PATRICIA PUTT, Psychic

Patricia Putt has applied for the Challenge (and met all requirements) with a claim of psychic ability.

Ms. Putt would like to develop a test based on readings for random individuals. Ms. Putt suggested a test wherein she would read for individuals and simply ask how accurate the readings were.

That protocol has been declined. We suggested that, instead, Ms. Putt read for a variety of individuals and write the readings down. After all are complete, all the individuals Ms. Putt read for will be given copies of all readings and asked to identify their own.

Ms. Putt has agreed that this is a workable protocol, and we are moving forward with specific negotiations.

~Remie

Today the JREF submitted this protocol to Ms. Putt for approval.







Materials required:


Ten randomly chosen volunteers, all of the same gender

Ten notecards numbered 1-10

Ten lanyards

One graduation robe, size XXL

One ski mask

One pair wraparound sunglasses

One pen

Ten pieces of lined paper numbered 1-10

Clipboard

Cardboard half-shield for clipboard

One chair

Two masking tape marks on the floor, one located no less than twelve feet from the chair, the other located no less than two feet from the chair.

One room with two entrances

One photocopy machine

Two video cameras


Environment stipulations:

No walkie-talkies or other communicators, aside from those used by testers, within the test.

No cameras, camcorders, camera-phones, etc. except for those provided by JREF.

Ms. Putt can bring no objects into the room outside of herself and immediate personal possessions such as jewelry and clothing.

No sleight-of-hand, trickery, or cheating - particularly, Ms. Putt cannot write the same (or similar) readings for all ten volunteers.

If any of the above listed are violated, or if it is determined the Subject has attempted to tilt the results in her favor due to trickery of any kind, the test will be halted immediately and considered a failure. If there is a setup or technological problem, or if for any reason the test must be halted due to extenuating circumstances rather than trickery or simple failure, the test may be conducted up to two additional times.


What Will Constitute a Successful Test:

If five of the ten volunteers are able to identify their own reading (in accordance with the numbers Ms. Putt designates on each of the sheets of paper during the readings) the test will be considered a success.


Experimental Protocol:

1. Each of the volunteers will, before the test begins, put on a lanyard which will have their number (which they will be identified by for the entirety of the test) clipped to it. The number will be printed in 48pt. font to maintain visibility from a distance.

2. JREF Staff will videotape all volunteers as they put on their numbers, with no edits, no cuts, and no gaps. The video should be timestamped, and synched with a video camera in the testing room. The camera will be left running for the entirety of the test.

3. The volunteers will remove all jewelry, clip back their hair if it is long, and remove all make-up (if the volunteers are women - but all volunteers must be of the same gender. Ms. Putt will be told in advance what gender she will be working with if it is not immediately clear.)

4. The first volunteer will enter the testing room, and put on the Graduation Gown, Ski Mask, and Wraparound Sunglasses. JREF staff may help the individual to put on these items if needed. The lanyard with number will be worn outside the gown to retain visibility.

5. The volunteer will sit in the provided chair, and be asked to remain as motionless as possible throughout the test. They will not be permitted to speak, nod, gesture, or get up from the chair in the presence of Ms. Putt.

6. Ms. Putt will enter the testing room through the second door, and pick up the clipboard, pen, and ten sheets of paper which will have already been shielded by the cardboard.

7. Ms. Putt may not move beyond the masking tape mark located at twelve foot distance with the clipboard in her hand.

8. Ms. Putt will write a reading for the volunteer on the piece of paper numbered to correspond with the number attached to the lanyard on the volunteer. If she wishes to approach the volunteer beyond the twelve foot distance masking tape mark, she must place the clipboard on the floor with the shield facing the volunteer and approach empty-handed. She may not move past the two foot masking tape mark whatsoever.

9. When Ms. Putt has finished writing the reading for the volunteer, she will raise her right hand. A JREF staff member will approach, remove the piece of paper corresponding to the current volunteer from the clipboard, place the clipboard back on the floor at the twelve-foot masking tape mark, and escort Ms. Putt from the room.

10. The JREF staff member who escorted Ms. Putt will go to the photocopy machine and immediately make ten copies of the numbered reading. The number printed on the reading will be masked during the photocopy by a blank business card, scotch taped over the number.

