Dr Simon Sherwood

Simon specialises in teaching and supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research in parapsychology and the psychology of anomalous experiences. He also teaches quantitative research methods and statistics.

Simon is the module co-ordinator for the PSY3007 Parapsychology and Anomalous Experiences and the PSYM031 MSc in Transpersonal Psychology and Consciousness Studies dissertation modules and serves as the Psychology Division's library liaison.

Simon's research interests include unusual sleep-related phenomena, such as hypnagogic and hypnopompic imagery, belief in anomalous phenomena, experimental research into dream ESP, apparitions (particularly apparitions of Black Dogs and hauntings.

Simon is the director of the Centre for the Study of Anomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP) and was Program Chair for the Parapsychological Association's international conference held jointly with the Society for Psychical Research in 2008.

Other publications

Parapsychology

• Sherwood, S. J. (in press). An examination of the relationship between the hypnagogic/hypnopompic states and reports of out-of-the-body experiences. International Journal of Parapsychology.
• Sherwood, S. J. (submitted). Apparitions of Black Dogs. In M. Smith (Ed.), Developing perspectives on anomalous experience (pp. xx-xx). Jefferson, NC: McFarland.
• Luke, D. P., Delanoy, D., & Sherwood, S. J. (2008). Psi may look like luck: Perceived luckiness and beliefs about luck in relation to precognition. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 72.4, 193-207.
• Sherwood, S. J., & Cousins, W. E. (2008). The Black Dog of Whitby and Kettleness. Anomaly: Journal of Research into the Paranormal, 42, 2-9.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Farrell, L., Savva, L., & Baker, I. (2007). Assessing the roles of the sender and experimenter in dream ESP research. European Journal of Parapsychology, 22, 175-192.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2006). Black Dogs of England. Australian Folklore, 21, 16-29.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2005). A psychological approach to apparitions of Black Dogs. In B. Trubshaw (Ed.), Explore phantom Black Dogs (pp. 21-35). Wymeswold, UK: Heart of Albion Press.
• Sherwood, S. J., Roe, C. A., Holt, N. J., & Wilson, S. (2005). Interpersonal psi: Exploring the role of the experimenter and the experimental climate in a Ganzfeld telepathy task. European Journal of Parapsychology, 20, 150-172.
• Sherwood, S. J., & Milner, M. E. (2004-2005). The relationship between transliminality and boundary structure subscales. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 24, 369-378.
• Roe, C. A., & Sherwood, S. J., & Holt, N. J. (2004). Interpersonal psi: Exploring the role of the sender in Ganzfeld GESP tasks. Journal of Parapsychology, 68, 361-380. Sherwood, S. J. (2004). The Black Dog of Uplyme. The Paranormal Review, 32, 3-4.
• Sherwood, S. (2003). Relación entre los estados hipnagógicos/hipnopómpicos y las experiencias anómalas. Revista Argentina De Psicologia Paranormal, 14, 217-244.
• Sherwood, S. J., & Roe, C. A. (2003). A review of dream ESP studies conducted since the Maimonides dream ESP programme. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 10, 85-109.
• Sherwood, S. J., & Roe, C. A. (2003). A review of dream ESP studies conducted since the Maimonides dream ESP programme. In J. Alcock, J. Burns, & A. Freeman (Eds.), Psi wars: Getting to grips with the paranormal (pp. 85-109). Exeter, England: Imprint Academic.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Luke, D. P., & Farrell, L. M. (2002). An exploratory investigation of dream GESP using consensus judging and dynamic targets. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 66, 225-238.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2002). Relationship between the hypnagogic/hypnopompic states and reports of anomalous experiences. Journal of Parapsychology, 66, 127-150.
• Sherwood, S. (2002). Apparitions of Black Dogs. The Paranormal Review, 22, 3-6.
• Sherwood, S. J., Roe, C. A., Simmonds, C. A., & Biles, C. (2002). An exploratory investigation of dream precognition using consensus judging and static targets. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 66.1, 22-28.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2000). Black Dog apparitions. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 94, 151-164.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2000). A comparison of the features of the psychomanteum and hypnagogic/hypnopompic experiences. International Journal of Parapsychology, XI, 97-121.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2000). Black Dogs and English men. Exceptional Human Experience, 16, 226-230.
• Sherwood, S. J., Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Watt, C. (2000). Dream clairvoyance study II using dynamic video-clips: Investigation of consensus voting judging procedures and target emotionality. Dreaming, 10, 221-236.
• Sherwood, S. J. (1999). Relationship between childhood hypnagogic/hypnopompic and sleep experiences, childhood fantasy proneness, and anomalous experiences and beliefs: An exploratory WWW survey. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 93, 167-197.
• Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., Sherwood, S. J. (1999). A dream GESP experiment using dynamic targets and consensus vote. Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, 93, 145-166.
• Sherwood, S. (1998). Experiences during the twilight zone. The Paranormal Review, 5, 3-6.
• Sherwood, S. (1995). The Institute for Parapsychology Summer Study Program. The Psi Researcher, 15, 13.

