Tips. Information, Equipment, Protocols.

  Paranormal Information/Tips/Protocols

“Is anyone here?” the intrepid ghost hunter asks while walking into an empty room. Nothing is heard, but later while listening to audio recordings of the session, there can be heard a faint response. The presence says very clearly, “No, I am not here, now do one!”


Some may interpret that answer as a lie; I tend to think of it as a great sense of humor (lol)




 Sense of humor ( Needed when dealing with FAKE pople)

Research/ Interview
When investigating a haunted location as part of your preparation try to collate as much information as you can. This can be via research on the web, books and via interviewing people who are associated with the location or who have experienced something. My personal belief is mediums should never be briefed on the location, but the investigator should know as much as he or she can.
When researching a location make notes, get copies of the material or if on the web print it out so you can refer to it later. When interviewing again make notes or even better record the interview so again you can refer to it later.


Preparing for A Paranormal Investigation


When possible visit the location in the clear light of day. Knowledge of the layout is always beneficial. Draw or obtain a ground plan of the location, this will enable you to plan the vigil better by knowing in advance how to split up your group etc. Mark on the plan sources of drafts, natural sources of electromagnetic fields (EMFs), temperature readings in each room and area in case of natural cold spots and even mark up creaking doors and floorboards, this enables you to dismiss natural occurrences from possible paranormal ones. This technique of preparation is known as Base Line Testing.




Paranormal Investigation Equipment


Notepad or Dictaphone Most Impotent !!!
To record the events of the vigil. Make note of times you start each part of the investigation and anything that is picked up on. I would also recommend make a note of start and end times on your camcorder and start and end point of photographs from the counters This is useful later if two areas are similar you have a reference point to identify the time and exact location.


Digital Camera
With the introduction of digital cameras there is much discussion of Orbs, something that couldn’t be caught on a film camera. To catch these orbs or other light anomalies and analyse them later use the highest mega-pixel setting on the camera. This allows you to be able to zoom in on anything caught on camera. Dust and water droplets, as well as flies and spiders can often be mistaken as such and it is only when you zoom in you find your orb or anomaly actually has legs or wings! ( See the Orb Zone Theory. )
Good advice is to use a camera that focuses and shoots as quickly as possible. Some cheaper models can be quite slow and you need to capture anything you see as quickly as possible.


On a recent investigation it was also found that the use of a polarising or UV filter that protects the lens of SLR cameras is not recommended


Camcorder
A night vision (Low LUX) camcorder can be used to record vigils in the dark and also to act to record personal feelings when solo. The cost of these has greatly reduced allowing the novice to be able to afford DVD or memory card based models.


Digital Thermometer
These are now relatively cheap and are essential to obtain temperature changes quickly. More advance models are laser thermometers, they give you temperature of where you point the laser, thus are very use for taking fast readings of different areas without moving.


EMF Meters
There is heavy research that suggests there is a connection between the paranormal activity and changes in electro magnetic fields. These fields are all around us and these are higher near electrical equipment, cables and power outlets. This is why when you carried out you baseline tests you recorded natural sources of EMFs. The EMF meter comes in various guises using LEDs and meters, some with fixed settings, the dearer models with differences ranges etc.. The criteria for such a meter is that it picks up changes between 2 to 6 mG, the recognised readings for paranormal activity.


Walkie Talkies and Remote Listening Devices (Baby Monitors)
These are two fold one they allow members of your group to communicate. Secondly they allow you to listen to anything that may be occurring in a room currently unoccupied.


Motion Detectors
These are two part devices that emit an infrared beam between each device, when the beam is broken an audible alarm sounds. These are useful to ensure no-one enters a locked off area. Another use is to detect if a spirit bases through the beam, Phil Whyman, a high respected paranormal investigator, however pointed out recently if a manifestation is transparent will it break the beam ?


Tape Recorder /MP3 Recorders.
These are used for recording possible EVPs. Electronic voice phenomena (EVP)’ are “spirit voices” that are said to manifest themselves on audio recordings. It is a widely used technique to set up a recording device when conducting a séance to see if anything is picked up that is not heard audibly.
The most important thing to remember when analysis your recordings is if you hear something be sure to get others opinions on what you have recorded. NEVER share your view on what you think you can make of the recording, i.e. create suggestion. If you all think you hear the same without conferring, then the result is positive.