11. When Ms. Putt has exited the room, a second JREF staff member will approach the volunteer, help them out of the robe, and escort them back to the hallway.

12. The second volunteer will enter, and the process will be repeated for all volunteers.

13. At the end of the test, JREF staff will have the ten original handwritten readings with visible numbers as well as ten photocopies of each of the readings.

14. A JREF staff member will staple the readings, such that there are ten sets of the ten separate readings.

15. The JREF staff member will enter the volunteer area and separate the volunteers out of sight and hearing range of one another.

16. The volunteers will be asked to look through their packet, identify the reading that belongs to them, tear it from the packet, fold it into quarters, and write their name and identifying number on the outside.

17. The JREF staff member will collect the ten folded, identified readings.

18. The JREF staff member will return to Ms. Putt, and together they will compare the volunteer choices to the original handwritten readings.

19. If five or more of the volunteers have correctly identified their reading (as noted on the original sheets by Ms. Putt), the test will be considered a success, and plans will be made for Ms. Putt to proceed to the final Challenge.

20. Ms. Putt will be permitted to speak to the volunteers following the test, should the volunteers and Ms. Putt decide they wish to. Ms. Putt will be permitted to review both the videotape from the testing room and the videotape from the volunteer area to ensure that the lanyard numbers were never switched.


Time required: No more than five hours

Ms. Putt has written to inform us that often in her readings, the Spirit enters and makes contact through the sound of the sitter's voice. She has asked us to include something in the protocol to allow the sitter to speak.

I have responded and stated that I can write such a thing into the protocol, but that I do not think Randi will necessarily approve the protocol if it is in there. We'll see.

As it stands, I am adding to the protocol that when the sitter enters the room and sits down, and Ms. Putt enters and picks up the clipboard, the sitter will be prompted to say the following:

Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born.
Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight.
Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night.

The piece is a portion of William Blake's 'Auguries of Innocence'.

Ms. Putt has approved of the protocol, and it has been presented to Mr. Randi for alterations.

Mr. Randi has suggested a few changes which will be applied to the protocol, which will be re-drafted and re-posted here and sent along to Ms. Putt.

Ms. Putt has additionally requested that she be allowed to have a friend present during the testing procedure (though not in the testing room) so that she may have some interaction during the test.

The following protocol has been sent to Randi for approval:







Materials required:


Fifteen randomly chosen volunteers, all of the same gender and the same race. (Only ten will be used unless a volunteer is disqualified.)

Fifteen notecards numbered 1-15

Fifteen lanyards

Fifteen copies of the “Auguries of Innocence” excerpt

One graduation robe, size XXL

One ski mask

One pair wraparound sunglasses

One pen

Fifteen pieces of lined paper numbered 1-10

Clipboard

Cardboard half-shield for clipboard

One chair

Two masking tape marks on the floor, one located no less than twelve feet from the chair, the other located no less than two feet from the chair.

One room with two entrances

One photocopy machine

Two video cameras

Scotch tape

One blank business card

NOTE: The remainder of the protocol deals with the test as though only the ten original volunteers will be used. The remaining five volunteers may be called in as replacements by the JREF should there be any issue with the original ten. Ms. Putt may not call in a replacement, and replacements cannot be used in the event that Ms. Putt cannot read the original ten.


Stipulations:

No walkie-talkies or other communicators, aside from those used by testers, within the test.

No cameras, camcorders, camera-phones, etc. except for those provided by JREF.

Ms. Putt can bring no objects into the room outside of herself and immediate personal possessions such as jewelry and clothing.

No sleight-of-hand, trickery, or cheating - particularly, Ms. Putt cannot write the same reading for all ten volunteers.

Ms. Putt can not, in any way, refer to the physical attributes of the volunteers in the readings.

Ms. Putt can not, in any way, refer to the volunteers’ number in her readings.

The test will concern only information given in a written format on the readings. Communication with the volunteers after the test has been concluded will not be grounds for reconsidering the test results.