Requesting permission for hospital autopsies

• Sherwood, S .J., & Start, R. D. (1997). Asking relatives for permission for a post mortem examination. In C. R. K. Hind (Ed.), Developing communication skills in medicine (pp. 142-153). London: British Medical Journal.
• Start, R. D., Sherwood, S. J., Kent, G., & Angel, C. A. (1996). Audit study of next of kin's satisfaction with clinical necropsy service. British Medical Journal, 312, 1516.
• Start, R. D., & Sherwood, S. J. (1995). Attitudes of junior medical staff to requesting permission for autopsy [Letter]. The Postgraduate Medical Journal, 71, 60.
• Sherwood, S .J., & Start, R. D. (1995). Asking relatives for permission for a post mortem examination. The Postgraduate Medical Journal, 71, 269-272.
• Sherwood, S. J., Start, R. D., Birdi, K. S., Cotton, D. W. K., & Bunce, D. (1995). How do clinicians learn to request permission for autopsies? Medical Education, 29, 1-4.

First destinations of psychology graduates

• Van Laar, D. L., & Sherwood, S. J. (1995). Where do all the psychologists go? First destinations of psychology graduates 1989-1991. Psychology Teaching Review, 4, 41-53.
• Sherwood, S. J. (1994). First destinations of psychology graduates. The Psychologist, 7, 450-452.

