Bruce Greyson responds
The Journal of near-death studies 1996 DOI: 10.17514/jnds-1996-14-3-p218-219. (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Commentary Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | The author argues that her finding of similar life-satisfaction ratings across NDErs, near-death nonNDErs, and never-near-death individuals is less likely to be due solely to sampling bias because it replicated an earlier study of an unselected elderly sample, though she concedes the LANDS membership may be too homogeneous to detect differences. She also relays a suggestion that NDErs and nonNDErs may judge life satisfaction by different standards. |
Abstract
To the Editor:I appreciate Karlis Osis' interest in NDErs' satisfaction with life, and his insights into possible sampling bias in my work.Osis, a pioneer in the research of out-of-body experiences and deathbed visions, questioned whether the similar ratings of my three study groups-NDErs, individuals who had some close to death without NDEs, and individuals who had never come close to death-might have been due to their all having been drawn from the LANDS membership, who may not be representative of other NDErs or the general population.The fact that my findings replicated those of Melodie Olson and Peggy Dulaney's study (1993) of an unselected sample of elderly NDErs and nonNDErs makes it somewhat less plausible that they were due solely to sampling bias.Nevertheless, Osis' point is valid that the LANDS membership may be so homogeneous in certain attitudes as to obscure differences between NDErs and nonNDErs that would be obvious among non-LANDS members.Another possible explanation for my negative results has recently been brought to my attention.Bill Bingham (personal communication, November 3, 1994), coordinator of the Houston chapter of the Friends of LANDS, suggested that in assessing their satisfaction with life, NDErs and nonNDErs may judge their current situation by very different yardsticks.NonNDErs compare their current existence to an idealized earthly life that may differ from their current life only