SPECIAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR THE SRI PARANORMAL PROJECT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: STARGATE
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP96-00787R000700110015-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 4, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 1998
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: January 15, 1974
• Content Type: MFR

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15 January 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR TIlE RECORD
SUBJECT Special Management Guidelines for the
SRI Paranormal Project
1. Both the nature of research in the paranormal field and the
intense interest it excites within our organization and in the public at large,
together with the highly competitive and complexly motivated character of other
research efforts in this field, make it essential that we formulate and adhere
to certain special guidelines for the administration of any new efforts. The
real intent and purposes of such guidelines would be to:
a. simplify the contractor's task by eliminating all unnecessary
confusion and distractions;
b. tighten the responsibility and control functions within the
sponsor's organization;
c. serve both the contractor's and the sponsor's interests by
increasing project security; and
d. permit us to arrive at sound and well-documented, however
modest, conclusions by focusing on limited, consistent and
explicit objectives.
The guidelines listed below need not be considered definitive; to the extent that
modifications seem essential from a practical point of view or that additional
guidelines would serve the above purposes, contractor and sponsor personnel should
agree on emendations.
2. Data Control. The complex nature of the funding and phasing of
SRI's past paranormal investigations makes it virtually impossible to establish,
now, which data were developed under whose auspices. Other than portions which
clearly relate to sponsor tasking and direct or indirect sponsor validation, no
attempt will be made to control use of that data--most of which has already
become public knowledge in one form or other. But it will be understood that,
from the start of the new (January 1974) contract effort, all data developed will
fall under the sponsor's purview and none of it will be released in any form to
other than authorized sponsor personnel without prior sponsor approval. On its
part, the sponsor undertakes to be as expeditious and liberal as circumstances
permit in approving the release of non-sensitive data for open publication.
SG11 3. Authorized Personnel. As far as the sponsor's organization is
concerned, 'authorized' personnel will be understood to mean: in the first
SG11 instance, the primary project officer, or his immediate superiors ^
and 11r IIetlahon ; and, in- absence or
far as the contractor's organization is concerned, 'authorized' personnei will
SG11 -
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SG1 I
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Guidelines for SRI Project
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COM''IDENTIAL
be understood to mean: only those (to be listed by name and function) immediately
involved in the research effort, the essential chain-of-command superiors and such
other SRI specialists as may be required in conducting the research. Individuals
other than 'authorized' personnel, whether from the sponsor's or other govern-
mental or non-governmental organizations, will not be given access to project data
without prior sponsor approval. Such approval will be limited to individuals
essential to the conduct of the research. It is likely that, because of prior
associations and publicity, the contractor will receive queries about the status
of research and we appreciate the awkwardness this might create; whenever possible
it is suggested that the contractor take the position that, largely on its own
resources, the masses of data already collected are being studied and the results
may, if appropriate, be published at a later time; the.contractor should avoid
more explicit comments unless there is prior coordination with the sponsor.
4. Release of Data to Sponsor Personnel. The requirements for progres
and financial reports are specified in the contract and they will be released only
to 'authorized' sponsor personnel. In the same sense, visits to the paranormal
research laboratory should be limited to authorized. sponsor personnel. The sponso
will attempt to curtail inqueiies and requests for site visits by its personnel
and it is suggested that, should it become necessary, the contractor handle such
requests by stating that it now operating under restrictive groundrules and urging
the individual to contact the project officer or his alternate.
5. Acceptance of Guidance from Sponsor Personnel. Similarly, to
avoid confusion or disruption of the contractor's efforts, tasking and guidance
will be accepted only from authorized personnel; unsolicited views may be referred
to the project officer or his alternate. It may be that, later, the contractor
and the sponsor will wish to brief sponsor personnel and solicit their views and
suggestions; but, if so, it should be undertaken in a well-controlled, methodical
manner and for quite specific purposes related to the research design and
objectives.
6. Other Sponsorship. The sponsor assumes that the scope and terms
of the contract are such that SRI's paranormal investigative resources will be
fully absorbed by the effort but, since the 'sponsor's support cannot be alluded
to by SRI, that will not preclude offers of sponsorship by others--including the
government. It is suggested that, in response to official or unofficial offers,
SRI initially state that it is consolidating and studying previously collected
data and doesn't wish to undertake new investigations until this analysis is
completed. If this response doesn't have the desired result, SRI should inform
authorized sponsor personnel before making any commitments or disclosures. SRI
and sponsor personnel will then agree on the most effective means of handling
the situation.
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PAR4Id0I;; I~.L (IPA S ~;_1TIO11S : OUTLINE OF 'BASIC' RES'i,ARCII TASKS
This outline is divided into t? sections: one for each of the
three specified areas of basic research and a final section devoted to
general comments and suggestions relating to the overall research design.
It is suggested that the extensive batteries of standard tests listed
below be given only to those gifted subjects used in developing the
'applied' research data and to an appropriate number of controls.
PART I: Identification of Measurable Characteristics Possessed by Gifted
Subjects approximately 2Oyo of the total project effort
Sensory Evaluation
Auditor : (-'.:, /f?;EW'siry Jr -X C= G?t-7L
l - Simple tones, check extremes of spectrum-going as far
beyond thresholds
/& ow %c as instrumentation permits
_ , As much fancy audiometry as facilities permit -LwXt"
'116 ~'~ F`C'
Visual 19 - Check acuity, defining the extreme limit
s
Visual fields by instrument with several. types of
targets and varying dimness-intennity-color facto-?s
/? Pseudoisochromatic plates
Color di.scw'imina~ion with monochrometers or yarn test
// - Exploret- ~eond visible ranger beyond visual threshold (trr
- Flicker-Fusion test ~~, ,?" 2 `~ /'i>u;oi'S~
Tactile Two-point discrimination
i~~t.I Vibratory
',~.~~ Heat and Cold discrimination
fJ - (Synesthesia test?)
