Professor Robert Morris
Prof. Morris held the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology from December 1985 up until his sudden death in August 2004. He held a BSc in Psychology (1963) from the University of Pittsburgh and a PhD in Psychology (1969) from Duke University (minor in Zoology). His specialist training was in Comparative Psychology, and his doctoral thesis was on "Factors affecting the maintenance of the pair bond in the Blond Ring Dove, Streptopelia risoria". He also received training in parapsychology from the Foundation for the Nature of Man in Durham, N. Carolina. Following this he did two years of postdoctoral research at Duke University Gerontology Center, folowed by full time posts at the Psychical Research Foundation in Durham N. Carolina, U. California at Santa Barbara, U. California at Irvine and Syracuse University, before coming to U. Edinburgh in 1985. He also taught individual courses at JFK University and University of Southern California, as well as honours seminars at Duke University. He developed and taught over twenty different courses covering both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and taught sections of several more. During his time at Edinburgh he had seventeen students complete PhDs under his supervision, serving as second or external supervisor for several more, at U. Edinburgh, Sheffield U., Coventry U. and U. C. Northampton. He also served as external examiner for honours students in Psychology at Strathclyde University and U. C. Northampton.
Prof Morris had over 100 publications, some in Comparative Psychology and in Human Factors, but most in Parapsychology, including coauthorship of two books. He gave invited lectures at most major universities in Britain as well as universities in most Western European countries. He was on the Council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and President of the Psychology Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. Twice he was President of the Parapsychological Association (an affiliate of the AAAS) and he co-edited the Proceedings of the Parapsycholgical Association as well as the European Journal of Parapsychology. He served on the Council of the Society for Psychical Research and was most recently a Vice President. He was recipient of the Myers Award of the British Psychological Society, the Myers memorial Medal from the Society for Psychical research, the Meritorious Activity Prize from ISLIS and the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Parapsychological Association.
His main recent funding sources were The Institut fuer Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene in Freiburg, Germany, and the Fundacao Bial in Porto, Portugal. His postgraduate students have received funding from these sources, plus the Perrott-Warrick Fund at Cambridge University, the Society for Psychical Research in London, the Economic and Social Research Council, the Bjorkheim Fund in Stockholm, the Parapsychology Foundation in New York and the University of Edinburgh itself.
His research interests included animal social behaviour, human factors, the psychology of deception, volitional competence and performance enhancement, the psychology of anomalous experiences and various aspects of parapsychology. His most recent research activities involved supervision of, and collaboration in, roughly twenty projects in the last four of these areas. Professor Robert L Morris
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PUBLICATIONS & DELIVERED PAPERS
Selected Publications
Morris R. L. 2002. The Koestler Parapsychology Unit and the Study of Consciousness: Journal of International Society of Life Information Sciences (ISLIS). Volume 20, No.2., pp373-378
Morris R. L. 2001. Research Methods in Experimental Parapsychology: Problems and Prospects. European Journal of Parapsychology. Volume 16, pp8-18.
Morris R. L. 2001. Guest Editorial: The Continuing Evolution of Parapsychology. The Journal of Parapsychology. Volume 65 December 2001, pp327-334.
Morris R. L. 2000. Parapsychology in the 21st Century. Journal of Parapsychology, 64. pp123-137.
Morris, R. L. 1999. The Responsibilities of Instructors in Parapsychology. In Zingrone, N. (Ed.) Education in Parapsychology. New York: Parapsychology Foundation, Inc., pp.57-72.
Morris R. L. 1999. Experimental systems in mind-matter research. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 13, pp.561-578.
Delanoy, D. L. and Morris, R. L. 1999/8. A DMILS training study utilising two shielded environments. European Journal of Parapsychology, 14, pp.52-67.
Steinkamp F., Milton J., Morris R. L. 1998. A meta-analysis of forced-choice experiments comparing clairvoyance and precognition. Journal of Parapsychology, 62. pp.193-218.
Brady, C. and Morris, R.L.1997. Attention Focusing Through Remote Mental Interaction: A Replication and Exploration of Parameters. Proceedings of Presented Papers of the Parapsychological Association 1997 38th Annual Convention, pp 73-91
Symmons, C. and Morris R.L. 1997. Drumming at Seven Hz and Automated Ganzfeld Performance. Proceedings of Presented Papers of the Parapsychological Association 1997 38th Annual Convention, pp 441-453
Morris, R. L. 1997. Parapsychology and Transpersonal Experiences. NDE Territori Oltre la Vita. Atti del 1st Congresso Internazionale di Studi delle Esperienze di Confine La Vita e la Morte Psicologia e Parapsicologia degli Stati Intermedi, San Marino, pp. 7-13
Dalton K. S., Morris R. L., Delanoy D. L., Radin D.I., Taylor R., Wiseman R. 1996 Security measures in an automated ganzfeld system. Journal of Parapsychology, 60, pp.129-148.
