table-tilting

n. in spiritualism, movements of a table during a seance, ostensibly reflecting the efforts of spirits to communicate with the participants. In parapsychology, the same movements might be attributed to psychokinesis. Table-tilting seances were very popular in the Victorian era, but the phenomenon itself was often faked. Also called table-tipping; table-turning.

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

reproducibility

n. the extent to which a study produces the same findings when it is conducted by a different independent researcher. A given research finding is thought to be stronger when it can be both repeated and reproduced. See repeatability; replication.