If any of the above listed are violated, or if it is determined the Subject has attempted to tilt the results in her favor due to trickery of any kind, the test will be halted immediately and considered a failure. If there is a setup or technological problem, or if for any reason the test must be halted due to extenuating circumstances rather than trickery or simple failure, the test may be conducted up to two additional times.


What Will Constitute a Successful Test:

If five of the ten volunteers are able to identify their own reading (in accordance with the numbers designated on each of the sheets of paper, and the numbers on the volunteers‘ lanyards) the test will be considered a success.


Experimental Protocol:

1. Each of the volunteers will, before the test begins, put on a lanyard which will have their number (which they will be identified by for the entirety of the test) clipped to it. The number will be printed in 48pt. font to maintain visibility from a distance. Each volunteer will be issued the “Auguries of Innocence” excerpt and asked to read over it multiple times so that they may be able to easily recite it during the test. They will not have to memorize the excerpt.

2. JREF Staff will videotape all volunteers as they put on their numbers, with no edits, no cuts, and no gaps. The video should be timestamped, and synched with a video camera in the testing room. The camera will be left running for the entirety of the test.

3. The volunteers will remove all jewelry, clip back their hair if it is long, and remove all make-up (if the volunteers are women - but all volunteers must be of the same gender. Ms. Putt will be told in advance what gender she will be working with if it is not immediately clear.)

4. The first volunteer will enter the testing room, and put on the Graduation Gown, Ski Mask, and Wraparound Sunglasses. JREF staff may help the individual to put on these items if needed. The lanyard with number will be worn outside the gown to retain visibility.

5. The volunteer will sit in the provided chair, and be asked to remain as motionless as possible throughout the test. They will not be permitted to nod, gesture, or get up from the chair in the presence of Ms. Putt.

6. The volunteer will not be permitted to speak, beyond reciting the following, which they will be prompted to do by JREF staff after Ms. Putt has entered the room. The volunteer may read the excerpt off their paper.

Every night and every morn
Some to misery are born.
Every morn and every night
Some are born to sweet delight.
Some are born to sweet delight,
Some are born to endless night.

7. Ms. Putt will enter the testing room through the second door, and pick up the clipboard, pen, and ten sheets of paper which will have already been shielded by the cardboard.

8. Ms. Putt may not move beyond the masking tape mark located at twelve foot distance with the clipboard in her hand.

9. Ms. Putt will write a reading for the volunteer on the piece of paper numbered to correspond with the number attached to the lanyard on the volunteer. If she wishes to approach the volunteer beyond the twelve foot distance masking tape mark, she must place the clipboard on the floor with the shield facing the volunteer and approach empty-handed. She may not move past the two foot masking tape mark whatsoever.

10. When Ms. Putt has finished writing the reading for the volunteer, she will put the pen on the floor and raise her right hand. This will be the volunteer’s cue to stand. The volunteer will stand and turn their back to Ms. Putt. A JREF staff member will approach, remove the piece of paper corresponding to the current volunteer from the clipboard, place the clipboard back on the floor at the twelve-foot masking tape mark, and escort Ms. Putt from the room.

11. The JREF staff member who escorted Ms. Putt will go to the photocopy machine and immediately make ten copies of the numbered reading. The number printed on the reading will be masked during the photocopy by a blank business card, scotch taped over the number.

12. When Ms. Putt has exited the room, a second JREF staff member will approach the volunteer, help them out of the robe, and escort them back to the hallway.

13. The second volunteer will enter, and the process will be repeated for all volunteers.

14. At the end of the test, JREF staff will have the ten original handwritten readings with visible numbers as well as ten photocopies of each of the readings. The JREF staff member will read the ten original readings and ensure that Ms. Putt has adhered to all stipulations regarding them (ie: that there is no mention of the volunteers’ numbers, physical attributes, etc.). If any of the stipulations have been violated, the staff member may call in replacement volunteers to fulfill the requirement of ten readings. In this situation, the violating reading(s) must be destroyed and not supplied to the volunteers. The volunteer with the violating reading will not be given a packet.

15. A JREF staff member will arrange the readings into ten stacks that each contain all ten separate readings from Ms. Putt. The volunteer will shuffle each stack, so that the order is not the order that they were written in. The volunteer will staple each stack of readings into ten separate packets containing all readings.

