The Scientific Method - noun A method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data are gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.

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Paranormal Investigation and the Scientific Method: Electronic Voice Phenomena

by Cindy Russell

     One of the pitfalls of paranormal investigation is in the application of acceptable scientific parameters to acceptable methods of data collection analysis. Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary to the English Language defines the ‘Scientific method’ as: “A method of research in which a problem is identified, relevant data are gathered, a hypothesis is formulated from these data, and the hypothesis is empirically tested.” When we say that we must test our hypothesis empirically, we mean that any and all data must be obtained by experience or experiment. It is this empirical data that the paranormal investigator endeavors to find during an investigation.

     In applying the scientific method to investigations of the paranormal type, we try to follow the same parameters that are used in the scientific laboratory. This includes a certain amount of redundancy in order to avoid unexplained skews in results. In the laboratory, this includes the use of a control in any experiment. A control is run in concert with the experiment, under identical conditions; the only difference between it and the experimental objective being the lack of variables that define the experiment itself. One example of this practice in a typical paranormal investigation is when the electromagnetic fields in the test area are measured prior to the actual event. We do this so that when EMF fluctuations are registered during the investigation, these fluctuations can be compared to the base-line EMF taken earlier in order to rule out natural causes.

     There are many types of evidence that the paranormal investigator hopes to collect during an event. Changes in EMF are one thing; visual anomalies caught on film are another. One of the mainstays of investigations is Electronic Voice Phenomena, where voices and sounds are captured on tape that at the time of recording were not audible to the naked ear. A good, class A EVP is one of the holy grails of ghost-hunting, but the process is difficult to control in a scientific method. Normally, EVPs are captured by investigators simply carrying a recorder into the test area and asking questions. Then they wait a predetermined amount of time before speaking again in hopes of getting an answer. Unfortunately, the human element can potentially cause false positives that might later be incorrectly identified as EVPs during later analysis.

     One source of false positives in EVP collection is when the investigators themselves speak to each other during the session. During a paranormal investigation, it is almost instinctive to speak in quiet, subdued voices. These murmurs can then be caught by the recording equipment, and during data analysis be mistaken as class B or C EVPs.

     FindersCreepers Paranormal Investigations hopes to circumvent this problem with a redundant use of recording devices. Our objective is to utilize a second recording system for each researcher, with the sole aim of recording everything each researcher says during an investigation. We will do this by carrying not only our regular EVP digital recorders, but each team member will also have a second recorder with an attached microphone worn on a standard ear-piece. This second recorder is designed to record everything each investigator says throughout the duration of the investigation. Then, during data analysis, this second recording is synchronized with the EVP recording, and all of the noises are analyzed together. Any noise on the EVP recording that corresponds to spoken words on the sync-recording can then be ruled out as being the voice of the ghost-hunter(s). Noises and voices with no corresponding sounds on the sync-tape can then be more likely attributed to true EVPs.

     The history of paranormal investigation reveals that the practice began under less than ideal conditions for scientific review. In recent years, this practice has begun to change as teams have begun utilizing state-of-the-art equipment in their investigations. FindersCreepers hopes to contribute to this growing professionalism by utilizing this sync-recording practice in order to reduce the number of false positives that the practice of EVP collection is prone to have. Any method of improving the validity of our results is an absolute necessity, and we as a team strive to do our very best. The sync-tape method we hope to utilize is only one way to accomplish this, and along with other improvements to accepted methodologies, we hope to raise the bar for all paranormal investigative teams across the country.

Although FindersCreepers never charges for an investigation, please understand that our work is very time consuming and expensive; therefore, donations are always gratefully accepted and appreciated. We thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer!