Parapsychology courses

[Big Les]

Where do these fit in to the overall picture of woo and skeptic? This place, for example, appears to be biased towards the existence of "psi" phenomena, despite any real evidence whatever. A search of the forum shows that they have an affiliated journal (the "European" journal), but I can find little else about the content and quality of their work.

I was aware of study carrying on (as well it should), but assumed that such courses taught and carried out their research from a skeptical standpoint. Is this, or any of the other courses being run worldwide, "legit" in terms of agenda, method and approach? How could a university, in good conscience, run a course that was not? Even Venkman et al were kicked out of their institution..

 

[Nucular]

To me it seems to depend very much on the department and its staffing.

For instance, Chris French's Anomalous Psychology Research Unit is known for its high level of standards, research not only into paranormal phenomena but also reasons why people believe in them in the first place, and critical approach.

On the other hand, I think you'd find that many 'parapsychologists' are eager to kit their students out with oversensitive electronics they're not trained to use, and send them off to record hits and forget misses.

Is this, or any of the other courses being run worldwide, "legit" in terms of agenda, method and approach? How could a university, in good conscience, run a course that was not?

Ahem.

 

[Big Les]

Thanks; I suppose it makes sense that the courses would be more diverse in nature and curriculum than say, English Literature. Also that there would be room for "bleevers" to try to lend their existing beliefs some weight by being associated with a course run by an accredited institution.

As for the link there... un. be. lievable. I literally can't believe that exists. As a BSc no less

 

[Jimbo07]

Is the University of Westminster legit? Or is it more like this little gem I found and posted last month:

http://www.uisca.org/en/content/default.asp

Big Les, any idiot can grant a degree and call it whatever they want. It's even been suggested to me that 'institutes' can get accredited (or whatever you want to call it) relatively easily in various jurisdictions at various times. So...

Jimbo's Educational Research Knowledge Associates Society School is pending accreditation and will be granting PhDs. Just send me $20 plus postage and handling ($150, if you want your ink-jet-printed diploma framed). To prove we're legit, all grad school candidates must pass the following 24-hour comprehensive exam:

i) What is the value of 3 + purple?

...

 

[brodski]

Is the University of Westminster legit?

".AC.UK" domains are pretty tightly regulated, only legitimate educational bodies get to use them, not "diploma mills". But the University of Westminster is hardly a top flight UK university, although it was the UKs oldest polytechnic.

 

[Nucular]

You'll also find one here. Yep, they're legit. They're also businesses, and to that extent are less concerned with ethics or reality than they are with attracting funding and students. As far as I'm aware, UCLAN Homeopathic qualifications go up to MSc, and a little bird told me there's a PhD in the pipeline, if it's not there already.