Testing the Paranormal, with Professor Chris French

Last year’s programme of interactive workshops proved to be our most popular yet, with our increased focus on teachable skills to improve the skeptical capabilities of our attendees. Of all of our workshops, perhaps the most popular was the session in which Professor Chris French taught us how to design and run tests of paranormal claims - which is why we are pleased that Chris has agreed to reprise the session at this year’s QED.

‘Testing the Paranormal’, with Professor Chris French.

We often see extraordinary claims being made about unusual and unlikely skills, talents and abilities. And while the world would be enormously exciting if we could find someone who could really read minds, talk to the dead, predict the future, or manipulate objects with the power of thought, before we believe that these things are real, we’re going to need to see some evidence.

This is where skeptics come in, and testing paranormal claims has been a regular part of skeptical activism, stretching all the way back as far as the great Harry Houdini. But how does one verify unusual claims? How can tests be designed to allow genuine skills to flourish, while thwarting the would-be faker? What controls need to be put in place to be as fair as possible, without sacrificing rigour and reason? And how can we distinguish between a real result and a fortunate fluke?

These are precisely the questions that will be answered in our workshop, hosted by veteran tester of the paranormal, Professor Chris French.

Chris French is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, where he was also Head of the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and of the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, as well as being a Patron of the Humanists UK. He is a member of the Scientific and Professional Advisory Board of the British False Memory Society. He has published over 150 articles and chapters covering a wide range of topics within psychology.

His main area of research is the psychology of paranormal beliefs and anomalous experiences. He frequently appears on radio and television casting a sceptical eye over paranormal claims, as well as writing for The Guardian and The Skeptic magazine which, for more than a decade, he also edited. He is the author of The Science of Weird Shit (2024), and the co-author of Why Statues Weep: The Best of The Skeptic (2010), Anomalistic Psychology (2012), and Anomalistic Psychology: Exploring Paranormal Belief and Experience (2014).

As with all of the content that takes place across our parallel tracks at QED, entrance to the Testing the Paranormal workshop comes as part of every QED ticket purchase. Tickets are available right now, at a cost of £164 for the whole weekend.

Pick up your ticket today, and join us in putting paranormal claims to the test in October!