Probability misjudgment and belief in the paranormal: A newspaper survey

In a newspaper survey with 6238 respondents 59 per cent were believers in the paranormal. There was a large sex difference: 70 per cent of females were believers but only 48 per cent of males. Respondents were asked whether a list of 10 statements were true for them, and to estimate numbers true for other people. The ‘probability misjudgment’ theories predicted that believers would underestimate the number of statements true for other people, more than non‐believers. This was not found, but believers did claim that more statements were true for them. The ‘probability misjudgment’ theories are not supported.