16. The JREF staff member will enter the volunteer area and separate the volunteers out of sight and hearing range of one another.

17. The volunteers will be asked to look through their packet, identify the reading that belongs to them, tear it from the packet, fold it into quarters, and write their name and identifying number on the outside.

18. The JREF staff member will collect the ten folded, identified readings.

19. The JREF staff member will return to Ms. Putt, and together they will compare the volunteer choices to the original handwritten readings.

20. If five or more of the volunteers have correctly identified their reading (as noted on the original sheets by Ms. Putt), the test will be considered a success, and plans will be made for Ms. Putt to proceed to the final Challenge.

21. Ms. Putt will be permitted to speak to the volunteers following the test, should the volunteers and Ms. Putt decide they wish to. Ms. Putt will be permitted to review both the videotape from the testing room and the videotape from the volunteer area to ensure that the lanyard numbers were never switched.


Time required: No more than five hours


_____________________________________________________________________________________


I, the undersigned, agree to all terms and conditions listed in this document outlining the protocol for my preliminary test in the James Randi Educational Foundation’s One Million Dollar Challenge. I agree that the protocol outline describes a fair test of my claimed ability.



___________________________________
Signature

The protocol has been submitted to Ms. Putt for approval.

Christopher French and Richard Wiseman are carrying out the test of Patricia Putt in the near future.

The test will be conducted on 6 May. Keep an eye on Swift for more details.

Patricia Putt is in test at the time of this writing. Here is the final protocol that is being used by Professor Richard Wiseman and Professor Christopher French, who are conducting the test.


Protocol for Patricia Putt


Psychic Readings



Materials required:



Fifteen female Caucasian volunteers, aged 18-30, all able to read without glasses. (Only ten will be used unless a volunteer is disqualified.)


Fifteen laminated A4 sheets bearing the numbers 1-15 in large (Times New Roman, 400 pt) font, with holes punched in and string threaded through so that the sheets can be hung around volunteers’ necks.


Two laminated copies of the “Auguries of Innocence” excerpt.


One graduation robe, size 55.


One ski mask.


One pair wraparound sunglasses.


Fifteen pairs of white socks.


One pen to record readings (plus a spare).


One black felt-tip pen.


Fifteen pieces of lined paper numbered 1-15.


Clipboard.


Cardboard half-shield for clipboard.


Two chairs.


One table.


Two masking tape marks on the floor, one located no less than twelve feet from the volunteer’s chair, the other located no less than two feet from the volunteer’s chair.


One room with two entrances (i.e., main door plus entrance via gap in retractable screen).


One room for preparing volunteers for readings (see below).


One scanner/copier.


One stapler.


Three video cameras.


One digital camera.


Scotch tape.


One blank business card.


Make-up remover, wipes, etc.


NOTE: The remainder of the protocol deals with the test as though only ten volunteers will be used. The remaining five volunteers may be called in as replacements by the experimenters should there be any issue with the original ten. Mrs. Putt may not call in a replacement, and replacements cannot be used in the event that Mrs. Putt cannot read the original ten.



Stipulations:


No walkie-talkies or other communicators, aside from those used by testers, within the test.


No cameras, camcorders, camera-phones, etc., except for those used by the experimenters.


Mrs. Putt can bring no objects into the room outside of herself and immediate personal possessions such as jewelry and clothing.


No sleight-of-hand, trickery, or cheating - particularly, Mrs. Putt cannot write the same reading for all ten volunteers.


Mrs. Putt can not, in any way, refer to the physical attributes of the volunteers in the readings.


Mrs. Putt can not, in any way, refer to the volunteers’ number in her readings.


Mrs. Putt can not, in any way, refer to events that take place during the reading (e.g., something overheard happening outside on the back field or in the corridor nearby) in her readings.


Mrs. Putt can not, in any way, give any indication of the sequential position of a trial in her readings (e.g., making a reference to “the first volunteer”).


The test will concern only information given in a written format for the readings. Communication with the volunteers after the test has been concluded will not be grounds for reconsidering the test results.


