The Noetic Experience and Belief Scale: A validation and reliability study
Helané Wahbeh, Garret Yount, Cassandra Vieten, Dean Radin, Arnaud Delorme
F1000Research February 21, 2020 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.20409.2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 361 |
| Population | General population adults in the United States, plus a separate sample of 646 IONS Discovery Lab participants |
| Duration | One month test-retest interval for a subsample of 96 participants |
| Measures | Noetic Experiences and Beliefs Scale (NEBS), Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability, confirmatory factor analysis |
| Key findings | The NEBS, a 20-item visual analog scale, demonstrated convergent validity, reliability, and internal consistency for measuring paranormal belief and experience as separate constructs, with confirmatory factor analysis supporting belief and experience as distinct latent variables in both the general population sample and the IONS Discovery Lab sample. |
Abstract
Background: Belief in the paranormal is widespread worldwide. Recent surveys suggest that subjective experiences of the paranormal are common. A concise instrument that adequately evaluates beliefs as distinct from experiences does not currently exist. To address this gap, we created the Noetic Experiences and Beliefs Scale (NEBS) which evaluates belief and experience as separate constructs.
Methods: The NEBS is a 20-item survey with 10 belief and 10 experience items rated on a visual analog scale from 0-100. In an observational study, the survey was administered to 361 general population adults in the United States and a subsample of 96 one month later. Validity, reliability and internal consistency were evaluated. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to confirm the latent variables of belief and experience. The survey was then administered to a sample of 646 IONS Discovery Lab participants to evaluate divergent validity and confirm belief and experience as latent variables of the model in a different population.
Results: The NEBS demonstrated convergent validity, reliability and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha Belief 0.90; Experience 0.93) and test-retest reliability (Belief: r = 0.83 ; Experience: r = 0.77). A confirmatory factor analysis model with belief and experience as latent variables demonstrated a good fit. The factor model was confirmed as having a good fit and divergent validity was established in the sample of 646 IONS Discovery Lab participants.
Conclusions: The NEBS is a short, valid, and reliable instrument for evaluating paranormal belief and experience.