Proposed Test of Therapeutic Touch

by Jon Seskevich and Eric Krieg - last changed 8-15-97 http://www.phact.org/e/tt/propose.htm

1. Abstract This test would only evaluate TT's claim that people can do non-contact sensing of a human energy field. We would love to test the actual claim of healing, but that would be a considerably more expensive undertaking. The test would be run hoping to prove TT, but more interested in Ultimate Truth. It is the hope of the designers of this test, that any positive results would be credible enough to make skeptics change their stance - or that negative results could cause believers to do some soul searching. Both believers and skeptics alike should be willing to put some of their pre-conceived notations at stake. This test is significant because it represents a cordial working relationship between people from both the believing and disbelieving camps. Jon Seskevich who is established in the alternative health community and Eric Krieg, a open minded published skeptic each realized that both sides would only lose credibility if the issue of TT were allowed to degrade into both sides trading insults across a chasm. Jon had the role of lining up subjects (who seemed turned off to some established skeptics) and providing the forum. Eric's role as an established skeptic is to help develop tight enough procedures to avoid having final results (if positive) be easily dismissed by the medical and skeptical communities. We hope to have limited press coverage only at the start and very end (we want the public to understand the value of testing, with out creating a circus-like atmosphere which could spook our subjects)
2. Selection. All participants should have advance knowledge and acceptance of the procedure and what would constitute success or failure. They should be fully aware and have ample time to raise concerns about protocol and materials used ahead of time. In this November 97 test, experienced subjects would actually fill out an application so that the test manager (Jon Seskevich -pro) could pick candidates deemed most likely to succeed. It is important that candidates understand that: they would be closely observed, they would have limited time, they could only give yes - no answers to be recorded, and the energy pattern of the subject maybe changing mid test.
3. Materials: The following materials would be used:

• Eric Would bring 25 labeled sealed envelopes each only having the a sheet labeled to match the envelope. Each sheet would have a series of 25 words (either "IN" or "OUT"). The sequence would be randomly generated by Eric (or some other skeptic) ahead of time. Each sheet would of course be independently generated.
• There would be 2 private test areas consisting of a curtain, a camera on each side and a arm tube.
• The arm tube would be constructed ahead of time (and approved in advance by Eric). It would be made of denim cloth which is considered opaque to light, yet practitioners regularly read fields through it. It would not make a noticeable change if the patients arm rested on the bottom of it.
• Cameras would be stationed on both sides of each curtain (which would also be opaque)
• Both the inside monitor and the outside logger would maintain a clear record.

1. Back-screen Protocol There would be a 'Patient' -someone who is agreed to have an energy field which discernible from no energy field. There would also be a monitor (someone preferably skeptical ) This person would make sure the patient is not giving off any queues. The monitor would hear the front side logger call out the trial number of the test about to be done. The monitor would look on the sheet for the proper trial position (in or out), point out the position on the sheet to the camera and hand gesture to the patient (in camera view) the proper position. The patient would always sit or stand in the same comfortable position (in full camera view) with out touching either the hanging screen or the inside of the tube. Once the patient nods to the monitor that the patient is settled, the monitor would make a single loud tap to signal the logger to go get the subject from the waiting area. If either the monitor or patient noticed the patient touching either the tube or screen, they would call out that that particular trial number was to be invalidated. Likewise, if the outside monitor noticed the subject making direct contact with the tube, the trial number would be invalidated. 5 extra random values are available on the list for such contingencies. The monitor would signal the patient to remove the hand if present and to always stand up and sit down in between each trial. The patient would try to assume the same position whether the hand were in or out.
2. Test Start Protocol: The screen would be open and the subject would see if he or she could read the difference with the patients hand in or out of the tube. The subject could voluntarily dismiss themselves if they felt they could not adequately perform on that day. We will be willing to allow the subject to select from up to 4 separate subjects to find a solid signal before getting started. Subjects and patients would not have been aquatinted prior to the day of the test. After the subject was satisfied that they felt they could read a signal, they would be lead out to the waiting area. The screen would be closed. Before starting a series of trials for a given subject, a independent person would randomly select one of Eric's envelopes and pass it to the test monitor with out anyone else noticing the number. The monitor would inspect the sealed envelope for any tampering, and open it on camera. The monitor and logger would then both record the number of the overall test, the names of the logger, monitor, subject and patient and time of the start of the test. The monitor would record this information directly on the sheet. They would then hold up such information to their respective cameras.
3. Front Screen Protocol The logger would announce and log the trial number and wait for the tap signal from the monitor to indicate the patient being ready. Then the subject would be summoned from an isolated waiting room. (during the test, the logger would not be able to tell how the successful the subject had been.) The subject would be lead in and allowed to perform any non-contact ritual to clear the tube of any residual energy. The logger would announce when the subject had started sensing. During sensing, the logger would closely observe the subjects hands with out spooking them. The logger would be responsible for getting and logging a single clear IN or Out assessment. Any extra comments like "I feel less strong on this" may be interesting but will not be part of the test, because it is too subjective. The logger would inform the monitor when the subject was back in the waiting area.
4. Post Data Collection Analysis No data would be correlated until the end of the test (This part should not be known by subjects in advance: Actually, at the end of a test on a given subject - if the monitor had noticed a high hit rate, he or she could request that the subject be tested again. A repeat test would be done with the other monitor in the other test area with a different subject ) Completed sheets of data would be held up for the nearest cameras. We would rather not have people about to be tested know of any results before going up. The results for each individual would be very tactfully presented to them along with warm thanks for their participation. Jon would have first rights to publish the data and would naturally not reveal names of subjects where anonymity is requested. Eric would not publish results until either 2 months had elapsed or until he would have had permission from Jon. Participants realize that they can not be responsible for conclusions drawn from the data. The following ranges of hits would be considered: 7- 13 hits: with in natural random range. 14 - 18: deserving a closer look before any conclusions can be drawn. 19: highly likely to be proof of TT. 20: definite proof of TT. Signed photocopies of data would be kept by both Eric and Jon. The keeper of the resulting video tapes would agree to make copies available on request.