If any of the above listed are violated (with the specific exceptions noted below, e.g., with respect to the circumstances under which a volunteer will be replaced), or if it is determined the Subject has attempted to tilt the results in her favour due to trickery of any kind, the test will be halted immediately and considered a failure. If there is a setup or technological problem, or if for any reason the test must be halted due to extenuating circumstances rather than trickery or simple failure, the test may be conducted up to two additional times.



What Will Constitute Passing the Test:


If five or more of the ten volunteers are able to identify their own reading (in accordance with the numbers designated on each of the sheets of paper, and the numbers on the volunteers’ lanyards), Mrs. Putt will be deemed to have passed the test.



Experimenters:


Although each experimenter will have allocated roles to perform during the test, it should also be possible to still run the test should any one of the experimenters be unable to take part for any reason on the day by re-allocating and combining some roles. In general terms, these are the roles that each experimenter will play:


Prof Chris French (CF): Ensuring all equipment has been set up properly prior to commencement of testing (with assistance from other team members); ensuring that volunteers turn up on time for their reading and understand what will be required of them; observing proceedings in the testing room; ensuring volunteers return for the judging phase; in charge of proceedings during the judging phase; observing final tallying of hits with RW and Mrs Putt.


Prof Richard Wiseman (RW): In charge of proceedings during readings; responsible for judging, with support from others, whether protocol has been violated; observing judging phase; responsible for final tallying of hits with Mrs Putt and announcing result to volunteers.


Panka Juhasz (PJ): Responsible for filming readings according to protocol, as well as filming copying of readings, judging phase, and final tallying of results.


James Munroe (JM): In charge of contacting volunteers and preparing them for their reading and of contacting volunteers to return for judging phase of test.


Fabio Tartarini (FT): Responsible for (a) copying the readings in accordance with the protocol at the end of each reading, (b) standing in for SB should she require a comfort break, (c) bringing in refreshments as required, (d) putting the readings in pre-arranged randomised orders and preparing materials for volunteers to judge the readings, and (e) any other unforeseen tasks that may arise.


Suzanne Barbieri (SB): Responsible for looking after Mrs Putt and her companion, Trevor. This will essentially involve keeping Mrs Putt and Trevor company during the testing phase (and changing the tape in the camera as required) and looking after Mrs Putt and Trevor during the judging phase. If either requires a comfort break, SB will contact CF or RW who will act as an escort.



Experimental Protocol:


1. Before the testing phase begins, Mrs Putt will decide the order in which she would like to do the readings by listing the numbers from 1 to 15 in her preferred order. She will have no knowledge of which numbers correspond to which volunteers and once the order is specified it cannot be changed. The volunteers will be called in in the order specified by Mrs Putt by referring to a pre-prepared master sheet listing all volunteers, numbered from 1 to 15, along with their mobile telephone numbers.


2. Before the testing phase begins, members of the experimental team and Mrs Putt will perform a “dry run” trial in which one member of the experimental team will play the role of the volunteer in order to ensure that logistical aspects of the test are satisfactory. Mrs Putt will not be required to produce an actual reading during this phase. Should she choose to do so, it will not be recorded or considered as evidence.


3. Prior to the start of each reading, Mrs Putt will remain in a screened-off area of WB208 (the “rest area”) with her companion and one of the experimental team (SB). All present in this screened-off area will be filmed throughout the entire test (including when Mrs Putt is giving a reading in the main area of WB208) with the only breaks in filming taking place when a tape needs to be changed by SB. Those present in the screened-off area will be free to converse with each other between readings but no talking may take place during the readings.


4. Each of the volunteers will be called on their mobile phone by JM a few minutes before they are due to have their reading. If a volunteer cannot be contacted after 10 minutes of trying to do so, they will be dropped from the test and replaced. If the office to be used for changing (WB202/2) is occupied by the previous volunteer, the new volunteer will wait with JM in the area outside WB208 until it becomes free. Each volunteer will be issued with a laminated copy of an excerpt from the “Auguries of Innocence” (see below) and asked to read over it multiple times so that they may be able to easily recite it during the test. They will not have to memorize the excerpt.


5. Once WB202/2 is available (i.e., previous volunteer has been dismissed), JM and CF will accompany the volunteer to WB202/2. Before the reading begins, the volunteer will be instructed by JM and CF concerning what the reading will entail and how they should behave throughout. JM will take a digital photograph of the volunteer holding the large A4 number in front of her. The volunteers (all women) will remove all jewelry, clip back their hair if it is long, and remove all make-up. Volunteers will leave mobile phones in WB202/2 during the reading (the door will be locked when the room is not occupied). Each volunteer will remove her shoes and put on a new pair of white sports socks. She will also put on a graduation gown, ski mask, and wraparound sunglasses. JM and CF may help the individual to put on these items if needed. Finally, volunteers will put on a lanyard which will have their number attached to it (by which they will be identified for the entirety of the test). The number will be printed in 400 pt. font to maintain visibility from a distance.


6. The volunteer will enter the testing room with CF and sit in the volunteer’s chair provided, facing the wall. RW will be responsible for proceedings in the testing room from that point, with PJ responsible for recording each trial and CF acting as an observer. The volunteer will be asked by RW to remain as motionless as possible throughout the test. They will not be permitted to nod, gesture, or get up from the chair in the presence of Mrs. Putt. The lanyard with the number will be worn outside the gown to retain visibility, with the number positioned so that it is clearly visible to Mrs Putt.


7. RW will place the numbered sheet of lined A4 corresponding to the current volunteer on the clipboard which will already be fixed into the cardboard shield. This will then be placed upon Mrs. Putt’s table along with the pen. RW will then call in Mrs. Putt. Mrs. Putt will enter the testing room through a gap in the retractable screen and the screen will then be pulled across fully to close off the “rest area”. Mrs. Putt will sit at the table upon which will be the shielded clipboard, pen, and the sheet of paper corresponding by number to the volunteer.


8. The volunteer will not be permitted to speak, beyond reciting the following, which they will be prompted to do by RW after Mrs. Putt has entered the room. The volunteer may read the excerpt off the laminated sheet, a copy of which will always be available in the testing area.


Every night and every morn,

Some to misery are born.

Every morn and every night,

Some are born to sweet delight.

Some are born to sweet delight,

Some are born to endless night.


9. Mrs. Putt will write a reading for the volunteer on the piece of paper numbered to correspond with the number attached to the lanyard on the volunteer. The reading will be one side of A4 in length, no longer and no shorter. There will be a number (from 1 to 15) printed upon each sheet with a rectangle drawn around it. Mrs Putt should not write anything inside this rectangle as this corresponds to the area that will be covered by the business card during copying. If Mrs Putt wishes to approach the volunteer beyond the twelve foot distance masking tape mark, she must leave the clipboard on the table with the shield facing the volunteer’s back and approach empty-handed. She may not move past the two foot masking tape mark whatsoever.


10. When Mrs. Putt has finished writing the reading for the volunteer, she will put the pen on the table and raise her right hand. This will be RW’s cue to escort Mrs. Putt back to the “rest area”. RW will then return to the test area, closing the screen behind him.


11. The volunteer will be escorted by CF back to WB202/2 to remove the graduation gown, ski mask, wraparound sunglasses, lanyard and socks, with help from CF if required. The importance of returning later for the judging phase will be strongly emphasized to the volunteer. JM will hold the next volunteer in the area outside WB208 until WB202/2 becomes available.


12. Meanwhile, FT will enter WB208. FT will remove the piece of paper corresponding to the most recent volunteer from the clipboard and place the clipboard back on Mrs Putt’s table (behind the twelve-foot masking tape mark). Mrs. Putt may return to the main area of WB208 once the volunteer has left the room should she wish to do so. RW will examine the reading to ensure that Mrs. Putt has adhered to all stipulations specified (i.e., that there is no mention of the volunteer’s number, physical attributes, etc., no indication of the sequential position of the trial, and no mention of events which occurred during the reading). If RW judges that there have been minor departures from the protocol that can be dealt with by deleting 12 words or fewer from the reading, he will (a) seek confirmation of his judgement from other team members, including CF; (b) inform Mrs. Putt of the team decision and the reason(s) for it; and (c) use a black felt tip pen to obscure the offending words before the readings are copied. If RW judges that there have been major departures from the protocol that cannot be dealt with by deleting 12 words or fewer from the reading, he will (a) seek confirmation of his judgement from other team members, including CF; (b) inform Mrs. Putt of the team decision and the reason(s) for it; and (c) the volunteer’s reading for the offending trial will not be included in the judging phase. The volunteer will be thanked by CF and informed that she will not be needed for the judging phase. The volunteer will be replaced by the one of the replacement volunteers on the list.


