 Caroline
Watt began working as a Research Associate with the
Koestler Chair of
Parapsychology in 1986. In 1993 she completed a part-time PhD on
the topic 'The Relationship Between Performance on a Prototype Measure
of Perceptual Defence/Vigilance and Psi Performance' - this work
consisted of a conceptual replication and extension of
parapsychological research on the relationship between performance on
the Defence Mechanism Test and psi performance. Her first degree is in
Psychology from St Andrews
University (Scotland), which probably explains why her main
interest is in psychological aspects of ESP performance.
She is now
employed as Senior Research Fellow (acting Head of KPU), and continues with her
psychology/parapsychology interest. Her present research is mostly
concerned with experimenter and participant expectancy effects, both
in parapsychological and also psychological tasks. This research is
relevant to the question of replicability in parapsychology and also
more broadly to the issue of the complexities of doing research with
human participants.
Principally funded by the Koestler Unit, some of
her research has also been funded from the Perrott-Warrick Fund of
Cambridge University, the Society for Psychical Research, and the IGPP
in Freiburg, Germany. She also has funding for collaborative projects
with Dr Richard Wiseman of the University of Hertfordshire, mostly
on the topics of experimenter effects and the psychology of
anomalous experiences.
She has given invited talks on psychology and parapsychology to a
number of respected institutions, including the Royal Society. Her
main reason for being in the field of parapsychology is curiosity.
Affiliations
President of the
Parapsychological Association (PA - August 2004-August 2005) and
Full Member of the PA and the Society for Psychical Research.
Member of the Scientific Board of the Bial Foundation (Portugal)
and on the Organising Committee for the 2006 Bial Foundation
Symposium. She is the Parapsychology Foundation
Affiliate for Scotland and
a referee for Behavioral and Brain Sciences,
Personality and Individual Differences, the Journal of
Parapsychology, the European Journal of Parapsychology,
and the Journal of the Society for Psychical Research.
Teaching
Undergraduate: She
teaches a course on Parapsychology to final year psychology
students. This is a popular course that has
received consistently high ratings from students, for overall
interest and quality of presentation. She also
teaches two fourth year tutorial groups on Current Issues in
Psychology. She is currently (session 2004-2005) supervising six
final year undergraduate projects. Postgraduate:
She is Course Convenor and teaches on a new module in the MSc by
Research course, entitled "Methods for the study of anomalies,
beliefs and extended communication" (commencing January 2005).
She is currently principal supervisor to three PhD students
and assistant supervisor to one.
Publications
Watt,
C.A.
(1990). The value of spontaneous cases. Journal of the Society
for Psychical Research, 56, 273-286.
Watt,
C.A.
(1990-1991). Psychology and Coincidences. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 8, 66-84.
Watt,
C.A.
(1992). Defensiveness and Psi: Problems and Prospects. In
L.A. Henkel & G.R. Schmeidler (Eds)
Research in Parapsychology 1990.
Metuchen, NJ:
Scarecrow Press.
Watt,
C.A.
(1993). The Relationship Between Performance on a Prototype
Measure of Perceptual Defence/Vigilance and Psi Performance.
Unpublished PhD Thesis,
University of Edinburgh.
Watt,
C.A.
(1994). Meta-analysis of DMT-ESP studies and an experimental
investigation of perceptual defence/vigilance and extrasensory
perception. In E.W. Cook & D.L. Delanoy (Eds) Research in
Parapsychology 1991.
Metuchen, NJ:
Scarecrow Press.
Watt,
C.A.
(1994). Making the Most of Spontaneous Cases. In S. Krippner (Ed.)
Advances in Parapsychological Research, Volume 7, pp. 77-103.
Jefferson, NC:
McFarland.
Watt,
C.A.
(1994). Extra-Sensory Perception. In R. Cavendish & B. Innes (Eds.)
Man, Myth & Magic.
New York: Marshall Cavendish. (book chapter)
Watt,
C.A.
& Gissurarson, L.R. (1995). Exploring defensiveness and PK
performance. European Journal of Parapsychology, 11,
92-101 (Research Note).