What to Look For


Outward Manifestations.
These are often in the forms of noises (crying, growls, whispers etc) and knocks, smells, light anomolies and orbs and moving objects.
Sudden changes in temperature and ‘cold spots’ are good scentific evidence that something is abnormal.The feeling of being touched is probably one of the most alarming things, but for other members of the group and sceptics, there is obviously no evidence of this is purely relying of trust. However injuries (scratches and brusies) are not uncommon and provide more tangible evidence.


Actual manifestation
In the form of a haze or spirit form is the most positive evidence you can get. This can be transparent or solid in form, may not be complete or even on the same ground level as yourself.


Three Types Of Haunting
When investigating there are three types of haunting you may well encounter


Active Hauntings
These traditional hauntings involve the prescence or a sentient spirit.


Imprint Hauntings
These are where an imprint has been left behind and what you encounter is a ‘playback’ of an event that took place, more often than not of a violent or emotional event. The theory behind this is the because the event was traumatic the persons energy was ‘burned’ into the environment.


Poltergeist
This type of haunting involves throwing objects, movement of larger objects and/or disturbing noises rather than actually being visible. (The word poltergeist is in fact German for noisy ghost.) Poltergeist activity is actually triggered, normally by one person who created the connection, and research has shown that often this is a child. Also the activity may stop as suddenly as it starts. It should be noted when investigating that this is regarded as the most dangerous type of haunting to be involved with and many feel it is connected with demonic forces. Caution should be taken if you attempt to communicate with it


Analysis
Once you have conducted an investigation the investigator should always be rationional and open minded with his analysis; was there something there, what was it and why was it here. Here you see the importance of researching a location first.




You have 'Type' next to each entry - what does it mean?
Each database record is categorised under one of the following:
  • Legend - A mythological story that has existed for many years, normally passed verbally from generation to generation. A large number of legends in the UK feature King Arthur or the Devil.
  • Other - Any other data entry that fails to fit alternative categories.
  • Poltergeist - Invisible energy sources that can create havoc in the vicinity of the person they take a liking to. Poltergeists tend to attach themselves to teenage girls, though this is not always the case.
  • Post-Mortem Manifestation - A ghost that appears only briefly after the death of the flesh.
  • SHC - An abbreviation of Spontaneous Human Combustion. In the paranormal database, we list where these events occurred.
In regard to the ghost types, the model is based loosely on that by Emily Peach in her book 'Things that go Bump in the Night' (Aquarian Press, 1991).
What are Water Horses?
Welsh Water Horses (Ceffyl-dwr) are semi-spectral creatures which emerged from rivers and offered to carry weary travellers. They would fly for great distances in the air, normally before vanishing several hundred metres above the ground with their rider plummeting to his death. In Scotland, it would be common for the Water Horse to wait invitingly for a rider by the site of a river or loch. Once mounted, the horse would dive into the water and drown the person on its back.
What is the Gwrach-y-rhibyn?
A Welsh version of the Irish Banshee, the Gwrach-y-rhibyn manifests as an old hag who brings warnings of death and disaster to well established Welsh families.
What are Corpse Candles?
While reports of corpse candles have been recorded all over the UK, they are most numerous in Wales, where they are also known as Cannyllau Cyrth. Manifesting as a flickering light, the entity would be seen moving towards a churchyard (following a future funeral path), and once entering the area would hover over the ground where the next corpse would be buried. The size of the flame was said to denote the age of the person to die - a small one for a child, a larger flame for an older person.
What are Kobalts / Bucca?
Kobalts and Bucca were names given to the goblin-like entities that frequented mine shafts, responsible for the banging and rapping heard at night when the mines were devoid of human life. Bucca were also wind spirits, said to be able to foretell storms at sea.
What is a Bean-nighe?
The Bean-nighe is a Scottish spirit; an ill bringer in the form of an old washer woman who would be seen on the banks of rivers and lochs scrubbing the clothes of those soon to die. The entity has long breasts slung over her shoulders, and if one was grabbed from behind the spirit would have no choice but to tell her assailant to whom the clothes belonged. If a person was indeed brave enough to engage with the Bean-nighe, she could change fate and prevent their death.
What are Phookas?
These evil manifestations normally possess animal bodies (normally that of dogs or goats) and heads of loathing men, though their form does vary enormously from region to region. Exclusively found in Ireland, the creatures tend to hunt in packs and bring ill-fortune and death to any communities they terrify.
What is a Silky?
A Silky is a old Northumbrian name for a phantom woman. The entity tends to be invisible, but makes her presence known by smell (ie perfume) and the rustling of her dress. As the dresses tend to sound like silk sheets rubbing against each other, this ghost type was named 'Silky'.
What is Ireland's Vanishing Island?
In several bays around the Irish coast, fishing communities have spoken about a small, lush island which appears early in the morning before moving off or vanishing. While modern theory is that the island is a mirage, two myths linger. Some people believe that the land belongs to the fairies, which they use to move around (mostly) undetected and away from prying human eyes. The other story states that the island was once rooted in Galway bay and ruled over by a cruel king. His people fled en mass, and he and his land as cursed to move around the sea until the stars burn out.
Do you analyse photographs?
Although this is something we do not normally engage in, if time permits we are happy to give our opinion on any strange images which you may have taken - drop us a line using the contact form.
I submitted a story to you a while but it has not been published - why?
Because the Paranormal Database has limited staff, it can take some time to edit all the mail which it receives. Sometimes stories are omitted for other reasons, though this is rare.
Where does your information come from?
The information published comes from many sources, including journals, books, magazines, and first and second hand accounts. Please see further reading for a list of sources which have not been sent to us direct.
Why have you not responded to my query?
While we try to respond to every query, it can sometimes take a while. Some emails are difficult to respond to as we do not have all the answers, though we do attempt to signpost vistors in the right area.
Why can I not see any ghosts / ufos / strangeness in any of your photographs?
The photographs on this website, unless otherwise stated, show the location of the paranormal activity, rather than the activity itself.

Animal Ghost
Many paranormal investigators agree that animal ghosts do exist and believe that the spirits of animal survive death the process of death. Elliot O'Donnell, says in his book Animal Ghosts (1913) "The mere fact that there are manifestations of dead people proves some kind of life after death for human beings; and happily the same proof is available with regard for a future life for animals; indeed there are as many animal phantoms as human - perhaps more". Another school of thought believes that animals share a 'collective' soul. This suggests that five, maybe more animals at a time, share one soul.
Apparition
An apparition is said to be the ghost of someone seeing it recognises from life, or a ghost which appears in human shape, looking and appearing as if alive. The tradition of apparitions goes back to the earliest of times and documented accounts litter the pages of history from pre-Roman times to the present. All World cultures and societies maintain accounts of apparitions. Some apparitions appear only when some disaster is about to occur, whilst there are those reported to guard sacred places. Apparitions may not always be seen but may be heard or felt.
Banshee
The Banshee, or 'bean si' as this spirit should be correctly pronounced, is undoubtedly Ireland's most famous ghost form. Said to follow long standing Irish families, she is more likely to be seen by the third daughter and is more commonly said to follow a family whose surname begins "O". Said to appear prior to the death of a family member. The announcement is made by crying and wailing during the night hours. The sound described to like a cat wailing but much worse. Often described as being female and either as a horrible old hag or else a beautiful young woman dressed in a green dress. A third type is ageless as has black holes in place of eyes and nose. All three main types have long hair. In Scotland, a similar legendary spirit normally takes the form of a drummer boy or piper and likewise often foretells death or misfortune.
Boggart
The name Boggart is mainly used in Northern England and describes a particularly nasty type of ghost. Boggarts are said to have the habit of crawling into peoples bedrooms at night, pinching, slapping and biting the unfortunate victim. They are described as being fearsome to behold sharp, yellowing teeth.
Bogie
Another rather unpleasant spirit, fond of haunting children hence, " The bogie man will get you". In British folklore, bogies are black in appearance with ugly grinning faces. Short and hairy with a foul smell. They were once thought to the most powerful form of ghost, as they had once served the Devil. They often seem capable of wailing like banshees.
Birds
There are many instances recorded of birds returning as ghosts. Birds were once believed to messengers of the dead. When a bird tapped on a window - it was a ghostly spirit looking for another to join it. Some birds are believed to carry the souls of the dead into the afterlife.
Cats
Next to dogs, said to be the most common form of animal ghost. The ghost cat may have it's origin in ancient Egypt where the cat was worshipped. At Bubastis, thousands of mummified cats have been excavated. Historically, the Devil was believed to take the form of a cat. Likewise the many ghostly and often black cats haunting many houses in England are sometimes thought of as being vice elementals, i.e. spirits which have never inhabited any physical body and may have been generated by evil thoughts, or else attracted to a spot by some vicious crime or deed.
Clairsentient
The ability to be able to feel things in a divinitory sense. Many mediums who claims this ability that it is merely a refined basic human instinct.
Clairvoyant
The ability to see visions of events yet to happen, is happening or has happened. Many mediums combine this ability with one or other or the other 'Clairsenses'.
Crossroad Ghosts
Crossroads have long been associated with hauntings and although it is not exactly clear as to why, a number theories have been put forward by way of explanation. Some consider it is as a result of practise in older times for murderers, criminals and suicide victims to be buried at crossroads. This practise was said to confuse the spirit and prevent them returning and haunting the living. The cross formed by the roads being used as a form of Christian protection. Witches were also believed to hold ceremonies and to practise their black arts at crossroads.
Dogs
Ghostly dogs are reported from all across the British Isles and vary widely in size. In Lancashire they have a black dog called 'Striker', in Wales there is 'Gwyllgi'. Black dogs also frequent graveyards and desolate moorland and heath. Like the banshee, they may foretell death or misfortune within a family.
Doppelganger
The word is derived from German and usually is the expression for a ghost who is either still living or is their exact double. Those who have experience seeing their double are said to heading for misfortune, rarely may indicate good fortune. They are often experienced by friends or family of the person they are haunting but in a place where the living counterpart was nowhere near.
Drude
This is an ancient English expression for a nightmare ghost - normally that of a mature witch, well versed in the arts of black magic. They are able to inflict their ghost into the dreams and nightmares of their chosen victim.
Ectoplasm,Strange Mist, Glowing Light
This strange substance is said to be extruded from the sweat glands and body orifices of certain mediums whilst in a trance. The word 'ectoplasm' or 'teleplasm' as it is increasingly referred to is derived from the Greek 'Ektos' and 'Plasma' - exterior substance. Described as being like pale or white silk strands or a jelly like material, it is able to from human like shapes. Some investigators have over the years claimed to have examined ectoplasm and stated it be biological in origin, but that it's present biology is unknown to man.
Elementals
These strange ghosts are said to be spirits which have never existed in physical form, unlike 'normal' ghosts and spirits which have at one time lived in a physical form either human or animal. Occultists declare them as being ancient spirits which predate mankind and fall into four categories comprising; Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Elementals are often associated with woodland, mountains or uninhabited valleys.
Exorcism
An exorcism is an act of religious ceremony used to expel a spirit, either from a human host or a building. The ceremony is normally performed by a specially trained clergyman who will often say prayers and repeat loud exhortations. The ceremony also involves burning candles or incense and the sprinkling of holy water. This is a modern version of the old Christian rite or excommunication known as the ritual of Bell, Book and Candle. Modern mediums also claim to be able to perform a similar act, normally without the trappings of religion, by physically contacting the spirit and convincing it to move on to another plane of spiritual existence.
Extras
This widely used term describes faces or sometimes whole images of people who appear mysteriously on photographs. Often the pictures show a white wispy substance out from which the face is normally starting to appear. In the early days of photography, many so called 'Spirit photographs' were produced, claiming to show the faces of the dead. Subsequently, many if not all proved to be fraudulent. In recent years the white wispy form itself has appeared more and more often without the attendant face. These are often described as vortex pictures as a faint helix form is often to be discerned within the white cloud. Some researchers have declared them to be pictures of spirit energies.
Galley Beggar
This is an old English ghost, often reported in the North of England and mentioned as far back as 1584, in Reginald Scot's The Discovery of Witchcraft. This fearsome ghost is described as being almost without flesh and bearing it's head under it's arm and emitting a deathly scream. The name is derived from the word 'Gallery', meaning to terrify. This ghost is likely to be encountered on country roads and deserted lanes.
Ghoul
From the common name for a ghost in Arabic. Nowadays commonly used throughout the World to define a nasty or viscous looking ghost. The ghoul is believed to gain sustenance from eating the flesh of corpses - hence ghoul is often used to describe ghost that haunt graveyards.
Graveyard Ghosts
According to folklore, the first person to be buried in a churchyard was believed to return as a ghost to guard the site against the Devil. This ghost was supposed to have special abilities. Because the task was so great, a black dog or more rarely a cat was buried before any human so it would become the guardian of the dead. Ghouls are also associated with graveyard hauntings.
Grey Ladies
Said to originate in Tudor times when the dissolution of the monasteries resulted in a great number of monks and nuns being made homeless. Nuns at that time were frequently habited in grey. Many other investigators subscribe to the theory that grey ladies are similar to white ladies, whilst others claim the colour is related to the surrounding substance, wood, plaster, stone which may contribute to the ghosts appearance.
Halloween
Originating long before the advent of Christianity, The Feast of the Dead is perhaps a better name for the night. It was a time of great celebration for our ancient ancestors who would light great bonfires to try and summon and placate the dead. The Christian churches tried to mask the true meaning of the celebration by declaring it to be 'All Hallows Eve' the night before All Saints day. Modern witches still celebrate the night of 31st October by the holding of feasts and performance of rituals.
Haunted Chairs
There are many reported instances throughout England of owners who have a particular fondness for or may have died in an armchair. Returning as a ghost and being seen in that particular chair. The ghost of Lord Combermere was reportedly photographed in his favourite chair, whilst his body was being interred nearby. Chairs also feature in many legends, chairs that cause death or misfortune to the sitter and chairs that result in the pregnancy of the female sitter.
Haunting
Used to describe a ghost or series of paranormal events which takes place on more than one occasion within the same building or at the same place. We refer to such a place as being haunted. Objects too, can be haunted and subsequent owners may experience incidents that are paranormal. Haunted items include furniture, jewellery and even the bones of the deceased.
Headless Ghosts
Believed to be the spirits of people who have died by being beheaded. Evidence also suggests that these types of apparition may be connected to the ancient practise of beheading corpses. Many graves have revealed burials with the decapitated head placed between the knees - perhaps in the belief that the dead would not come back to haunt the living.
Headless Horsemen
By tradition the ghost of a rider who has been ambushed or decapitated when riding swiftly. Others believe them to be the figures of ancient Chieftains who having lost their heads in battle, still wander the earth seeking their lost head. Headless coachmen also are thought to either the victim of highwaymen or perhaps were decapitated passing under archways or low obstacles.
Iron
Thought to be a talisman against bad magic, witches and evil spirits. Used by many cultures in the past. Saxon burials frequently contain iron talisman to protect the spirit of the deceased in his journey into the afterlife.
Lemures
The Roman name for evil ghosts. The Romans believed that the spirits of the dead often returned to haunt relatives and friends. Ceremonies and rituals were frequently performed by many cultures to prevent such spirits returning.
Materialisation
An ability claimed by some mediums to produce a spirit into visible sight. One of the first recorded incidents of materialisation took place in America during 1860 by the Fox sisters, founders of modern spiritualism.
Mermaid Pools
Pools of doom, death pools or back water. These refer to many secluded ponds and lakes which are said to be haunted by a certain type of mischief making ghost. Many people report feelings of sadness and melancholy. Most of these pools also have legend of people being drowned and lost forever within their waters. The legend may extend back to ancient times when water dieties were worshipped in many cultures, a practise that often involved human sacrifice - the body being thrown into the water.
Ouija board
Consisting normally of 38 figured cards arranged in a circle. The letters of the alphabet and the number zero are nine are represented together with two further cards with the words yes and no upon them. Derived from the French and German words for 'yes' thus the board is correctly called the 'YesYes' board. It is alleged to act as a mediator between the worlds of the living and the dead. In use a glass or pointer is used to indicate the letters and words being spelled out by the spirits. The board also carries with it a fearsome reputation for demonic possession to those using it although in more enlightened modern times it is now believed to be a form of dowsing.
Phantom Coaches
The phantom coach is thought by many to be a messenger of death. Similar in many respects to the banshee or phantom drummer boy. The coaches are always said to be black, the horses are usually headless as may be the coachman. The driver or passengers are often skeletal or hideous with a fixed maniacal grim. Passing at great speed it is frequently silent and according to legend anyone getting in it's way will be carried off to their doom. This almost exactly tallies with the ancient Norse legend of the eternal hunt of their gods of the underworld.
