1979 05 00 Sociological Review - Vol 27 No 1 suppl - Joseph A Blake

Magazine Overview

This document is a scholarly article titled "UFOLOGY: THE INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL CONTEXT OF THE STUDY OF UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS" by Joseph A. Blake. It explores ufology as a developing field of study, examining its theoretical underpinnings, historical context, and relationship with conventional science. The article is divided into sections discussing the 'UFO Problem', the 'UFO Experience and Emerging Ufology', 'The Study of Unidentified Flying Objects', and 'Theoretical Elements of Ufology'.

The UFO Problem

The author defines ufology as the study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) within an independent theoretical-conceptual scheme, acknowledging that its status as a 'science' is questioned. The core problem in UFO studies is 'accountability,' which can be approached in two ways: defining UFOs as natural phenomena within normal science (e.g., stars, birds, mass hysteria, secret weapons, or extraterrestrial vehicles) or as phenomena beyond normal science. The latter approach, often termed 'ufology' or 'paraufology,' is typically pursued by cult groups and their leaders, characterized by idiosyncratic and unverifiable schemes.

The UFO Experience and Emerging Ufology

The experience of UFOs is noted to extend at least two centuries, occurring in dispersed groups and often forming 'waves' of reports. These waves, when organized, can be seen as social movements. Specifically recognized waves include those in the late 1890s in the United States, 1909 and 1913 in Great Britain, near the end of World War II in Europe and the southwest Pacific, 1945 and 1946 in Scandinavia, and the continuous waves from 1947 to the present, publicly initiated by the Kenneth Arnold sighting. This organized effort ensured the continued study of UFO data, leading to the emergence of ufology.

The Study of Unidentified Flying Objects

The article discusses how experiences are either ignored, integrated, or form the basis of a new socially constructed reality, with ufology being part of such a reality. The category 'UFO' is broad, encompassing sightings, close encounters, physical and electromagnetic effects, abductions, contactee stories, animal mutilations, biblical and occult phenomena, and even strange animal sightings. The author highlights the translation of experiences into reports and their categorization by ufologists. Historical reports include 'mystery airships' (1896-1897), 'ghost airplanes' (1930s), 'foo fighters' (WWII), and 'ghost rockets' (1946). The 'reality' of the UFO experience is often described as tangible, yet reporters struggle to find adequate vocabulary, sometimes describing it as akin to dreaming. The nature of UFOs seems to fit the historical period in which they are sighted, raising questions about why they don't make themselves known.

There are three ways of dealing with UFO questions: two objective and one subjective. The naturalist approach focuses on perception and misperception. Some objective approaches view different historical waves as distinct phenomena, while others attribute differences to operator intent. Stringfield suggests a vanguard reconnoitering Earth, while Bloecher and the author discuss 'humanoid' encounters, noting strange odors and behaviors, and suggesting staged demonstrations. Salisbury notes that UFOs have characteristics matching the time and place, appearing to put on a show for witnesses. This is characterized as a natural science approach of hopefuls.

Theoretical Elements of Ufology

This section delves into conceptualization, scope, and methodology in ufology. Conceptualization involves distinguishing between a 'sighting' (observation), a 'report' (record), and a 'case' (report plus associated information). It is noted that many UFO sightings are not reported, with a Gallup poll in 1966 estimating 5 million Americans had seen UFOs, but few reported them to official agencies like the Air Force. The article critiques the loose usage of terms like 'wave' (a sudden increase in sightings) and 'concentration' (high number of sightings in one location/area), and 'flap' (a media-generated event resulting from a wave-concentration). The distinction between 'sighting' and 'report' is crucial, as failing to differentiate can lead to erroneous conclusions, such as Warren's hypothesis linking UFO sightings to status frustration.

The scope of ufology is wide and diverse, with a 'rigorous naturalist approach' focusing on post-1947 unidentified flying objects and borrowing methodology from established sciences. Another approach includes historical experiences and broader phenomena, akin to Charles Fort's work, with Clark and Coleman representing a recent attempt at this macrocosmic perspective. Clark and Coleman view the 'central problem' as the lack of conclusive evidence for UFOs being spaceships from other planets. Their theory is macrocosmic, encompassing fairy contact, religious visions, abductions, and mystery animals, suggesting these arise from a common mechanism related to altered states of consciousness, dream elements, and archetypes.