Watt,
C.A.
& Morris, R.L. (1995). The relationships among performance on a
prototype indicator of perceptual defence/vigilance, personality,
and extrasensory perception. Personality and Individual
Differences, 19, 635-648.
Delanoy, D.L.,
Morris, R.L., & Watt,
C.A. (1994). A study of
free-response ESP performance and mental training techniques. In
E.W. Cook & D.L. Delanoy (Eds) Research in Parapsychology 1991.
Metuchen, NJ:
Scarecrow Press, pp. 59-63.
Morris, R.L.,
Dalton, K., Delanoy, D.L., &
Watt, C.A.
(1995). Comparison of the sender/no sender condition in the ganzfeld.
Proceedings of the 38th Annual Convention of the
Parapsychological Association,
Durham, NC,
pp. 244-259.
Watt,
C.A.
(1996). Subliminal and Extrasensory Perception. In J. Henry (Ed.)
Introduction to Psychical Research.
London: Society for Psychical Research, pp.
130-135.
Watt,
C.A.
(1996). What makes a good psi target? Three studies of forced-choice
ESP varying target emotionality and complexity. Journal of
Parapsychology, 60, 25-41.
Watt,
C.A.
(1996). Knowing the unknown: Participants’ insight in three
forced-choice ESP studies. Journal of the American Society for
Psychical Research, 90, 97-114.
Watt,
C.A.
(1996). ‘Physics Envy’: The Politics of Parapsychology. An
essay-review of Women and Parapsychology: Proceedings of an
International Conference edited by L. Coly & R. White.
European Journal of Parapsychology, 12, 88-95.
Morris,
R.L. &
Watt, C.A.
(1997). La investigación Parapsicológica en la Cátedra Koestler.
Revista Argentina de Psicologia Paranormal, 8, 147-166.
Watt,
C.A.,
McDermott, Z. & Ravenscroft, J. (1997). Exploring the limits of
remote mental interaction: A comparison of blocking versus
cooperating strategies. In R. Wiseman (Ed.) Proceedings of the 40th
Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association,
Brighton, pp. 464-478. (refereed conference
presentation)
Delanoy, D.L.,
Watt, C.A.,
Morris, R.L., & Wiseman, R. (1998). A new methodology for
free-response ESP testing out with the laboratory: Findings from
experienced participants. In N.L. Zingrone, M.J. Schlitz, C.S.
Alvarado & J. Milton (Eds), Research in Parapsychology 1993,
pp. 68-72. Lanham,
MD: Scarecrow Press.
Watt,
C.A.
(1998). Perceptual defence/vigilance and extrasensory perception: A
successful replication study and a comparison of implicit and
explicit measures. In N.L. Zingrone, M.J. Schlitz, C.S. Alvarado &
J. Milton (Eds), Research in Parapsychology 1993, pp.
120-123. Lanham,
MD: Scarecrow Press.
Watt, C.,
Ravenscroft, J., & McDermott, Z. (1999). Exploring the limits of
direct mental influence: Two studies comparing "blocking" and
"co-operating" strategies. Journal for Scientific Exploration,
13, 515-535.
Watt, C. &
Nagtegaal, M. (1999). Luck in action? Belief in good luck, psi-mediated
instrumental response, and games of chance. Journal of
Parapsychology, 63, 229-231. (abstract of refereed
conference presentation)
Watt, C. &
Ravenscroft, J. (1999). Defensiveness, neuroticism and extrasensory
perception. Journal of the American Society for Psychical
Research, 93, 341-354.
Wiseman and
Watt, 8 Oct 1999, "Soft subjects suffer low esteem", Times Higher
Education Supplement.
Wiseman, R. &
Watt, C. (1999). Rupert Sheldrake and the Objectivity of Science,
Skeptical Inquirer, 23 (5), 61-62. (Follow-Up)
Watt, C. &
Wiseman, R. (1999). Rupert Sheldrake and the Objectivity of Science,
Journal of Scientific Exploration, 13, 538. (Letter to
Editor)
Watt, C.
