Uri Geller. The Geller effect. Two students try to bend a key with their thoughts. The problem of unplanned observation. Eyewitness reports. GIGO. /"As described is not the same as /"how it happened./"

Descriptions of the key event by students. Impossibility of describing everything. Observation must be selective. Relevance problem. Informal observation is retrospective, unsystematic, and affected by the limitations and idiosyncrasies of human memory and perception. Scientific observation is prospective, planned, systematic, calibrated, and produces trustworthy data.

An accompanying course guide can be downloaded here: http://jref.swmirror.com/20730

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More about the course “How to think about dubious claims”:

Smart people can act stupidly if they don't use their intelligence wisely. This course draws lessons from the work of smart scientists who went astray. This course provides a framework to help you avoid their mistakes.

Ray Hyman is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Oregon. Hyman's published research is in areas such as pattern recognition, perception, problem solving, creativity, and related areas of cognition. He has written and published widely on the psychology of deception and criticism of paranormal and other fringe claims.

The James Randi Educational Foundation was founded in 1996 to help people push back against paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. Through grants, workshops, and innovative resources for educators, JREF works to awaken this inquiring spirit in a new generation of critical thinkers. For more information, visit http://www.randi.org.

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