Within Blind Tests
How Should Memo Words Be Scored?
A fair Ramey memo test should score each word location before anyone sees a polished transcript.
On this page
- Marking the exact reading area
- Separating letters, words, and confidence
- Comparing readers before building a transcript
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
A fair test of disputed words in the Ramey memo should not begin with a polished transcript. It should begin with scoring specific locations on the document before anyone attempts to assemble a coherent message. This matters because the strongest Roswell-related claims often depend on a small number of highly contested words, such as phrases interpreted as “victims of the wreck”. Researchers studying the memo have repeatedly noted that expectation and prior beliefs can influence what readers think they see in ambiguous image data. A scoring system therefore needs to measure agreement at precise locations, distinguish between letter-level and word-level confidence, and compare independent readers before constructing any larger narrative.[ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearchGate''A Message in a Bottle:" Confounds in Deciphering…One example of newly discovered evidence that apparently conflicts with…
The key question is not whether a proposed transcript sounds plausible. The key question is whether multiple readers independently identify the same letters and words in the same places under controlled conditions.
Why Location Comes Before Transcription
One recurring problem in Ramey memo debates is that readers often encounter a completed transcript first and then evaluate individual words within that framework. Once a proposed sentence exists, every uncertain mark tends to be interpreted in a way that supports the surrounding text.
The blind-reading research conducted by James Houran and Kevin Randle showed that participants exposed to different story frames produced different readings from the same image. Their findings suggest that ambiguous marks are especially vulnerable to suggestion effects.[ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearchGate''A Message in a Bottle:" Confounds in Deciphering…One example of newly discovered evidence that apparently conflicts with…
A fair scoring protocol therefore starts with locations rather than meanings:
- Divide the visible memo into numbered reading zones.
- Mark the exact area where a reader believes text exists.
- Record the reading before showing any proposed transcript.
- Lock that response before comparison with other readers.
This approach prevents a later transcript from influencing the original observation.
Marking the Exact Reading Area
The most important implementation rule is that every claimed word must be tied to a specific region of the photograph.
Instead of asking, “Can you read the memo?”, a structured test asks:
- Which line contains text?
- Where does the word begin?
- Where does it end?
- How many characters are visible?
- Which individual characters are identifiable?
A reader claiming to see “victims” should identify the same physical location as another reader making that claim. If two people report the same word but point to different image regions, that is not true agreement.
The University of Texas at Arlington’s Roswell archive presents annotated transcriptions that map proposed readings onto specific portions of the memo. Regardless of whether one accepts those readings, the underlying principle is useful: claims become testable only when linked to exact positions on the image.[UT Arlington Libraries]sites.libraries.uta.eduFinal Annotated Transcription (Lower & Middle Sections). Method Note (for readers). The following transcription is derived from…Read more…
Location-based scoring also prevents selective quotation. A disputed word cannot be separated from the surrounding image evidence if its boundaries have been defined in advance.
Separate Letters, Words and Confidence
Not all readings deserve the same evidential weight.
A fair system scores three distinct levels.
Letter-Level Scores
Readers first identify individual letters.
For example:
PositionReader EntryConfidence1VHigh2IMedium3?Low
Letter scoring reveals where agreement genuinely exists. Even if readers disagree about a whole word, they may consistently identify certain characters.
Word-Level Scores
Only after letter scoring should readers propose complete words.
For example:
- Reader A: VICTIMS
- Reader B: VISITORS
- Reader C: V?CTIMS
The degree of overlap can then be measured objectively.
This matters because some Ramey memo debates focus on complete words while overlooking uncertainty in the underlying letters. Claims about specific readings become much stronger when agreement exists at both levels.
Confidence Scores
Each response should carry a confidence rating.
A simple scale might be:
- 1 = guess
- 2 = tentative
- 3 = moderate confidence
- 4 = strong confidence
- 5 = near certainty
A word identified by ten readers with low confidence should not automatically outweigh a word identified by six readers with high confidence. Recording confidence preserves information that would otherwise be lost.
