异常经历(AE)(不寻常的经历或被认为偏离通常接受的对现实的解释的经历:幻觉,联觉,被解释为心灵感应的经验...)和意识状态的改变(ASC)已在各个年龄段的所有社会中进行了描述。即便如此,科学家们长期以来忽视了对这个主题的研究。研究AE和ASC没有必要分享我们探索的信念,它们可以作为主观经验进行调查,并与其他数据相关,就像任何其他人类经验一样。本文提出了一些研究这些经验的方法论指南,其中:避免教条式的偏见和“病态化”的异常;理论和综合文献综述的价值;利用各种病理学和正常性标准;临床和非临床人群的调查;开发新的适当研究工具;谨慎选择描述AE的措辞;将生活经验与解释区分开来;考虑文化的作用;评估报告的有效性和可靠性,以及最后但并非最不重要的,选择方法的创造性和多样性。
Anomalous experiences (AE) (uncommon experiences or one that is believed to deviate from the usually accepted explanations of reality: hallucinations,
synesthesia, experiences interpreted as telepathic…) and altered states of consciousness (ASC) have been described in all societies of all ages. Even so, scientists have long neglected the studies on this theme. To study AE and ASC is not necessary to share the beliefs we explore, they can be investigated as subjective experiences and correlated with other data, like any other human experience. This article presents some methodological
guidelines to investigate these experiences, among them: to avoid dogmatic prejudice and to \'pathologize\' the unusual; the value of a theory and a comprehensive literature review; to utilize a variety of criteria for pathology and normality; the investigation of clinical and non-clinical populations; development of new appropriate research instruments; to be careful to choose the wording to describe the AE; to distinguished the lived experience from its interpretations; to take into account the role of culture; to evaluate the validity and reliability of reports and, last but not least, creativity and diversity in choosing methods.