Poltergeist
The word derived from German verb 'polter' describes a noise caused by banging, knocking or throwing things around. Harry Price in his 1945 book 'Poltergeist over England' describes them thus "A poltergeist is an alleged ghost, elemental, entity, agency with certain unpleasant characteristics, whereas our ordinary ghost is quiet, inoffensive, noiseless and rather benevolent". In all lands and all ages the poltergeist is mischievous, destructive, noisy and erratic. A ghost is described as haunting whereas a poltergeist 'infests'
Psychic
Pertaining to the soul and to the mind, being a mystic, clairvoyant, telepathic or with the ability to be able to see into the future. This should not be confused with 'spiritual' which is often used these days to describe mediums who do not need to psychic to be spiritual but do need to be spiritual in order to be psychic.
Psychomancy
The ancient practised art of foretelling future events by the appearance of ghosts or spirits and what their manifestation means to the living.
Salt
Believed from ancient times to be like iron as a universal panacea against evil spirits and all manner of witchcraft and the Devil. Salt is often used in rituals to subdue a ghost by being placed in all the corners of the haunted building.
Séance
Normally conducted by a medium who claims to be able to contact the deceased relatives or sometimes the spirit guides of the sitters. Sometimes involving materialisation, disembodied voices or knocking and rapping sounds. The word séance is French is it's origin and means a sitting.
Spectre
Once used simply as another word for a ghost but nowadays more commonly used as a descriptor for a ghost which is found to be explainable by hoax or natural occurrences.
Talisman
Any object believed by the wearer or carrier to have the power to protect the owner from death or evil spirits. Talisman are also ascribed the power to bring good fortune, wealth or good health.
Telepathic
An ability to read minds and know the thoughts of other people, either close by or frequently at great distances.
Trance
An altered state of consciousness described as being somewhere between sleep and wakefulness. In this state mediums claim to be able to use their bodies or minds as a channel for waiting spirits or even healing energies.
Vengeful spirits
There are many recorded instances of ghosts returning to avenge themselves of terrible wrongs which were done to them in life. The ghosts of Winnats Pass near to Castleton in the Derbyshire peaks is said to be the spirits of Alan and Clara, brutally murdered in the pass by a group of miners.
Wake/s
An ancient custom thought to originate in Ireland, of sitting and watching over the dead whilst consuming large amounts of alcohol. This tradition is thought to help the spirit of the deceased in their journey into the spirit world. The practise of watching the body is done to prevent the dead body being entered by an evil spirit. The noise of music, singing and dancing at wakes also helps to scare evil spirits away.
Warlock
Used wrongly by many writers to describe a male witch. Many such witches would find such a term insulting as in times past the word also described a traitor.
White Ladies
White ladies are seen throughout the British Isles. Traditionally, they haunt castles, mansions and old halls. A large percentage also frequent water and are seen on bridges or near to open stretches of still or slow moving water.
Witch
A person, normally a woman who practises witchcraft. There are many forms of witches. Most worship nature and call upon gods of fertility to help them with their undertakings. Witches are normally forbidden to tell anyone what they are, or how they practise their art, believing silence is power and power brings knowledge. Modern witches would not use their powers to harm people, instead choosing to help and promote spiritual awareness and greater wisdom of life than what is obviously apparent.
Wizard
A person, usually male possessed with amazing abilities and well versed in the art of magic. Many male witches prefer this title to the perhaps more mundane Warlock.
Wraith
According to ancient tradition, a wraith is the ghost of a person on the verge of death and often appear as an exact likeness of their human counterpart. They are regarded as a death omen and should a person see a wraith of themselves then their days are surely numbered.