Ps rcholor;_ical Evaluation
- Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI)
P
rojective tests -- TAT and/or Rors
SG11 f1 -
f~ - WAIS/PAS test (by
/~ - Luscher Color tes
Q Strong and/or All-port-Vernon' -- apt:itude/values
Reaction tiro, tests -- latency
Raven's Matrix -- abstractions
~~ Embedded Figures tests illusions
i - Memorj tests, including eidetic imagery is possible
Suggestibility tests (Ernest Ililgarde, Stanford)
~t - Field Dependency tests (?li.tl;in)
;3 - If faci]_it_Les permit, tests relating to 'information
processing' rates and (nodes
I:n-Depth Interv: e -,
This item is listed :;ep ratc.ly but will obviously be
closely tied to bt ,,~
ot:h l:1 .ca (cibo? o
a Ild the I,'.-"'dical "rl , )
ara; e but rel
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7. l
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qualif _ d and interestedeenough 0er 1to nco ~ r alwho is
l of the
facets in appropriate depth. These facets should
include, for instance: complete medical history,
iDarti-cul ;,,-
might relate to the 'g /
7iftedness , ; family medical history;
curriculum vitae; objecti
ve
relating to the discovery and enhancement" of'theesubject's
paranormal capacities; other special skill
s or interests;
socio-econcmic, cultural
familial en
i
,
v
rorunent; outstanding/
'
peaks', ex-periences, traumas; religious content of the
subject's life; other
paranormal or related experiences
(e.g., deja vue) on which the subject ha
t
s no
been tested;
and such psychiatric and psychological interview techniques)
as may shed further light on the subject's personality, '
values, motivation, m nl state and interpersonal style.
Medical Evaluation
/ - Medical history (as above)
- General phsyical examination (normal lab work as well)
- EEG
- Neurological examination, Dynamometer
Opthomological exam (see sEvaluation)
-- Sensory
- EET exam (see Sensory Evaluation)
- Such other examinations as may be suggesf a , ,r t ____
Behavioral Evaluation
Interviews (as above).-
-N - Time estimates
Recognition tests (tachistoscope)
If feasible, certain sponsor-provided tapes and films
designed to test observation, recall and assessment
skills
PA.Il.' II: Identification of Neurophysiolop;ical Correlates (approximately 200,1,
of the total project ei'for
Note: the C1NS and AILS testing should be done during paranormal
experimentation, with truly random.inter.-tri.al intervals
Central Nervous System
7 Evoked potential -- tones and; ;;;j 1-fights, several frequencies
at specified amounts above and below threshold
EEG
CNV lights, words, tachistoscope
I';crrottr S,ys `gem
- GSiz
-- Heart rate
P,OT'h. - Rrs r4 ai;:i.o:1 -- pnetu.'ati or nas
c -, ~~al
1'or all
OL tll .
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(1) baselines and resting levels
(2) response to tones and lights
(3) sub-threshold stimuli
(RE) specialized testing
PART III: Identify (or provide theories on) the nature of the validated
paranon al phenomena and ever of the
,~ (~ppro.,iraately 10;0
of the
total project e- ffcrt)
/2 . ,~ ~y(LLV -`?
J :J'.. L... `Fq aJ i1r ~L_`'.2`ti ..:....._.r3v .~?rF.~.l^?\l'[~
who would: initially check the balance of the overall experimental
design; establish daily procedures and routine management a
beginning -, ~ pry dices before
experilnentati.on with the subjects; spot-check the on-going experiments;
establish the random trials involving CNS, ATIS and othet (e.g., X-Ray) tests.
(2) Throughout the experimentation use
only qualified experts to
administer the various specialized tests;
(3) Before a day's experimentation, subjects should strip-down (removing
rings, wristwatches, etc, as well) and put on a special lab
(}E) We should have a clearer unde.rstandin of the criteria em (oyedsuyt);
the contractor in deterllilnin.g who are 'mif~ ~ed' and J 's rsta's employed by
0upes~ar subjects;
(5) It should be understood that, while the sponsor will not be given
the identities of the subjects along with the results of testing, the sponsor
will have access to all of the specified raw test data (above);
(6) If X-I;ays are done on a snot basis during
e
be limited to chest, hands and sl ull_; (ultra-sound l) - `ll 1~ f as Loa; it should
(7) We should also have a clearer understanding and, if possible, a set
rate (4;10 per hour) for the subjects' fees;
SG1 I
SG11 (8) There should be matched normal-control- subjects throughout;
(9) should be on the list of 'authorised' super. visors;
(1.0 It mi
ht b
g
e useful t hi
oave a smple yet comprehensive self-inventory
foul (e.g., mood, rested, ailments, etc) for the subject.,; to fill. out
on the mornin ; Of each test day before Intersction with lab Personnel.;
tut (1.)i i ttterS of protocol :nd Proced re i or any [;i n !I7 C xpcr:boent should not
be
be discus the aui eca ; of
4.l ) ',!e ,;hould be ol~cl.and.; and
clear on 1 he Ot ' ec. Jfc :ct>' rncn
to he how, ho,~ ol~cn)
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