Morris, R. L. 1996. Recent Developments in Experimental Parapsychology. Aquem e Alem do Cerebro. 1st Simposio da Fundacao Bial, Oporto, Portugal, pp. 29-45.
Morris, R. L. 1996. Koestler's Legacy: Parapsychology at the University of Edinburgh. The Skeptic vol 10 nos. 5 & 6, pp. 6-8.
Wiseman, R., Beloff, J and Morris, R.L. 1995. Testing the ESP Claims of SORRAT. Skeptical Inquirer vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 45-46
Watt, C. and Morris, R.L. 1996. Research at the Koestler Chair of Parapsychology. Revista Argentina de Psicologia Paranormal
Gissurarson, L.R. and Morris, R.L. 1995. A Proposed Research Paradigm for the Study of Volitional Mentation. European Journal of Parapsychology 11, pp. 35-57.
Morris, R.L., Dalton, K.S., Delanoy, D.L., and Watt, C. 1995. Comparison of the Sender/No Sender Condition in the Ganzfeld. Proceedings of Presented Papers of the Parapsychological Association 38th Annual Convention, pp. 244-259.
Watt, C. and Morris, R.L. 1995. The Relationships Among Performance on a Prototype Indicator of Perceptual Defence/Vigilance, Personality, and Extrasensory Perception. Personality and Individual Differences 16, pp. 635-648.
Wiseman, R. and Morris, R.L. 1995. Guidelines for Testing Psychic Claimants.University of Hertfordshire Press, Hatfield.
Wiseman, R. and Morris, R.L. 1995. Recalling Pseudo-Psychic Demonstrations.British Journal of Psychology 86 pp. 113-126
Wiseman, R., and Morris, R.L. 1994. Modelling the Stratagems of Psychic Fraud.European Journal of Parapsychology 10 pp. 31-44
Morris, R.L. 1994. Spontaneous Synchronistic Events as Seen Through a Simple Communication Model. Coly, L., and Shapin, B. (Ed.) Spontaneous Psi, Depth Psychology and Parapsychology pp. 137-162 Parapsychology Foundation, Inc., New York
Morris, R.L. 1993. Psi Research and the Concept of Volition. Coly, L. and Shapin, B. (Eds.) Psi Research Methodology: A Re-examination pp. 255-273 Parapsychology Foundation, Inc., New York ISBN No. 0-912328- 43-6
Morris, R.L. 1992. Parapsychology in the 1990's: Addressing the Challenge.European Journal of Parapsychology 8 pp. 1-26
Wiseman, R., Beloff, J. and Morris, R.L. 1992. Testing the ESP Claims of SORRAT. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 58 pp. 363-377
Morgan, K., Morris, R.L. and Gibbs, S. 1991. When does a Mouse Become a Rat? or Comparing Performance and Preferences in Direct Manipulation and Command Line Environment. The Computer Journal Vol. 34, No. 3 pp. 26-272
Morgan, K., and Morris, R.L. 1991. A Review of Apparently Successful Methods for the Enhancement of Anomalous Phenomena. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research 58 No. 824 pp. 1-9
Gissurarson, L. R. and Morris, R.L. 1991. Examination of Six Questionnaires as Predictors of Psychokinesis Performance. Journal of Parapsychology 55 pp. 119-145
Gissurarson, L. R. and Morris, R. L. 1990. Volition and Psychokinesis.Journal of Parapsychology 54 pp. 331-370
Morris, R.L. 1990. The Challenge of Parapsychology. Scott, A.(Ed.) Frontiers of Science Basil Blackwell, Oxford
Morris, R.L. 1989. Parapsychology. Colman, A. and Beaumont, M.G. (Ed.) Psychology Survey 7 pp. 231-255. British Psychological Society, Leicester
Morris, R.L. 1988. Parapsychology, Paradox and Exploration of the Impossible. Speculations in Science and Technology 10 pp. 303, 309
Morris, R.L. 1987. Parapsychology and the Demarcation Problem. Inquiry 30 pp. 241-251
Morris, R.L. 1987. Minimising Subject Fraud in Parapsychology Laboratories. European Journal of Parapsychology 6 pp. 137-149
Schmidt, H., Morris, R.L.. and Rudolph, L.R. 1986. Channelling Evidence for a PK Effect to Independent Observers. Journal of Parapsychology 50 pp. 1-17
Morris, R.L.. 1986. Psi and Human Factors: The Role of Psi in Human-Equipment Interactions. Coly, L. and Shapin, B. (Ed.) Current Trends in Psi Research Parapsychology Foundation, New York
Edge, H., Palmer, J., Rush, J. and Morris, R.L.. 1986. Foundations of Parapsychology Routledge, London, Kegan Paul
Morris, R. L. 1986. What psi is not: The necessity for experiments. In Edge et al., Foundations of Parapsychology, London, Kegan Paul, pp. 78-110.
