IT IS wise in looking at the problem of conducting a psi test
properly to keep in mind that it is a purely psychological function
that is being tested and to allow it every possible psychological
consideration.

We may, in fact, define a proper psi test as one in which the
essential objective conditions are adequately provided and there-
after taken for granted, allowing first emphasis to be placed on the
effectiveness of the test in demonstrating psi. In short, it would
not be a psi test if it were not to go beyond the mere precautionary
requirements. Rather, it must first of all meet the psychological
conditions under which psi can operate. While the establishment
of the occurrence of psi was at issue it was difficult to press the
point of these intangible requirements. But now that that has
been accomplished, it would be unreasonable to consider as an
adequate test of psi anything less than one properly calculated to
evoke the ability to be tested as well as to measure it safely when
evoked.

When we begin to think of psi testing in these more psycho-
logical terms we appreciate the failures and difficulties all the
more because we better understand them. Most conspicuous,
perhaps, among failures is the fact that some experimenters have
found themselves unable to conduct successful psi experiments;
that is, when they have gone through the standard testing routines
with their subjects they obtained only chance results. In most

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