Comparison of two surveys

The survey was based on a 2011 national Gallup Poll, which showed that young Americans were more likely to believe in the paranormal than their older compatriots.

The new research was conducted by scientists from two universities in Oklahoma – Bryan Farh and Gary Steward Jr.

In most cases, students checked the box labeled "I believe" less often than the general population surveyed in the Gallup Poll. However, the absence of "I don't believe" responses among students was lower in 6 of 13 categories: psychic or spiritual healing, haunted houses, possession, ghosts, clairvoyance, and magic.

This means that a larger percentage of students marked the 'unsure' column in these categories.