Description

This article is from the Scientific Skepticism FAQ, by Paul Johnson Paul@treetop.demon.co.uk with numerous contributions by others.

2.5: Does dowsing work? (scientific skepticism)

Dowsing is the art of finding underground water by extra-sensory
perception. Sometimes tools are used. The traditional one is a
forked hazel stick. When held in the correct way this will twitch in
response to small muscle movements in the back and shoulders. Another
tool that has become popular in recent years is a pair of rods mounted
in tubes that are held in each hand just in front of the user.

        Rod bent into tube.
        |
        V
        r-------------------------------
       ||                    ^
       ||                    |
       || <- Tube           Rod
       ||
       ||
       ||

When water (or something else) is dowsed, the rods turn towards each
other. Like the forked hazel stick it amplifies small movements of
the arm and shoulder muscles.

Unfortunately careful tests of dowsers have revealed absolutely no
ability to find water or anything else by extra-sensory perception.
Dowsing success stories can be explained by noting that wherever you
dig you will find water. You just have to dig deep enough. It has
also been suggested that dowsers may unconsciously use clues in the
environment.

James Randi has tested more than 100 dowsers (I don't know the actual
count). He tells that only 2 tried to cheat. This suggests that
dowsers are basically honest people.

The Skeptical Inquirer has published a number of articles on dowsing.
James Randi's "A Controlled Test of Dowsing" was in vol. 4, no. 1, pp.
16-20. Michael Martin's "A New Controlled Dowsing Experiment" was in
vol. 8, pp. 138-140. Dick Smith's "Two Tests of Divining in
Australia" was in vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 34-37. Randi's book Flim-Flam!
has a section on dowsing. The main skeptical book about dowsing is
Vogt, E.Z. and Hyman R. (1959, 2nd edition 1979) "Water witching USA".
The University of Chicago Press. 260 pages. Available as a paperback.

 

Continue to:

• prev: 2.4: Who are the main psi researchers?
• Index
• next: 2.6: Could psi be inhibited by the presence of skeptics?

Share and Enjoy

Tags

science, engineering, scientific skepticism, skeptics, Conspiracy Theory