Clark and Coleman propose two 'laws' of 'paraufology': 1) the UFO mystery is primarily subjective and symbolic, and 2) 'objective' manifestations are psychokinetically generated byproducts of unconscious processes, existing only temporarily and being quasiphysical.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The article consistently examines ufology from an academic, analytical perspective, dissecting its claims, methodologies, and theoretical frameworks. It contrasts ufology with conventional science, highlighting the challenges of empirical verification and the subjective nature of many UFO experiences. The author maintains a neutral stance, presenting different theories and approaches within ufology without endorsing any specific one, while critically evaluating their scientific validity and conceptual coherence. The recurring theme is the intellectual and social construction of the UFO phenomenon and its study.

This document, titled 'The Study of Unidentified Flying Objects', appears to be an excerpt from a larger publication, covering pages 325 through 334. It delves into the academic and social context of ufology, exploring the methodologies employed by researchers and the historical challenges faced by the field in gaining scientific acceptance.

Methodologies in Ufology

The text distinguishes between two primary approaches to studying UFOs: the 'naturalist' approach and the 'macrocosmic' approach. Naturalists tend to adhere to the canons of normal science, emphasizing methodological rigor, data generation, and hypothesis testing, often with less focus on theory building. They employ tools such as questionnaires, interviews, trigonometry, photo analysis, and forensic techniques. Examples of this approach include the work of the U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book and the Condon Enquiry.

In contrast, 'paraufologists' or those adopting a 'macrocosmic' approach are more inclined towards theory construction, sometimes de-emphasizing strict methodological procedures. They view UFO events as potentially symbolic of unconscious forces, where UFO fact and fiction may be inseparable, drawing from the human psyche and archetypes. The procedural rule for this approach is that any story relating to UFOs constitutes data, with 'good data' being those with enough points of incredibility for comparison.

The Condon Report and Methodological Critiques

The Condon group's report on the unworthiness of UFOs for study is presented as a catalyst for methodological creativity. Both Saunders and Harkins, and Hynek, critique the Condon group for failing to define the problem correctly. They argue that the ETI (Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence) hypothesis was not adequately tested because the fundamental issue of whether UFO reports represented remarkable phenomena requiring explanation was not addressed. Hynek suggests that cases that 'don't fit' the rule are often signals of potential breakthroughs and should be studied from multiple angles.

Rules of Evidence and 'Remarkability'

Saunders and Harkins propose 'remarkability' as a test of good data, suggesting that samples of UFO data should be analyzed for discrepancies that justify further explanation. Hynek introduces an S-P diagram, with 'Strangeness Rating' (measuring how 'odd-ball' a report is) and 'Probability' (the degree of confidence that the event occurred as stated) as axes. Probability is further broken down into report reliability and witness credibility. Witness credibility is assessed based on factors like occupational credentials, good perception, observational skills, familiarity with the sky and flight technology, and community reputation.

The Social Context of Ufology

The document emphasizes that understanding the social context is crucial for comprehending ufology's development and its struggle for scientific status. Three major elements are identified: the journalistic press, the United States Air Force, and the scientific community.

The Role of the Press

The journalistic press played a pivotal role by first noting the phenomena and offering a conceptualization. The Kenneth Arnold sighting in 1947 led to the coining of the term 'flying saucer', which, while making observations identifiable, also subtly connoted artificial hardware and set a tone of ridicule. This made it difficult for witnesses to be taken seriously, as the term itself implied an absurd notion of saucers flying on their own volition.

The U.S. Air Force and Government Investigations

The U.S. Air Force became interested due to the possibility of UFOs constituting a national threat. They conducted investigations from 1947 onwards, with initial perspectives divided between extra-terrestrial and natural terrestrial phenomena. This changed with the Robertson Panel in 1954, which was more concerned with public reaction and the potential for UFOs to be used as a 'weapon' in psychological warfare. This led to a long-standing Air Force policy of ridicule and silence, exemplified by the contrasting public release of 'Project Saucer' versus the classified 'Project Sign'.

The 'Canopy of Silence' and Media Attention

Flammonde alleges that the Air Force imposed a 'canopy of silence' over media presentations of UFO material. While initial periodical indexes listed little on the subject, later attention in major magazines, particularly from 1966 to 1969, coincided with the period of the Condon group's study. This suggests that the 'canopy of silence' hypothesis has merit, with media attention fluctuating in relation to Air Force policies and investigative efforts.

