The spelling of the word "zener card" is based on the name of the scientist Clarence Zener, who discovered the physical phenomenon that underlies their function. The correct pronunciation is /ˈzɛnər/ for the first syllable, with a short "e" sound, followed by a syllabic "n" and a schwa sound. The second syllable is pronounced as /kɑrd/, with a short "a" sound, followed by a voiced alveolar stop and a voiced dental fricative. Zener cards, also known as ESP cards, are used in parapsychology experiments to test for extra-sensory perception abilities.
A Zener card, also known as a Zener ESP card, is a type of card used in parapsychology experiments to test an individual's psychic abilities. It is one of several cards in a deck of five cards that are designed to determine extrasensory perception (ESP) or clairvoyant abilities. The name "Zener" refers to the psychologist Karl Zener, who developed these cards in the early 1930s.
Each Zener card features one of five symbols: a circle, cross, square, star, or wavy lines. The cards are chosen randomly and used by experimenters to assess a person's ability to predict or identify the symbol on the card without the assistance of the five physical senses.
In controlled experiments, the Zener cards are often shuffled, and the participant is asked to identify or predict the symbol on the hidden card. The individual's accuracy in guessing the correct symbols is then statistically analyzed to determine whether it exceeds chance expectations or suggests potential psychic abilities.
Zener cards are not only used in laboratory settings for scientific research but have also gained popularity in the field of parapsychology and mind-reading demonstrations. Their simple and standardized design makes them a suitable tool for investigating claims of psychic phenomena and exploring the limits of human perception beyond conventional sensory abilities.
The word "Zener card" derives from its inventor, Karl Zener, and the purpose it serves. Karl Zener, a German-American psychologist, together with his colleague J.B. Rhine, developed a set of five cards called "ESP cards" or "Zener cards" in the 1930s. These cards were used in experiments to study extrasensory perception (ESP) and psychic abilities. The name "Zener card" honors Karl Zener and distinguishes these particular cards from other types of ESP cards used in research.