The Texas sharpshooter fallacy is a common cognitive error that can significantly impact the interpretation of paranormal experiences. This fallacy occurs when differences in data are ignored while similarities are emphasised, creating a misleading impression of a meaningful pattern or connection.

The name comes from the idea of a sharpshooter firing random shots at a barn and then painting a target around the cluster of holes that are closest together, making it appear as though he's a skilled marksman. In the context of parapsychology, this fallacy often comes into play when people focus on paranormal occurrences or evidence that fit their expectations while disregarding data that do not, or when they overlook periods of inactivity.

For example, during a session of trying to connect with a spirit through a séance, if participants ask multiple questions and only receive one ambiguous response, they might highlight that single instance as evidence of contact while...