Extrasensory perception, clairvoyance, past-life memories, premonitions, automatic writing and xenoglossy are some examples of mental paranormal occurrences. Automatic writing refers to the ability to write without being consciously aware that you are writing. Xenoglossy refers to the ability to write or speak fluently a language that is completely unknown to you. Research topics could include instances of spiritual automatic writing, the role of xenoglossy in the Bible and its relationship to "speaking in tongues" and the evolution of past life regression techniques in the west.
Levitation, stigmata, materialization and dematerialization and out of body experiences are well-known and documented paranormal physical occurrences. Stigmata are wounds or marks resembling crucifixion wounds; possible research topics could include the psychosomatic causes of stigmata and the history of stigmata occurrences in the Middle Ages. Other research topics could include an analysis of how levitation could be explained by physical science, an analysis of the types of supernatural healing appearing in different religions and research supporting the theory that magnetic fields cause ghost-like hallucinations.
Alien abductions, crop circles, unidentified flying objects (UFOs), bizarre coincidences and miracles are other unexplained occurrences that are familiar to the general public. Research topics could include the government's investigation of UFOs, natural explanations for crop circles, the significance of the geographic distribution of crop circles, an overview of pagan and Christian interpretations of miracles, an analysis of the top 15 worldwide coincidences and an analysis of UFO research methods.
Parapsychologists use both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. Researchers use quantitative methods such as random number generators to study psychokinesis (distorting or moving an object with your mind) in which the subject attempts to alter a random sequence of numbers with his mind. Qualitative research, relying on an individual's perception of events, is more limited and can only be applied to the case at hand. Research topics could include the evolution of quantitative methods of investigation, how cultural perceptions of the paranormal affect belief in the paranormal and paranormal research methods of the early 1900s.