Compare Readers Before Building a Transcript
The most important safeguard is to compare independent results before attempting to reconstruct a sentence.
A fair procedure would proceed in stages:
- Independent reading.
- Submission of location, letters and confidence.
- Aggregation of responses.
- Measurement of agreement.
- Transcript construction only after agreement analysis.
This reverses the order often seen in public debates, where a transcript is proposed first and evidence is gathered afterwards.
The Houran–Randle study demonstrated how readily interpretation can be influenced by prior expectations. A scoring system that delays transcript construction helps reduce precisely that problem.[ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearchGate''A Message in a Bottle:" Confounds in Deciphering…One example of newly discovered evidence that apparently conflicts with…
What Counts as Strong Agreement?
A disputed word should earn credibility through convergence rather than enthusiasm.
Strong agreement would typically require:
- Multiple readers selecting the same image region.
- Broad agreement on word length.
- Consistent identification of key letters.
- Similar confidence ratings.
- Results obtained before exposure to proposed transcripts.
By contrast, weak agreement occurs when readers arrive at the same word only after discussion, transcript sharing or knowledge of previous interpretations.
This distinction is particularly important for famous Ramey memo candidates such as “victims”. Supporters and critics alike have argued over specific readings for decades, but the evidential value depends less on the word itself than on whether independent readers can repeatedly identify it under controlled conditions.[Kevin Randle's Blog]kevinrandle.blogspot.comKevin Randle's BlogA Different Perspective: Digital Image of the Ramey Memo29 Oct 2015 — The only two viable proposed words here would be…
A Practical Scoring Model
A simple scoring framework could assign points as follows:
CriterionPointsCorrect location match with reader consensus40Agreement on word length20Agreement on individual letters25Confidence-weighted reliability15
Total possible score: 100.
Under such a model, a dramatic phrase would not gain strength merely because it fits a preferred Roswell narrative. It would gain strength because independent readers repeatedly located and identified the same textual features.
The result is a more transparent standard: disputed memo words are evaluated according to reproducible agreement rather than the persuasiveness of a finished transcript. For a document as ambiguous and controversial as the Ramey memo, that distinction is essential.[ResearchGate+2ResearchGate]researchgate.netResearchGate''A Message in a Bottle:" Confounds in Deciphering…One example of newly discovered evidence that apparently conflicts with…
eBay marketplace picks
Marketplace Samples
Live-tested eBay searches with available results related to this page.
Endnotes
1.
Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/James-Houran/publication/228706129_A_Message_in_a_Bottle_Confounds_in_Deciphering_the_Ramey_Memo_from_the_Roswell_UFO_Case/links/0deec527833e585cd6000000/A-Message-in-a-Bottle-Confounds-in-Deciphering-the-Ramey-Memo-from-the-Roswell-UFO-Case.pdf
Source snippet
ResearchGate''A Message in a Bottle:" Confounds in Deciphering...One example of newly discovered evidence that apparently conflicts with...
2.
Source: researchgate.net
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228706129_A_Message_in_a_Bottle_Confounds_in_Deciphering_the_Ramey_Memo_from_the_Roswell_UFO_Case
Source snippet
ResearchGate(PDF) “A Message in a Bottle:” Confounds in Deciphering...“A Message in a Bottle:” Confounds in Deciphering the Ramey Memo f...
3.
Source: researchgate.net
Title: 395734150 Ramey Memo An In Depth Scientifically Based Deep Research Study
Link:https://www.researchgate.net/publication/395734150_Ramey_Memo-An_In_Depth_Scientifically_Based_Deep_Research_Study
Source snippet
As follows: Putting Research in Perspective: The Science Behind...Read more...
4.
Source: sites.libraries.uta.edu
Link:https://sites.libraries.uta.edu/roswell/node/21
Source snippet
Final Annotated Transcription (Lower & Middle Sections). Method Note (for readers). The following transcription is derived from...Read more...
5.