Conference presentations

• Sherwood, S. J. (2008). Fieldwork investigations of hauntings: Personal reflections [Panel Discussion Abstract]. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 51st Annual Convention and the 32nd International Convention of the Society for Psychical Research, 369.
• Luke, D. P., Delanoy, D., & Sherwood, S. J. (2008). Psi may look like luck: Perceived luckiness and beliefs about luck in relation to precognition. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 51st and the Incorporated Society for Psychical Research 32nd Annual Convention, 111-122.
• Luke, D. P., Delanoy, D., & Sherwood, S. J. (2008). Psi may look like luck: Perceived luckiness and beliefs about luck in relation to precognition. Proceedings of Presented Papers of the 4th Psi meeting: Parapsychology and Psychology, 131-139.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Farrell, L.M. (2007). Assessing the role of personality and the provision of feedback in ESP dream research. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 50th Annual Convention, 195-197.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Farrell, L. M. Displacement in dream ESP research: Assessing the role of feedback during judging. In 31st International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Cardiff, Wales, September 2007.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., & Farrell, L. A review of the evidence for extrasensory perception in dreams: Comparing Maimonides and post-Maimonides ESP studies. In Dreams and Culture: 2nd International Conference of the Nordic and North European Network for the Study of Dreams, Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln, 7th - 9th September 2007.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Farrell, L., Savva, L., & Baker, I. Assessing the roles of the sender and experimenter in dream ESP research. In 30th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Liverpool, England, September 2006.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Farrell, L., Savva, L., & Baker, I. (2006). Assessing the roles of the sender and experimenter in dream ESP research. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 49th Annual Convention, 205-215.
• Sherwood, S. J. Phantom Black Dogs: A Psychological Perspective. Paper presented to the South East London Folklore Society (SELFS), Greenwich, September 2005.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Savva, L., & Baker, I. Sender and experimenter effects in a study of dream ESP. In 29th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Bath, England, September 2005.
• Sherwood, S. J. Black Dog Apparitions: A Psychological Perspective. Paper presented at the Weird Weekend Convention, Exeter, UK, August 2005.
• Sherwood, S. J. Apparitions of Black Dogs. In Developing Perspectives on Anomalous Experience Conference, Liverpool, Hope University College, June 2005.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Savva, L., & Baker, I. (2005). Assessing the roles of the sender and experimenter in dream ESP research. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 48th Annual Convention, 242-245.
• Sherwood, S. J., Roe, C. A., Holt, N. J., & Wilson, S. (2004). Interpersonal psi: Exploring the role of the experimenter and the experimental climate in a Ganzfeld telepathy task. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 47th Annual Convention, 231-244.
• Roe, C. A., & Sherwood, S. J., & Holt, N. J. An experimental test of the role of the sender using a Ganzfeld ESP task. In 27th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Manchester, England, September 2003.
• Roe, C. A., & Sherwood, S. J., & Holt, N. J. (2003). Interpersonal psi: Exploring the role of the sender in Ganzfeld GESP tasks. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 46th Annual Convention, 237-256.
• Sherwood, S. J. ESP during sleep: Sweet dreams or a nightmare? Invited address presented at the Parapsychological Association 45th Annual Convention, Paris, France, August 2002.
• Roe, C. A., & Sherwood, S. J. Revisiting the role of the sender using a ganzfeld psi task. In 25th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Cambridge, England, September 2001.
• Roe, C. A., Sherwood, S. J., Luke, D. P., & Farrell, L. M. An investigation of dream clairvoyance using consensus judging and dynamic targets. In 25th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Cambridge, England, September 2001.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2001). WWW survey of the content, sensory modalities and interpretation of hypnagogic and hypnopompic experiences. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 44th Annual Convention, 301-319.
• Roe, C. A., & Sherwood, S. J. (2001). Revisiting the role of the sender using a ganzfeld psi task. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 44th Annual Convention, 415-418.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2000). A comparison of the features of the psychomanteum and hypnagogic/hypnopompic experiences. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 43rd Annual Convention, 262-275.
• Sherwood, S. J. (2000, March). Entering the twilight zone: Anomalous experiences reported between wakefulness and sleep. Lecture given to the Society for Psychical Research, London.
• Sherwood, S. J., Roe, C. A., Simmonds, C. A., & Biles, C. An exploratory investigation of dream precognition using consensus judging and static targets. In 23rd International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Durham, England, September 1999.
• Sherwood, S. J., Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Watt, C. Dream GESP study II using dynamic video-clips: investigation of consensus voting judging procedures and target emotionality. In 22nd International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, York, England, September 1998.
• Sherwood, S. J., Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Watt, C. (1998). Dream GESP study II using dynamic video-clips: investigation of consensus voting judging procedures and target emotionality. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 41st Annual Convention, 226-241.
• Sherwood, S. J. (1998). Relationship between the hypnagogic/hypnopompic states and reports of anomalous experiences. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 41st Annual Convention, 210-225.
• Sherwood, S. J. (1997). Relationship between childhood hypnagogic/hypnopompic experiences, childhood fantasy proneness and anomalous experiences and beliefs: An exploratory WWW survey. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 40th Annual Convention held in conjunction with The Society for Psychical Research, 370-386.
• Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Sherwood, S. J. (1996). A dream GESP experiment using dynamic targets and consensus vote. Proceedings of the Parapsychological Association 39th Annual Convention, 57-72.
• Dalton, K., Steinkamp, F., & Sherwood, S. J. A dream GESP experiment using dynamic targets and consensus vote. In 20th International Conference of the Society for Psychical Research, Cirencester, England,August/September 1996.
• Sherwood, S. J., Start, R. D., Birdi, K. S., Cotton, D. W. K., & Bunce, D. (1994). Why do patients' relatives refuse permission for autopsies? [Abstract from poster presented at the Pathology Society of Great Britain and Ireland Conference]. Journal of Pathology, 172 Supplement, 149A.
• Sherwood, S. J., Start, R. D., Birdi, K. S., Cotton, D. W. K., & Bunce, D. (1994). How do clinicians learn how to request permission for hospital autopsies? [Abstract from poster presented at the Pathology Society of Great Britain and Ireland Conference]. Journal of Pathology, 172 Supplement, 149A.
• Sherwood, S. J. Requesting permission for hospital autopsies from relatives: An investigation of the predictive utility of clinicians' self-efficacy in an applied setting. In MSc Occupational Psychology Conference, University of Nottingham, England, September 1993.
• Sherwood, S. J. The "Barnum effect" and differences between believers and sceptics of astrology. In Regional Undergraduate/Postgraduate Psychology Conference, University of Reading, England, March 1992.

Theses and dissertations

• Sherwood, S. J. (2000). Modelling childhood antecedents of anomalous experiences and beliefs: Fantasy proneness, hypnagogic/hypnopompic and sleep experiences. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Edinburgh.
• Sherwood, S. J. (1993). Motivation to request permission for hospital autopsies: The predictive utility of clinicians' strength of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and outcome values. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Sheffield, England.
• Sherwood, S. (1992). The "Barnum effect" and the differences between believers and sceptics of astrology. Unpublished bachelor's thesis, University of Portsmouth, England.