Part one title: A double blinded study of the Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch claim that people can do non-contact sensing of a human energy field. This test would only evaluate Healing Touch and Therapeutic Touch's claim that people can do non-contact sensing of a human energy field. It is not a test of healing ability. It is the hope of the designers of this test, that any positive results would be credible enough to make skeptics change their stance - or that negative results could cause believers to do some soul searching. This test is significant because it represents a cordial working relationship between people from both the believing and disbelieving camps. Jon who is established in the holistic nursing community and Eric Krieg, an open minded published skeptic each realized that both sides would only lose credibility if the issues of TT and off the body energy healing were allowed to degrade into both sides trading insults across a chasm. Eric has helped develop tight enough procedures to avoid having final results (if positive) be easily dismissed by the medical and skeptical communities. For this study 25 skilled energy healing practitioners especially those who can differentiate between the skills of the assessment phase and the intervention phase are needed. This will be a study of the Hand Scan technique of Therapeutic and Healing Touch (also known as Hand Scanning and Assessment of the Healee). The Aqueduct Retreat Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina is graciously donating their facility time and refreshments in support of this research study and our collective efforts. Part 1 is a double-blinded study of the ability of a Therapeutic Touch or Healing Touch Practitioner's ability to feel the HEF. We will have a patient place their arm in a shield (a wooden or plastic frame with denim securely fastened). The trial will be videotaped for scientific accuracy and documentation. The purpose of the shield will be to hide vision of the arm, but allow the HEF to pass through. The healer (n=25) will then do a "hand scan energy field assessment" over the frame. The healer will then report if they can feel the presence of the HEF from the body. The healer will see the patient and know cognitively that the patient is placing their arm in the shield. If the answer is yes, a screen will be placed that totally hides the patient from view. It will not be possible to see whether the patient's arm is in the shield or not. (If the answer is no, with two patient trials, the healer will withdraw from the study.) There will be a randomization and the patient will either place their arm in the shield or not. There will be 20 consecutive attempts to feel for the presence of the human energy field. If the healer is concerned about residual energy in the shield between trials, we will allow the use of tools, such as an unlit smudge stick, feather or crystal over the shield. Any healer with14/20 or more correct will trigger a repeat test. 20/20 will be considered proof of the prescience of the human energy field and a practitioners ability to feel it. It is important that candidates understand that: they would be closely observed, they would have limited time (90 seconds per each of the 20 trails), they could only give yes - no answers to be recorded, and the energy pattern of the subject may be changing mid test. The following ranges of hits would be considered: 7-13 hits: with in natural random range. 14 - 18: deserving a closer look before any conclusions can be drawn. 19: highly likely to be proof. 20: will be considered proof of the presence of the HEF and a practitioners ability to feel it.. Part 2 title: Are skilled healers able to recognize when off the body healing energy is directed to them? In our optional second test the healers of part 1 (N=25) will each sit in a chair. Behind a screen, a hidden but known research assistant who many agree is skillful in this field will randomly send healing energy or not. The healer will report if they can feel receiving the energy or not. There will be 20 trials per healer. The following ranges of hits would be considered: 7-13 hits: with in natural random range. 14 - 18: deserving a closer look before any conclusions can be drawn. 19: highly likely to be proof. 20: will be considered proof of the presence of the subtle healing energy and a practitioners ability to feel it. Please strongly consider being in this research study. We look forward to reviewing the applications and picking strong candidates. Confidentiality of any participant's names will be maintained at the healer's request. Eric, this is a draft of the letter. Am still working on the application. Rosemary and I are getting together next Saturday to work on getting this out in the mail to approx 400 candidates. Obviously looking forward to your comments on this! Jon

The following is a discussion of testing between skeptic George and believer Melinda
 

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