Within Sketches
When Does a Sketch Count as Evidence?
A remote-viewing sketch only gains evidential force when judging rules limit clues, editing bias, and selective scoring.
On this page
- Blind judges and decoy target sets
- Why original transcripts and timestamps matter
- How misses should be counted alongside hits
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Introduction
A remote-viewing sketch does not become persuasive evidence simply because it resembles a target after the target has been revealed. Its evidential value depends on whether the judging process prevents hindsight, selective interpretation and unconscious cueing. For that reason, the strongest remote-viewing protocols have focused as much on how sketches are evaluated as on how they are produced. Across both supportive and sceptical analyses, there is broad agreement that blind judging, documented transcripts, pre-defined scoring rules and complete reporting of successes and failures are essential if a sketch is to be treated as evidence rather than an anecdote.[CIA+2CIA]cia.govSTANDARD REMOTE VIEWING (RV) PROCEDURESIn preparation for judging, the remote viewer's tapes are transcribed. The resulting transcrip…
Within the broader question of viewer responses and sketch interpretation, judging rules are the mechanism that separates an honest test from a retrospective pattern-matching exercise. They do not determine whether remote viewing is genuine, but they determine whether any claimed result can be evaluated fairly.
Why blind judges matter
A blind judge evaluates a viewer’s transcript and sketches without knowing which target was actually used. Instead of comparing the drawing with a single known photograph, the judge is typically presented with the real target mixed among several decoy targets and must decide which one matches the response best. This procedure reduces the opportunity to interpret vague elements in whichever way best fits the known answer.[CIA+2CIA]cia.govSUMMARY OF KNOWN REMOTE-VIEWING EXPERIMENTS.Three blind judges matched the transcripts to each target as they visited the targets. One…
The logic is straightforward. Many sketches contain generic features such as circles, vertical lines, water-like textures or enclosed spaces. If the target is already known, these features can often be explained as “close enough”. A blind comparison against multiple plausible alternatives asks a harder question: would the same sketch still stand out when the correct target is hidden among similar possibilities?
Well-designed judging therefore attempts to ensure that:
- judges do not know the correct target in advance;
- viewers have no access to target information before completing the session;
- the target appears within a balanced set of decoys rather than being judged in isolation;
- scoring criteria are defined before judging begins rather than adjusted afterwards.
These controls address one of the oldest criticisms of free-response experiments: that apparent matches may emerge through flexible interpretation rather than accurate perception.[CIA+2Wikipedia]cia.govSUMMARY OF KNOWN REMOTE-VIEWING EXPERIMENTS.Three blind judges matched the transcripts to each target as they visited the targets. One…
Why decoy target sets are essential
A sketch that appears convincing against one photograph may appear far less distinctive when compared with several alternatives. Consequently, many remote-viewing experiments have relied on rank-order judging rather than simple yes-or-no assessments.
In a typical design, a judge receives:
- the viewer’s original transcript and sketches;
- the correct target;
- several decoy targets selected using predetermined criteria.
The judge ranks all candidate targets from best to worst fit. Statistical analysis is then based on whether the true target consistently receives unusually high rankings across many independent trials rather than on isolated impressive examples.[CIA+2CIA]cia.govSUMMARY OF KNOWN REMOTE-VIEWING EXPERIMENTS.Three blind judges matched the transcripts to each target as they visited the targets. One…
The quality of the decoy set also matters. If one photograph depicts a mountain while the others show indoor offices, almost any outdoor sketch becomes easy to identify. Better protocols use targets that are all visually rich and broadly comparable in complexity so that successful matching cannot be explained by obvious category differences alone. This reduces accidental cueing and makes successful judging more informative.
Why original transcripts and timestamps matter
The evidential value of a sketch depends not only on what was drawn but also on proving when it was drawn and that it remained unchanged.
For this reason, many experimental protocols preserve complete session records rather than edited summaries. Original handwritten notes, sequential sketches, audio recordings and transcription records help establish that impressions were recorded before feedback became available. CIA protocol documents describe preparing transcripts for judging while limiting edits to administrative matters rather than altering substantive content.[CIA]cia.govSTANDARD REMOTE VIEWING (RV) PROCEDURESIn preparation for judging, the remote viewer's tapes are transcribed. The resulting transcrip…
Maintaining complete records serves several purposes:
- it allows independent reviewers to examine the entire session rather than selected highlights;
- it reveals whether striking sketches were accompanied by numerous incorrect descriptions;
- it prevents later embellishment or selective removal of inconvenient material;
- it makes independent re-analysis possible using different judging methods.
Timestamps are equally important because they establish the order of events. Without reliable documentation showing that a sketch existed before the target was revealed, later comparisons become much harder to evaluate objectively.
How misses should be counted alongside hits
One of the most important safeguards is reporting unsuccessful sessions as carefully as successful ones.
Human memory naturally favours dramatic apparent correspondences. If only the most impressive sketches are shown, almost any long-running programme will eventually accumulate examples that seem extraordinary by chance alone. A fair assessment therefore requires complete accounting of all trials, including weak matches, ambiguous sessions and clear failures.[ResearchGate]researchgate.net369604750 Remote Viewing a 1974 2022 systematic review and meta analysisResearchGate(PDF) Remote Viewing: a 1974-2022 systematic review…This is the first meta-analysis of all studies related to remote viewi…
Meaningful evaluation depends on aggregate performance rather than memorable anecdotes. Researchers therefore analyse outcomes across many sessions using predetermined scoring methods instead of selecting only striking examples after the fact. This approach helps distinguish a consistent statistical effect, if one exists, from selective reporting.
