cards were developed in the 1920s by a parapsychologist named J.B. Rhine. They are considered to be a simple statistical method for measuring ESP.

The Cards

Zener cards come in a pack of 25 cards. There are 5 designs with 5 cards of each design. The 5 designs on the cards are a circle, a cross, a five point star, a square and a set of three vertical wavy lines. These designs are simple enough to be recognised by most people and easy to describe. They may sometimes be coloured or they can be in black and white. The cards are made of a thick paper that cannot be seen through. Sometimes the back of the cards will have a design to prevent being able to see through the card.

The Test

The test consists of the person conducting the test and the person taking the test. These two people may be in the same room or they may be in separate locations. The location of the people is not of the top importance. The test will have similar results regardless of where the participant is located.

The test begins with the test conductor shuffling the deck of cards. The conductor then takes one card from the deck and checks the symbol on the card. They then ask the participant what symbol is on the card. The participant gives an answer. The test conductor records the correct answer and the participants answer. The test then continues in this manner through all the cards in the deck.

The Statistics

Zener cards are considered to be quite accurate in determining ESP in individuals because they are guided by statistics. They can measure the accuracy by simply math using percentages based upon the chance of a correct answer.

There are five cards if the five symbols, so the expected score of accuracy for someone guessing would be about 20% correct answers. If a person tests on the cards multiple times then the percentage of correct answers would be expected to go up. Over time a person's average of their scores would be about 20% if they do not have ESP.

Someone who has ESP or is more psychic than the average person would score over an average of 20%. The ideal finding would be someone who scores 100%, which would prove beyond a doubt that the person has ESP.

Zener cards are considered to be quite accurate by those who believe in the existence of ESP and those who are skeptic because it is based in pure science. It is a measurable method that leaves nothing up to chance. The cards can be used in a way that there is no possibility of someone cheating or scoring higher due to a fault in the testing system. They are one of the most used testing devices when someone is trying to prove or disprove the existence of extra-sensory perception and psychic abilities.

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