Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

E1117

learned society nonprofit organization scientific skepticism organization

The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal was an organization of scientists, scholars, and skeptics dedicated to critically examining paranormal and pseudoscientific claims using scientific methods.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Surface forms Disambiguation Statements Elicitation Referenced by

All labels observed (9)

Label	Occurrences
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry	27
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal canonical	10
CSICOP	5
Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale	1
Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sulle Pseudoscienze	1
Committee for Skeptical Inquiry board or leadership	1
Fellowship in the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry	1
Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Pseudosciences	1
One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge	1

How this entity was disambiguated

This entity first appeared as the object of triple T4794 — resolving that mention is where its identity was fixed. The disambiguator weighed these candidate entities and picked the highlighted one (or “None”, minting a new entity). This is how homonymy is resolved: the same surface form can point to different entities.

NED1 Entity disambiguation (via context triple) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
Context triple: [Carl Sagan, memberOf, Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal]

A. Universities Research Association
Universities Research Association is a consortium of research universities that collaborates to manage and support major scientific facilities and high-energy physics research programs in the United States.
B. Stanford Research Institute
Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) is a prominent independent nonprofit research and innovation center known for pioneering advances in computing, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies.
C. Bolt Beranek and Newman
Bolt Beranek and Newman was a pioneering American research and engineering firm best known for its foundational role in developing the ARPANET, a precursor to the modern internet.
D. Augmentation Research Center
The Augmentation Research Center was a pioneering research group at SRI International led by Douglas Engelbart, known for groundbreaking work in interactive computing, including the development of the oN-Line System (NLS), the computer mouse, and early hypertext.
E. Carnegie Institution of Washington
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is a private, nonprofit scientific research organization founded by Andrew Carnegie that supports advanced research across fields such as astronomy, biology, and earth sciences.
F. None of above. chosen
G. Unsure - the case is ambiguous/there is not enough information to decide.

NED2 Entity disambiguation (via description) gpt-5-mini-2025-08-07

Target entity: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal
Target entity description: The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal was an organization of scientists, scholars, and skeptics dedicated to critically examining paranormal and pseudoscientific claims using scientific methods.

A. Universities Research Association
Universities Research Association is a consortium of research universities that collaborates to manage and support major scientific facilities and high-energy physics research programs in the United States.
B. Stanford Research Institute
Stanford Research Institute (now SRI International) is a prominent independent nonprofit research and innovation center known for pioneering advances in computing, artificial intelligence, and other cutting-edge technologies.
C. Bolt Beranek and Newman
Bolt Beranek and Newman was a pioneering American research and engineering firm best known for its foundational role in developing the ARPANET, a precursor to the modern internet.
D. Augmentation Research Center
The Augmentation Research Center was a pioneering research group at SRI International led by Douglas Engelbart, known for groundbreaking work in interactive computing, including the development of the oN-Line System (NLS), the computer mouse, and early hypertext.
E. Carnegie Institution of Washington
The Carnegie Institution of Washington is a private, nonprofit scientific research organization founded by Andrew Carnegie that supports advanced research across fields such as astronomy, biology, and earth sciences.
F. None of above. chosen

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	learned society ⓘ nonprofit organization ⓘ scientific skepticism organization ⓘ
activity	critical examination of paranormal claims ⓘ organization of conferences ⓘ public outreach ⓘ publication of investigative reports ⓘ
country	United States of America ⓘ surface form: United States
dissolutionReason	reorganization and renaming as Committee for Skeptical Inquiry ⓘ
dissolved	2006 ⓘ
fieldOfWork	critical thinking ⓘ paranormal investigation ⓘ pseudoscience ⓘ scientific skepticism ⓘ
formerHeadquartersLocation	Amherst, New York, United States ⓘ surface form: Amherst, New York
foundedBy	Carl Sagan ⓘ Isaac Asimov ⓘ James Randi ⓘ Marcello Truzzi ⓘ Martin Gardner ⓘ Paul Kurtz ⓘ Ray Hyman ⓘ
hasAbbreviation	Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: CSICOP
headquartersLocation	Buffalo ⓘ surface form: Buffalo, New York
ideology	secular humanism ⓘ
inception	1976 ⓘ
language	English ⓘ
mainOrgan	Skeptical Inquirer ⓘ
methodUsed	scientific method ⓘ
notableMember	Carl Sagan ⓘ Isaac Asimov ⓘ James Randi ⓘ Joe Nickell ⓘ Kendrick Frazier ⓘ Martin Gardner ⓘ Paul Kurtz ⓘ Joe Nickell ⓘ surface form: Philip J. Klass Ray Hyman ⓘ Susan Blackmore ⓘ
parentOrganization	Center for Inquiry ⓘ
publication	Skeptical Inquirer ⓘ
purpose	investigation of paranormal claims ⓘ promotion of scientific skepticism ⓘ public education about pseudoscience ⓘ
renamedAs	Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
shortName	Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: CSICOP
successor	Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry
website	https://csicop.org ⓘ

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (48)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Carl Sagan → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal → successor → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal → shortName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: CSICOP

Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal → renamedAs → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal → hasAbbreviation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: CSICOP

Paul Kurtz → founded → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

Skeptical Inquirer → publisher → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Skeptical Inquirer → publishedBy → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Skeptical Inquirer → associatedWith → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

James Randi → knownFor → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge

Martin Gardner → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

Center for Inquiry → hasPart → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Joe Nickell → employer → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Joe Nickell → affiliation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Marcello Truzzi → coFounded → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

Marcello Truzzi → laterNamed → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Susan Blackmore → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

The Zetetic → publisher → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

The Zetetic → publisherAbbreviation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: CSICOP

The Zetetic → associatedOrganization → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

SI → publisher → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Skeptical Inquirer

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Druyan → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Ann Druyan

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Ray Hyman → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Ray Hyman → affiliation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Ray Hyman → awardReceived → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Fellowship in the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Philip J. Klass Award → presentedBy → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Philip J. Klass Award → relatedTo → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Fads and Fallacies in the Name of Science → influenced → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge → associatedWith → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural → associatedWith → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Randall James Hamilton Zwinge → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Truzzi → abbreviation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

this entity surface form: CSICOP

Truzzi → laterName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Truzzi → coFounderOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Marcello Truzzi

In Praise of Reason Award → presentedBy → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

In Praise of Reason Award → administeredBy → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry board or leadership

The Amaz!ng Meeting → relatedTo → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Flim-Flam! → associatedWith → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

CICAP → fullName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sulle Pseudoscienze

CICAP → alternativeName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Italian Committee for the Investigation of Claims of the Pseudosciences

CICAP → alternativeName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Comitato Italiano per il Controllo delle Affermazioni sul Paranormale

CICAP → affiliation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

Philip J. Klass → memberOf → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

CSI → standsFor → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

CSI → formerName → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

CSI → formerAbbreviation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

this entity surface form: CSICOP

CSI → publisher → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

subject surface form: Skeptical Inquirer

this entity surface form: Committee for Skeptical Inquiry

The Mask of Nostradamus → authorAffiliation → Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal ⓘ

All labels observed (9)

How this entity was disambiguated Show

Statements (48)

How these facts were elicited Show

Referenced by (48)

How this entity was disambiguated

How these facts were elicited