Complete reporting also allows independent investigators to calculate:
- overall hit rates;
- judge agreement;
- statistical significance;
- consistency across viewers and targets;
- whether apparent successes exceed what would reasonably be expected from chance.
Common sources of judging bias
Several recurring problems can weaken the evidential value of sketch-based remote-viewing claims even when the sketches themselves appear detailed.
Knowledge leakage. Judges or experimenters may unintentionally learn target information before scoring, influencing interpretation.
Flexible scoring. Vague elements such as “tower”, “water” or “curve” may receive generous interpretations for the correct target but stricter interpretations for decoys.
Selective quotation. Only successful fragments are highlighted while incorrect statements are ignored.
Target uniqueness. An unusually distinctive target can become identifiable even without genuine correspondence if alternative targets differ greatly in appearance.
Researcher involvement. If investigators who expect positive outcomes also supervise judging or data selection, concerns arise about unconscious bias and conflicts of interest. Critics have argued that independent judging and unrestricted access to original records are important safeguards against these risks.[Wikipedia+2Wikipedia]WikipediaStargate Project (U.S. Army unitStargate Project (U.S. Army unit
What blind judging can and cannot establish
Blind judging strengthens the quality of a remote-viewing experiment, but it does not by itself demonstrate that remote viewing is real. Good judging rules answer a narrower question: whether sketches were evaluated fairly under conditions designed to minimise hindsight and subjective reinterpretation.
This distinction explains why debates continue despite widespread agreement about methodological standards. Supporters argue that studies using blind judging, multiple targets and formal scoring have sometimes produced above-chance statistical results. Critics respond that methodological weaknesses, sensory cueing, replication issues and alternative explanations remain unresolved. Both sides nevertheless recognise that unblinded retrospective matching provides much weaker evidence than pre-registered, independently judged comparisons.[PMC+2ResearchGate]pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPMCFollow‐up on the U.SCentral Intelligence Agency's (CIA…by Á Escolà‐Gascón · 2023 · Cited by 10 — Since 1972, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) co…
Within the interpretation of viewer sketches, blind judging therefore functions less as proof of any paranormal claim than as a governance mechanism. It limits opportunities for confirmation bias, preserves the integrity of the original record and ensures that both successful and unsuccessful sketches contribute equally to the overall evidential assessment.
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Endnotes
1.
Source: cia.gov
Link:https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00788R002000240029-4.pdf
Source snippet
STANDARD REMOTE VIEWING (RV) PROCEDURESIn preparation for judging, the remote viewer's tapes are transcribed. The resulting transcrip...
2.
Source: cia.gov
Link:https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/document/cia-rdp96-00787r000500250015-6
Source snippet
SUMMARY OF KNOWN REMOTE-VIEWING EXPERIMENTS.Three [blind judges]({{ 'blind-judges/' | relative_url }}) matched the transcripts to each target as they visited the targets. One...
3.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Remote viewing
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_viewing
4.
Source: cia.gov
Link:https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP96-00787R000200090017-5.pdf
Source snippet
t/transcript correlations, which required that she visit each target...
5.
Source: researchgate.net
Title: 369604750 Remote Viewing a 1974 2022 systematic review and [meta analysis]({{ ‘meta-analysis/’ | relative_url }})
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/369604750_Remote_Viewing_a_1974-2022_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis
Source snippet
ResearchGate(PDF) Remote Viewing: a 1974-2022 systematic review...This is the first meta-analysis of all studies related to remote viewi...
6.
Source: Wikipedia
Title: Stargate Project (U.S. Army unit)
Link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stargate_Project_%28U.S._Army_unit%29
7.
Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Title: PMCFollow‐up on the U.S
Link:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10275521/
Source snippet
Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA...by Á Escolà‐Gascón · 2023 · Cited by 10 — Since 1972, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) co...
8.
Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Showing-the-nine-phases-of-a-typical-ARV-protocol_tbl1_344470071
Source snippet
Showing the nine phases of a typical ARV protocolThis double-blind study utilised dreaming instead of remote viewing as a precognitive to...
Additional References
9.
Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/Mars/comments/hpwnm9/cia_transcript/
Source snippet
CIA transcript: r/MarsThe CIA's remote viewing research was able to show highly significant, objectively verified, and effective results...
10.
Source: facebook.com
Link:https://www.facebook.com/xixidu/posts/dr-lena-vasic-was-the-last-person-on-earth-who-believed-she-was-free-and-aria-lo/10174269830990637/
Source snippet
es. Put it next to interference patterns...
11.
Source: youtube.com
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ1dy7dG0M4
Source snippet
How the CIA worked with psychics on 'Project Stargate...
12.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Remote Viewing SCIENCE Nobody Talks About | Sean Hazlett
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olNuOZKCdRQ
Source snippet
The Ideogram Controversy in Remote Viewing with Paul H. Smith...
13.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Nancy du Tertre | TSP- The Next Generation of Remote Viewing
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIK6UOnmRbk
Source snippet
The Remote Viewing SCIENCE Nobody Talks About | Sean Hazlett...
14.
Source: youtube.com
Title: The Ideogram Controversy in Remote Viewing with Paul H. Smith
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGOKfM7AORI
Source snippet
Learn How To Remote View In Less Than 20 Minutes...
15.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Remote Viewing Psychology with Charles T. Tart
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPZwaicuiek
Source snippet
Nancy du Tertre | TSP- The Next Generation of Remote Viewing...
16.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Learn How To Remote View In Less Than 20 Minutes!
Link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thq8sVv0lps
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