The unlikely role of infrasound

**dalriada** · 18th August 2010, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by Harryprice

Is this the same study?

Looks like the same study. Self-published on the Parascience website.

The key parts for me were "... the study failed to demonstrate any of the visual disturbances and resulting apparitional experiences that Tandy had suggested would be created by exposure to the frequency range around 18Hz ... when ARIA was in use but no visual or apparitional experiences were reported. "

Indeed. However, the key parts for me were the references- tabloid newspapers (from the 60s and 70s), more self-published stuff on the Parascience website again, and an advert

How is this passed off as PhD level scholarship, let alone PhD level science?

**Dr B** · 18th August 2010, 04:51 PM

I dont know if these data are part of a PhD or not and so cannot comment. All I can say is it is irrelevant as all our points above here (and in the other thread) stand irrespective of the intended outlet of the 'research'. We predicted long ago it was unlikely to work and we explained at length as to why. Hey presto, it did not work.

I admire the honest reporting of the failure to find any effects as i am sure many others would not be as honest - so full credit where it is due. So that is a positive and one we should all acknowledge.

Where I also agree is that more research needs to be done. Where i disagree is that this stuff counts as 'research'. I also do not like the style of the ridiculous arguing here - only to actually go off and pretend that these ideas were their's all along - which is not so honest.

**Dr B** · 18th August 2010, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by dalriada

How is this passed off as PhD level scholarship, let alone PhD level science?

I dont know how things work in Parapsychology in upgraded polytechnics. If your analysis were true then it would certainly add to the controversy of parapsychology.

Speaking more generally, when it comes to being examined by an extenral examiner for the PHD viva there are some things to consider. It can be difficult in some fields to get viable external examiners - especially if the field of research is small and your view is the complete opposite of all the experts. Nonetheless one should try. I personally do not advocate students being examined by friends of friends (though it can be difficult to avoid a colleague being involved at times).

If a colleague is involved, then they must have the academic freedom to examine the thesis objectively. However, this scenario is far from ideal. Always try and go for someone independent or far removed from your supervisor in the first instance. What a lot of students don't realise is that this can impact on jobs if your potenital employer smells a rat. This makes the PhD close to worthless (or even more so if it's a PhD in parapsychology)