Effect of restriction of working memory on reported paranormal belief.
56 college students completed Tobacyk's 1988 Revised Paranormal Belief Scale and Watson, Clark, and Tellegen's 1988 Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Experimental group participants, but not control group participants, rehearsed a five-digit number while completing the Paranormal Belief Scale. Analysis showed higher reported paranormal belief for experimental group participants but no differences on the Positive and Negative Affect Scale. Results are discussed in terms of the effect of restriction in working memory on the critical evaluation of paranormal phenomena.
Dudley
R T
RT
Department of Psychology, Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX 76402, USA. rdudley@tarleton.edu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D010268:Parapsychology