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Stone Tape Theory
Since the 1970s, the Stone Tape Theory has been one of the main notions behind the ghost phenomenon. Essentially the theory is based on the suggestion that buildings and materials are able to absorb a form of energy from living beings.
Researchers speculate that the recording is laid down during times of high emotional stress such as murder, grief or an important scene in someone’s life. This energy can be stored for an unspecified amount of time and the replay is triggered by the witness with the correct attributes. These attributes could include psychic ability, stress levels or even brainwaves and seem to set off the recording like a “psychic video”.
The replay can take a form as a full manifestation or even sounds such as voices or footsteps and may even be repeated. The theory certainly explains many of the sightings and incidents that occur, however no one knows for sure exactly what the recorded energy really is. The possibility that it could be our natural electric and magnetic fields seems remote but could it be another undiscovered energy?


Science needed for paranormal investigators
Science in paranormal investigation

 
Most evidence for the paranormal is anecdotal. This means that someone has related it as an experience. That's not to imply that they are lying or misremembering, simply that their experience is subjective. Anecdotal evidence has its place but there must always be other kinds as well before a subject can become scientific. Unfortunately, many subjective experiences are a result of the way the brain works (see also here). Even when experiences are objective, they are frequently misreported.
Thus, there is a need to verify anecdotes with instrumental measurements. Though instruments have proliferated in field investigations (like vigils) in recent years, they have not always been applied scientifically. It is often claimed, for instance, that ghostly activity is accompanied by a jump in the local magnetic field. However, where is the published evidence for this? Were other possible sources of field changes eliminated? And how was 'ghostly activity' verified (for instance, was a ghost actually seen or did a medium claim a ghost was present, perhaps)? Also, what kind of EMF meter was used? What was its range, accuracy and sensitivity? Was it properly calibrated? Were the readings recorded to a computer or just seen by an observer (which brings in people again!). How were baselines decided? Without answers to such crucial questions, the evidence remains anecdotal.
Reproducing and repeating
A crucial cornerstone of science is that it does not rely on who does it. It should be possible for any one, reading a scientific paper, to follow the same method used and get the same results. Obviously, this isn't always strictly practical but, where it is, it is crucial.
This has been a big problem in academic parapsychology. Often results DO appear to depend on who does the experiment. Worse, an experiment may work one day and not the next. This is one of the reasons why many mainstream scientists are sceptical of the subject.
However, this is no reason to give up on science (after all, parapsychologists haven't!). It just means we have to be more imaginative in the ways we use instrumentation. Professional scientists are always using their imagination to think of new ways to extract information. As a result, they can tell you the state of a bunch of atoms on the far side of the universe. So, it shouldn't be so difficult to say what's going on in someone's haunted house.
Theories
A central part of science are theories. These are explanations of how particular things work, to the best of current scientific knowledge. Theories are provisional - they can always be modified or even overthrown by new evidence.
Paranormal researchers should make themselves aware of relevant scientific theories that apply to their investigations (eg. how magnetism works). Such theories have been repeatedly tested and cannot simply be rejected unless there is compelling new scientific evidence otherwise.
Falsifiability
A scientific theory must be falsifiable. That means there must be a test that would demonstrate that it is not true. Without such a test the theory would 'explain' everything and so, effectively, explain nothing.
Hypotheses
A hypothesis is, essentially, a working, untested theory. For instance, the idea that ghosts produce magnetic fields would be a hypothesis. To become an accepted theory it would need to be compellingly demonstrated.
To do serious paranormal research, it is a good idea to take such relatively simple hypotheses and attempt to test them. It is much easier to concentrate on as few variables as possible. Set out to prove that ghosts 'exist' and you are on a hiding to nothing! There are too many variables, starting with - what exactly IS a ghost?


