Near-death veridicality research in the hospital setting: Problems and promise.

Abstract

We at tempted to conduct near-death veridicali ty research in the hospital setting, the rat ionale for which (we presented previously (Holden, 1988).) This paper describes problems, both anticipated and unant ic ipated, tha t we encountered. Based on the successes and failures of this under taking, we present recommendations for future research of this type. The biggest hurdle in research, it has been said, is the formulation of the research question and the refinement of the research design. Our experience, in the case of near-death (ND) research in the hospital setting, suggests that even the researcher armed with a well-developed question and design faces numerous obstacles. This article describes our experience with research of this type. At the time of this study, Dr. Holden was a candidate for the Ed.D. degree at the Northern Illinois University Graduate School; she is now Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at the University of North Texas. Chaplain Joesten is Director of Parish Relations at Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, IL. This study was funded in part by a Dissertation Completion Award granted to Dr. Holden by the Northern Illinois University Graduate School. The authors also express gratitude to Robert Stromberg, Chaplain of the Lutheran General Hospital CCU at the time of this study, for his assistance in this research. Reprint requests should be addressed to Dr. Holden at the Department of Counselor Education, College of Education, P.O. Box 13857, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203-3857. Jour~cal of Near-Death Studies, 9(1) Fall 1990 9 1990 Human Sciences Press 4 5 46 JOURNAL OF NEAR-DEATH STUDIES Research Question and Design Holden (1988) previously presented in depth the rationale for the study undertaken herein. To summarize briefly, the focus was the naturalistic near-death out-of-body experience (nND OBE). In this phase of the near-death experience (NDE), experiencers (NDErs) have reportedly observed the physical environment, usually in the immediate vicinity of, but from a vantage point separate from, the physical body (Irwin, 1985; Ring, 1980; Sabom, 1982). The research question was, "Are nND OBErs' visual perceptions veridical?" That is, do such perceptions match consensual reality? The research design involved placing visual stimuli in the corners of hospital rooms in which near-death episodes were most likely to occur. The stimuli were to be placed in such a way as to be visible only from a vantage point of looking down from the ceiling. No living person was to know the exact content of the stimuli, thus rendering the design double-blind. Once the patient was resuscitated from a near-death episode in one of the "marked" rooms, knowledge of the content of the visual stimulus would be assessed. We used for the visual stimuli eight-inch square cards made of picture matting. Each card was one of six colors: red, yellow, blue, orange, green, or purple. In the center was one of six symbols: solid circle, square, diamond, triangle, five-pointed star, or plus sign. Also printed on each card was one of six single digits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7. Six sets of 100 cards each were produced by an artist. Each set contained cards showing one of the colors, symbols, and numbers. The artist had determined the combinations through use of a random numbers table. So, for example, all the blue cards might have contained a triangle with the number 3, all red a square with the number 7, and so forth. She produced these cards in isolation and packed each set in a box. The six boxes were then sealed and randomly numbered. Meanwhile, card holders had been constructed of white poster board, 9" square with a 1/2" lip all around. Each was mounted with adhesive tabs onto two L-shaped gray metal brackets. The holders were to be mounted in the Emergency Room (ER) and in each room in the Coronary and Intensive Care Units (CCU and ICU). One holder was to be mounted in each corner, as far down from the ceiling as possible without the contents being visible to anyone sitting, standing, or lying in the room. The backs of all the printed cards were white, and the cards had all been packed face down in the boxes. Thus it was intended that when one chose a box at random and opened it, one would not see the face of JANICE MINER HOLDEN AND LEROY JOESTEN 47 the cards and therefore would not know the visual content of the card. A research associate was to take the box to each hospital room containing holders, at a time when the room was empty and closed, stand on a stool and, while looking away, select the top card from the box, turn it over, and place it in the holder. Thus double-blind criteria were