A statistical test of astrology

[Deepak R]

A paper by Jayant Narlikar and others in Current Science.

Abstract: This paper describes a recent test conducted in Maharashtra to test the predictive power of natal astrology. It involved collecting 200 birth details of 100 bright school students (group A) and 100 mentally retarded school students (group B). These details were used to cast horoscopes or birth charts for these children. After recording these details the charts were mixed and randomized and astrologers were invited to participate in a test of their predictive ability. Fifty-one astrologers participated in the test. Each participant was sent a random set of 40 birth charts and asked to identify to which group each chart corresponded. Among the initial 51 participants, 27 sent back their assessment. Statistical analysis of the results showed a success rate marginally less than what would be achieved by tossing a coin. The full sample of 200 birth charts was given to the representatives of an astrology institute for identification. They also did not fare any better. The limited but unambiguous procedure of this test leaves no doubt that astrology does not have any predictive power as far as academic ability is concerned. Ways of extending the scope of this test are discussed for future experiments.

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/mar102009/641.pdf

--
Deepak R.,
Research Student,
Dept. of Computer Science and Automation,
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

[Prasad]

Hi,
The link does not access the paper anymore. Can you please e-mail the paper to me?
prasad....@gmail.com

[Nitish N5]

It's available here.
http://www.currentscience.ac.in/php/toc.php?vol=096&issue=05
It is one of the articles in that issue.

--

--
Visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/iisc-freethinkers

Our blog- http://iiscfreethinkers.blogspot.com/
Our Facebook group- http://facebook.com/groups/iiscfreethinkers

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "IISc Freethinkers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to iisc-freethink...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

--

Nitish
Design Engineer
Analog Devices Inc.
Bangalore, India.

nitishn5.blogspot.com