Date of Award

9-1-1994

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

Kenneth W. Bauer, PhD

Second Advisor

Andreas Howell, PhD

Abstract

Dowsing is a folklore process used to locate an unknown, such as the best location for a water well, by the use of a hand-held device. The process is commonly know as water witching, divining, dowsing or radiesthesia. The practice continues despite the lack of a proven scientific basis. This research develops an experiment to test the claims of a dowser. Specific procedures are established and statistical theory is applied to determine if one man can identify which of five water lines has flowing water in it better than a chance operator could achieve. The statistical analysis uses Abraham Wald's sequential analysis procedures for establishing when to accept a hypothesis in a binomial situation. The dowser's performance proved to be better than chance. Further research is recommended.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-GEE-ENS-94S-01

DTIC Accession Number

ADA284789

Comments

The author's Vita page is omitted.

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