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Following Scientific Protocols in Ghosthunting
by
Melissa Martin Ellis
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- Don't investigate if you suspect a set up
- Use scientific reasoning to explain evidence
- Personal encounters provide powerful evidence
- Click here for The Everything Ghosthunting Book
Determining what is actually happening is the first responsibility of the investigator, and an honest assessment of the situation, phenomenon, activity, and people involved may not always support further investigation. Are there ever times when a case is dropped after the preliminary interview? Absolutely.
Seasoned investigators realize that it is a big drain on resources to pursue a case when there is little likelihood that the disturbance is paranormal. They also will not continue an investigation if:
- There is obviously a natural explanation for what is occurring.
- It is apparent the investigators are being lied to or set up.
- The situation is in a state of flux, and the malevolent energy present actually requires the services of a demonologist.
- One of the parties involved objects to the investigation.
More and more groups are adopting strict protocols to their methodologies. It is rare to find a group today that completely ignores the scientific approach in favor of the barging-around-an-old-house approach of yesteryear. Groups who do so quickly find themselves without clients and are faced with genuine credibility issues. Beginning with the assumption that they will try to debunk or find an organic explanation for the allegedly supernatural phenomenon, researchers gather hard data that they can use to prove their assertion that paranormal events do occur.
With the scientific approach, the investigators seek to gather and follow the evidence, only declaring the incident paranormal when all the natural explanations have been discarded. Sometimes this is at odds with investigations that seek neither to foster nor debunk mysteries but only to solve them. The methods may vary slightly from group to group, but those seeking hard evidence of a haunting must necessarily follow similar rules to achieve their ends.
- They obtain permission to access the site, clearing it with whatever agency or person controls access before entering the site.
- They investigate in teams. Investigators buddy up so no one is on her own.
- Strict records are kept of the equipment in use and electronic equipment is checked before being used in the field to ensure its reliability.
- The phenomenon that has been reported is analyzed for reproducibility by natural means.
- Evidence is carefully screened and reviewed with an aim to debunk it.
- Evidence that cannot be debunked is properly archived and preserved.
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