Audience Size Effects in Field RNG Experiments: The Case of Japanese Professional Baseball Games

Abstract

This study examined the association between the outputs of a true random number generator (RNG) and audience size during Japanese professional baseball games. We regarded the RNG as a signal detector of field consciousness and hypothesized that the number of signal sources may increase the ability of an RNG to detect signals. Experimenters and our assistants voluntarily obtained 76 samples from a total of 78 baseball games during the 2010–2011 baseball season. The effects of audience size at the stadium (M = 38970 ± 6058 SD, N = 78) and TV audience ratings (M = 7.07 ± 2.32 SD, N = 23) were examined in relation to the measurements of multiple Random Streamer and Psyleron RNG devices. RNGs set at remote locations ran simultaneously during the games. Our results showed a positive correlation between accumulated chi-squared statistics by Random Streamer and audience size at the stadium. Unexpectedly, identical RNG devices showed strong negative correlations between different machines, which suggested that their outputs canceled each other out. Finally, some future tasks are discussed.

Keywords:  baseball stadium—MMI—PK—Rpg102—Rpg105—Tokyo Dome