13. Once a reading has been judged acceptable in terms of the protocol by RW, FT will make ten copies of the numbered reading using the scanner in WB208. The number printed on the reading will be masked during the copying by a blank business card, scotch taped over the number. Mrs. Putt may witness this procedure should she choose to do so and the copying will be filmed by PJ. Once the copying is complete, Mrs. Putt will return to the screened-off “rest area”.


14. The next volunteer will follow the same procedure as described above and this will be repeated for all volunteers.


15. At the end of the test, the experimenters will have the ten original handwritten readings with visible numbers as well as ten copies of each of the readings. Mrs. Putt and Trevor will be escorted by CF and SB to CF’s office. SB will stay with Mrs. Putt and Trevor. CF will return to the testing area.


16. FT will arrange the readings into ten stacks that each contain all ten separate readings from Mrs. Putt arranged in different pre-specified random orderings for each stack. FT will staple each stack of readings into ten separate packets containing all readings.


17. Meanwhile, JM will contact all ten volunteers for whom acceptable readings are available to tell them to return for the judging phase. The volunteers will assemble in the testing area, sitting on seats arranged in two rows facing away from each other with the seats as far apart as possible. Volunteers will be instructed by CF that they must not speak at all until the judging phase is complete.


18. When all volunteers are assembled, they will be asked by CF to look through their packet, identify the reading that belongs to them, tear it from the packet, fold it into quarters, and write their name and identifying number on the outside. They will also be asked to initial each page of the remaining set of readings.


19. CF will collect the ten folded, identified readings, as well as the remaining initialled readings. As the chosen readings are collected in, each number written on the chosen reading will be matched against the digital photograph taken previously in order to ensure that no volunteers have inadvertently written the wrong number down. The volunteers will be thanked and told that the result of the test will be announced after the total number of hits has been tallied. JM and FT will remain in the main testing area with the volunteers.


20. CF, RW and PJ will go to CF’s office, where RW and Mrs. Putt will together compare the volunteer choices to the original handwritten readings. PJ will film the proceedings, with CF, SB and Trevor present as observers.


21. If five or more of the volunteers have correctly identified their reading (as noted on the original sheets by Mrs. Putt), Mrs. Putt will be judged to have passed the test and plans will be made for her to proceed to the final Challenge.


22. Mrs. Putt will be permitted to speak to the volunteers following the test, should the volunteers and Mrs. Putt decide they wish to. Mrs. Putt will be permitted to review both the videotape from the testing room and the photographs of the volunteers holding their A4 numbers.



Time required: Approximately 7 hours



_____________________________________________________________________________________



I, the undersigned, agree to all terms and conditions listed in this document outlining the protocol for my preliminary test in the James Randi Educational Foundation’s One Million Dollar Challenge. I agree that the protocol outline describes a fair test of my claimed ability.


I do not believe the James Randi Educational Foundation, nor the individuals chosen by the James Randi Educational Foundation to conduct this test, will intentionally cause my failure through either intended or unintended means.


In the event that I do not pass this test, I will hold neither the James Randi Educational Foundation nor the individuals testing my ability responsible, and understand that in the event of failure I am permitted to re-submit my claim and application one year from the date of the test.


I agree that, without exception, the conditions described are fair and satisfactory for a test of my claimed ability, and I have no objections to make.


Under these circumstances, I expect that I can attain the required results.



___________________________________ ____________________________

Signature Date

None of the volunteers in Patricia Putt's test were able to correctly identify their readings.

In order to pass the preliminary challenge, Mrs. Putt was required to get a minimum of five out of ten.

Mrs. Putt's challenge file has been closed.