Morris, R.L., 1982. Assessing Experimental Support for True Precognition. Journal of Parapsychology 46 pp. 321-336
Debes, J., and Morris, R.L. 1982. Comparison of Striving and Non-striving Instructional Sets in a PK Study. Journal of Parapsychology 46 pp. 297-312
Morris, R.L. 1982. Mainstream Science, Experts, and Anomaly. George O. Abell and Barry Singer (Ed.) A Review of Science and the Paranormal: Probing the Existence of the Supernatural. Journal of A.S.P.R. 76 pp. 257-281
Morris, R.L., Nanko, M., and Phillips, D. 1982. A Comparison of Two Popularly Advocated Visual Imagery Strategies in a Psychokinesis Task. Journal of Parapsychology 46, pp. 1-16
Morris, R.L. 1982. An Updated Survey of Methods and Issues in ESP Research. Krippner, S. (Ed.) Advances in Parapsychological Research 3 Plenum Press, N York
Morris, R.L., 1981. Developing "Extreme case" Causal Models for Synchronistic Phenomena. Shapin, B., and Coly, L. (Ed.) Concepts and Theories of Parapsychology Parapsychology Foundation, New York
Morris, R.L.. 1980. Some Comments on the Assessment of Parapsychological Studies: a review of The Psychology of the Psychic by David Marks and Richard Kammann. Journal of A.S.P.R. 74 pp. 425-443
Morris, R. L. 1980. Psi Functioning within a Simple Communication System. In Shapin, B., and Coly, L. (Eds.), Communication in Parapsychology. New York: Parapsychology Foundation.
Morris, R. L. et al, 1978. Studies of Communication During Out Of Body Experiences.Journal of A.S.P.R. 72 pp. 1-24
Morris, R.L.. 1978. A Survey of Methods and Issues in ESP Research. In Krippner, S. (Ed.), Advances in Parapsycholological Research 2: Extrasensory Perception. New York: Plenum Press
Morris, R.L.. 1977. Parapsychology: A Biological Perspective. In Wolman, B. (Ed.) Handbook of Parapsychology. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold
Morris, R.L. 1976. The Responsibilities of Instructors in Parapsychology. In Shapin, B., and Coly, L. (Eds.), Education in Parapsychology. New York: Parapsychology Foundation
Morris, R.L.. 1976. Biology and Psi. In Schmeidler, G., and Dale, L., (Eds.), Parapsychology: Today?s Implications, Tomorrow?s Applications. Metuchen, N.J.; Scarecrow Press
Morris, R.L. 1975. Building Experimental Models. Journal of Communication 25 pp. 117-125
Morris, R.L. 1974. The Psychobiology of Psi. In White, J. (Ed.), Psychic Exploration, by Edgar Mitchell. New York: Putnam
Roll, W.G., Morris, R.L., DamGaard, J., Klein, J., and Roll, M. 1973. Free Verbal Response Experiments with Lalsingh Harribance. Journal of A.S.P.R. 67 pp. 197-207
Morris, R.L., Roll, W.G., Klein, J., and Wheeler, G. 1972. EEG Patterns and ESP Results in Forced-Choice Experiments with Lalsingh Haribance. Journal of A.S.P.R. 66 pp. 253-268
Erickson, C., and Morris, R.L. 1972. Effect of Mate Familiarity on the Courtship and Reproductive Success of the Ring Dove (Streptopelia risoria). Animal Behaviour 20 pp. 341-344
Morris, R.L.. 1972. An Exact Method for Evaluating Preferentially Matched Free Response Material. Journal of A..S.P.R. 66 pp. 401-407
Morris, R.L.., and Erickson, C. 1971. Factors Affecting the Maintenance of the Pair Bond in the Blond Ring Dove. Animal Behaviour 19 pp. 398-406
Morris, R.L.. 1970. Psi and Animal Behaviour: A Survey. Journal of A.S.P.R 64 pp. 242-260