Source: kevinrandle.blogspot.com
Link:https://kevinrandle.blogspot.com/2015/10/digital-image-of-ramey-memo.html
Source snippet
Kevin Randle's BlogA Different Perspective: Digital Image of the Ramey Memo29 Oct 2015 — The only two viable proposed words here would be...
6.
Source: sites.libraries.uta.edu
Link:https://sites.libraries.uta.edu/roswell/node/22
Source snippet
Memo Update | Roswell UFO Incident18 Jan 2017 — "victims of wreck" is clearly read in this memo. while this does not confirm ufo or alien...
7.
Source: digital.library.adelaide.edu.au
Link:https://digital.library.adelaide.edu.au/dspace/handle/2440/3334
Source snippet
adelaide.edu.au"A message in a bottle:" Confounds in deciphering the Ramey..."A message in a bottle:" Confounds in deciphering the Ramey...
Additional References
8.
Source: reddit.com
Link:https://www.reddit.com/r/AlienBodies/comments/18bciar/is_the_ramey_memo_analysis_accurate/
Source snippet
Is the Ramey memo analysis accurate?: r/AlienBodiesWe seem to get the support of a lot of independent CGI artists, photographers/astrono...
9.
Source: youtube.com
Title: A Different Perspective with Kevin Randle Interviews
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx5TxFCz5gs
Source snippet
Roswell Ramey Memo Kevin Randle James Houran XZBN UFO Files - Kevin Randle Interviews - JAMES HOURAN - The Ramey Memo The 'X' Zone Broadc...
10.
Source: the-sun.com
Title: roswell mystery cracked air force captain memo ufo crash
Link:https://www.the-sun.com/news/5725502/roswell-mystery-cracked-air-force-captain-memo-ufo-crash/
Source snippet
Roswell mystery cracked by retired US Air Force captain who...8 Jul 2022 — The grainy memo appears to say the words “victims of the cras...
11.
Source: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Link:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9256542/
Source snippet
reading using the READER acronym by...by D MacAuley · 1997 · Cited by 3 — The READER acronym describes a simple easily applied method of...
12.
Source: semanticscholar.org
Link:https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/%22A-message-in-a-bottle%3A%22-Confounds-in-deciphering-Houran-Randle/0a08310d1ace75c161c8fef55cd69c68c89f7859
Source snippet
"A message in a bottle:" Confounds in deciphering..."A message in a bottle:" Confounds in deciphering the Ramey memo from the Roswell UF...
13.
Source: grc-health.com
Title: How Scripts Shape the Way We Read
Link:https://www.grc-health.com/knowledge-centre/the-anatomy-of-reading-how-scripts-shape-the-way-we-read
Source snippet
My Framer Site15 May 2025 — Readers experience more duration of fixation: Arabic, Urdu and Farsi readers show longer fixations due to the...
Published: May 2025
14.
Source: youtube.com
Title: Kevin Randle Interviews
Link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dJCIOMaWbw
Source snippet
A Different Perspective with Kevin Randle Interviews - DAVID [RUDIAK]({{ 'rudiak/' | relative_url }}) - Decoding the Ramey Memo...
15.
Source: open.spotify.com
Link:https://open.spotify.com/episode/6maKRNKcuOJVWH8siqL4G7
Source snippet
RUDIAK - Decoding the Ramey Memo - A Different...15 Jun 2024 — Ramey's memo mentions "THE VICTIMS OF THE WRECK" and dealing with somethi...
16.
Source: academia.edu
Title: Rameys Memo An In Depth Scientifically Based Deep Research Study
Link:https://www.academia.edu/144097753/Rameys_Memo_An_In_Depth_Scientifically_Based_Deep_Research_Study
Source snippet
The first image is seen in grayscale. As you see it...Read more...
17.
Source: philpapers.org
Title: RANAGT 3
Link:https://philpapers.org/rec/RANAGT-3
Source snippet
read the Ramey Memo from higher quality digital scans. A grounded theory (or deductive) examination of these two lines of empirical evide...
Topic Tree