Unusual ESP subjects who defy chance when first tested nearly always lose their "psychic powers" when retested.This decline is best explained in terms of
A) illusory correlation.
B) regression toward the mean.
C) a placebo effect.
D) a confounding variable.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon of regression toward the mean suggests that extreme performances (such as those displayed by unusual ESP subjects) are likely to be followed by more average performances in subsequent testing. This is a statistical phenomenon that can explain why these subjects seem to lose their psychic powers when retested.

Unusual ESP Subjects Who Defy Chance When First Tested Nearly