(1998-1999). The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic
Phenomena by Dean Radin. European Journal of Parapsychology, 14,
146-148. (book review).
Watt, C.
(1998-1999). Guidelines for Extrasensory Perception Research by
Julie Milton and Richard Wiseman. European Journal of
Parapsychology, 14, 137-138. (book review).
Watt, C. (1999).
The Future of Psychology: Parapsychology's Role. In Brander, T. et
al. (Eds) The Future of Psychology.
Amsterdam: Stichting VSPA Ledenservice.
(pages 17-20). (book chapter)
Watt, C. (2001).
Paranormal Cognition. In R. Roberts & D. Groome (Eds) Parapsychology:
The Science of Unusual Experience. London:
Arnold. (book chapter) ISBN 0 340 76169 5 (hb)
0 340 76168 (pb)
Sherwood, S. J.,
Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Watt, C. (2000).
Dream clairvoyance study II using dynamic video-clips: investigation
of consensus voting judging procedures and target emotionality.
Dreaming, 10 (4) 221-236.
Watt, C. &
Ravenscroft, J. (2000). A study of non-intentional psi in a
reciprocal helping task: Testing PMIR. Journal of Parapsychology,
64, 39-52.
Watt, C. &
Nagtegaal, M. (2000). Luck in action? Belief in good luck, psi-mediated
instrumental response, and games of chance. Journal of
Parapsychology, 64, 19-38.
Watt, C. &
Ravenscroft, J. (1999). Defensiveness, neuroticism and extrasensory
perception. Journal of the American Society for Psychical
Research, 93, 341-354.
Wiseman & Watt,
Jan 12 2001, "Why we believe the internet can enhance psychology".
Times Higher Education Supplement.
Watt, C., &
Brady, C. (2002). Experimenter effects and the remote facilitation
of attention focusing: Two studies and the discovery of an artifact.
Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 49-71.
Watt, C., &
Baker, I.S. (2002). Remote facilitation of attention focusing with
psi-supportive versus psi-unsupportive experimenter suggestions.
Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 151-168.
Watt, C., &
Wiseman, R. (2002). Experimenter differences in cognitive correlates
of paranormal belief, and in psi. Journal of Parapsychology,
66, 371-385.
Wiseman, R.,
Watt, C., Greening, E., Stevens, P., & O’Keeffe, C. (2002). An
investigation into the alleged haunting of
Hampton Court
Palace: Psychological variables and
magnetic fields. Journal of Parapsychology, 66,
387-408.
Watt, C.,
Wiseman, R., & Schlitz, M. (2002). Tacit information in remote
staring research: The Wiseman-Schlitz interviews. Paranormal
Review, 24, 18-25.
Watt, C., &
Ramakers, P. (2003). Experimenter effects with a remote facilitation
of attention focusing task: A study with multiple believer and
disbeliever experimenters. Journal of Parapsychology, 67,
99-116.
Wiseman, R.,
Watt, C., Stevens, P., Greening, E., & O’Keeffe, C. (2003). An
investigation into alleged ‘hauntings’. British Journal of
Psychology, 94, 195-211.
Watt, C. &
Nagtegaal, M. (2004). Reporting of blind methods: An
interdisciplinary survey. Journal of the Society for Psychical
Research, 68, 105-114.
Wiseman, R. &
Watt, C. (2004). Measuring superstitious belief: Why lucky charms
matter. Personality and Individual Differences, 37,
1533-1541.
Wiseman, R. &
Watt, C. (2005). The psychology of luck. Psychology Review,
11, 17-19.
Watt, C.
(2005). Psychological factors. In J. Henry (Ed.)
Parapsychology: Research into Exceptional Experiences. London:
Routledge. (book chapter)
Wiseman, R. &
Watt, C. (in press) (Eds.) Parapsychology.
In Library of Psychology series, Ashgate.
Delanoy, D.L.,
Morris, R.L., & Watt,
C.A. A study of free-response ESP
performance and mental training techniques. Journal of the
American Society for Psychical Research. (accepted for
publication). |
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