Ufology's Struggle for Scientific Status

The document argues that journalistic ridicule and subsequent official silence and ridicule fostered definitions of UFO phenomena as unsuitable for serious scientific study. This intellectual exclusion has profound implications, reducing the topic from 'knowledge' to 'belief' or 'ideology', stigmatizing researchers, and creating difficulties in data generation, career construction, and resource acquisition. The academic gates have largely remained closed to UFO researchers.

Private Research Organizations

In response to these conditions, private individuals began forming research organizations. These include APRO (founded 1952), CSI (founded 1952), CRIFO (1954-1957), and NICAP (founded 1957). These privately funded groups provided an organizational basis for ufology, served as data collection points, and actively lobbied for respectability. NICAP, in particular, became a significant public pressure and education group.

The Shift Towards Independent Investigation

Following the Condon report in 1969, there was a shift towards individual scientists conducting internal investigations, free from the constraints of the 'scientific establishment'. In 1974, the Center for UFO studies was formed, directed by scientists and collecting data independently. The overall goal of these groups was the scientific analysis of UFO phenomena.

Summary of Ufology

Ufology is presented as a science in development, characterized by the coalescing of naturalist and macrocosmic perspectives. Its social base lies outside the intellectual elite, emerging from the activities of curious and interested individuals. The document concludes by noting that the persistent and incredible nature of UFO phenomena has occasioned the emergence of social ties and the development of ufology as a field of study.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes include the contrasting methodologies of ufology research (naturalist vs. macrocosmic), the historical influence of government agencies (U.S. Air Force, Condon Panel, Robertson Panel) in shaping the perception and scientific acceptance of UFOs, the role of the media in either promoting or suppressing the topic, and the efforts of private organizations to establish ufology as a legitimate field of study. The editorial stance appears to be analytical and critical, examining the social and institutional barriers that have hindered ufology's progress towards scientific recognition.

This document consists of a bibliography for a work titled 'The Study of Unidentified Flying Objects'. The bibliography spans pages 335 to 337 and lists numerous books, articles, and reports that were cited in the main text. The entries provide author names, titles, publication details, and page numbers, serving as a comprehensive reference list for researchers in the field of UFO studies.

Cited Works and Authors

The bibliography features a wide array of authors and publications, indicating a thorough review of existing literature on the subject. Prominent authors include J. W. Spencer, R. N. Shepard, J. Allen Hynek, R. E. Fowler, J. Clark, L. Coleman, Salisbury, Stringfield, W. K. Hartman, Condon, T. Bloecher, L. Davidson, A. Lee, Warren, Flammonde, Hall, Saunders, and Harkins. The cited works cover a range of topics within UFO research, from psychological aspects of investigation to historical UFO waves and government reports.

Key Publications and Reports

Several significant publications are frequently referenced. These include:

• J. W. Spencer's works: 'Limbo of the Lost' and 'No Earthly Explanation'.
• R. N. Shepard's paper on 'Psychologically Oriented Techniques for the Scientific Investigation of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena', presented at a U.S. House symposium.
• R. E. Fowler's book 'UFOs: Interplanetary Visitors'.
• J. Clark and L. Coleman's 'The Unidentified: Notes Toward Solving the UFO Mystery'.
• W. K. Hartman's contribution on 'Process of Perception, Conception and Reporting' within the Condon report.
• T. Bloecher's 'Report on the UFO Wave of 1947'.
• L. Davidson's 'Flying Saucers: An Analysis of the Air Force Project Blue Book Special Report No. 14'.
• J. and J. Vallee's 'Challenge to Science: The UFO Enigma'.
• E. Ruppelt's 'The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects'.
• I. Hobara and J. Weverbergh's 'UFOs From Behind the Iron Curtain'.

The bibliography also frequently cites 'op. cit.' (opera citato, meaning 'in the work cited'), indicating that many of these sources are referred to multiple times throughout the original text.

Publication Dates and Context

The majority of the cited works fall within the 1960s and 1970s, reflecting a period of significant interest and research into UFO phenomena. The inclusion of symposia, government reports (like those from the U.S. Government Printing Office), and academic contributions suggests a comprehensive approach to the study. The mention of the Condon report and Project Blue Book highlights the involvement of official investigations in the field.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The bibliography itself does not convey an editorial stance but rather reflects the breadth of research available on Unidentified Flying Objects. The recurring themes evident from the titles and authors include the scientific investigation of UFOs, psychological aspects of perception and reporting, historical UFO cases and waves, and governmental or official analyses of the phenomenon. The extensive list of references suggests that the original work aimed to provide a well-supported and comprehensive overview of the subject matter, drawing from a variety of sources and perspectives within the UFO research community.