Peer review
One of the cornerstones of the scientific method is peer review. The idea is that other researchers in the same field review your work and pass comments on it. It is 'peer' review, rather than 'expert' review, because at the edges of knowledge where science operates, there are no experts with all the answers.
In our field, peer review could mean showing your vigil (or other research) results to a fellow investigator you respect, for comment. Showing the report to a scientist in a relevant field would be even more valuable.
The problem with peer review, from a researcher's perspective, is that the reviewer may criticize your work! Obviously, this can be personally annoying but it is designed to make you think. If you feel the criticisms are unjustified then you can say so. It could be that there is simply information missing from your report. Often, though, the criticisms, which are meant to be positive, will be valid. In that case you may need either to (a) rewrite your report or (b) do more research to fill in the gaps. You should not take such criticisms personally. They are intended to help you improve the credibility of your research not to undermine it.
This may sound like a grim process but it is necessary. The idea of peer review is that two (or more) minds are better than one. No one can think of everything that might affect some research but more minds can pick up all the important points.
Peer review is the way scientific publication work. Someone submits a paper and it is sent out for peer review. The comments are sent back to the researcher who may choose to amend or withdraw their paper. Usually, after suitable amendments, the paper is accepted by the scientific journal and becomes part of scientific knowledge.
Build on existing...
Science builds on existing knowledge. Obviously, sometimes researchers make discoveries that proves previous theories wrong. However, to do this you will need impeccable methods, results and the support of peers. Any new discovery also needs to be repeated.
In general, though, researchers quote existing scientific papers in support of their work. So, you should know who's done what in your field before you attempt to extend it. There are various parapsychological journals (as well as journals from fields related to your specific research) you may want to consult before attempting any serious scientific work in this field. Your research should build on earlier results. There's no point redoing what others have already done. You can quote their results in your reports to show why you don't need to redo certain things.
Critical thinking
It is important to develop a talent for critical thinking. It is not something that comes naturally to most people.
If you're doing some research, don't just consider the way you expect things to work. You need to critically analyse your hypotheses, the way you work, how you are getting your results and what you do with them. There are some hints on developing this faculty.
Put evidence first
You can find many articles on the web which approach the paranormal from a scientific view. The technical detail may be enough to put most researchers off the scientific approach altogether.
You will find detailed descriptions of the science (not always accurate) behind such things as EMF meters and infrasound. You can also find a lot about such arcane matters as quantum theory. There are articles explaining electromagnetism that vary from simple to university level and beyond.
This is fine except that the material often goes into far too much detail for paranormal researchers. There are technical articles here, of course, though the aim has always been to keep them simple and relevant to paranormal research.
The most important point about science that paranormal field researchers need to know is how to gather good evidence. Until there is persuasive evidence that ghosts exist outside people's heads (see left) then plasma theory and is irrelevant.
The science you need to know
There really isn't any need to go into exotic science to do paranormal research. It is much more important to obtain rigorous scientific evidence.
The things to concentrate on are:
Leave the complicated science alone until you have persuasive evidence. Good evidence is the bedrock of good science. You don't necessarily need to understand how everything works to measure it properly.




Psychic machines
It is amazing how many psychic phenomena (not to mention, divination) rely on random, or near random, patterns.
Consider, for instance, EVP. Some EVP researchers deliberately use white noise (a mixture of equal intensities of many sound frequencies) to 'stimulate' apparent communication with 'spirits' or other discarnate entities. Similarly, random visual patterns are sometimes said contain 'faces' or 'figures' in photographs.
Other techniques for 'spirit' communication, such as table-tilting, planchette and ouija also rely on what are effectively machines that deliberately produce random movements. The movements themselves are made by the participants (supposedly by unconscious muscular action - UMA). However, by having several people all contributing slight pressure in different directions, the overall movement becomes essentially random.
In all these cases, the idea is to see meaningful patterns (words, faces) standing out from the random background.
There are two problems with all these techniques. Firstly, humans have a tendency to 'see' patterns, even where there are none. Secondly, what might appear a random background may not be random at all (for instance, the 'white noise' between radio channels is not random but contains fragments of badly tuned and distant stations as well as atmospheric effects).
It is such practical matters that should concern field researchers rather than arcane scientific theory.


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