| If you have watched any of the current "Ghost | | | | the mechanism whereby flaws and weaknesses |
| Hunting" programs on television, I am sure you | | | | are identified. In this way researchers with more |
| have heard the TV ghost hunters refer to what | | | | resources can pick up where our resources have |
| "research shows". By way of example, the most | | | | been exhausted. Therefore, our mission is to |
| frequent one I hear is "research shows that when | | | | explore certain questions, requests and |
| spirits manifest, they give off electromagnetic | | | | experiences that appear to have anomalous |
| frequencies that we can pick up with our EMF | | | | circumstances involved and to report findings |
| detectors". Indeed, they call what they are doing | | | | based upon a model that includes as much |
| in their shows as "paranormal research". What is | | | | baseline information and process detail as possible |
| research? How should searches be carried out to | | | | within the limits of our current technology and |
| follow true research protocol? I will show you, | | | | resources. |
| here, what we do and what is and isn't true about | | | | It needs to be understood that while what is |
| research. | | | | defined as quantitative research and is bound by |
| Where ever possible, ghost or what we call | | | | numbers, there, too, are qualitative designs that |
| "anomalous phenomena" investigations should | | | | have as a base, anecdotal information such as |
| maintain some scientific parameters considered | | | | case studies and witness reports. All of this |
| appropriate for research. Any deviation from that | | | | information is valuable. However, as I have |
| model should be documented as a controversy in | | | | pointed out, the limits of the information and the |
| the findings. All of what we see on television and | | | | discrepancies in procedure must be identified. All |
| what we do is a part of research that is, actually, | | | | discrepancies and limits must be included in the |
| only in the "information gathering" phase and is | | | | discussion and conclusion along with a clear |
| primarily aimed at the documentation of | | | | description of the method. Again, much of what |
| experience and findings within the parameters of | | | | we do will be the compilation of information. |
| the circumstances established and within the limits | | | | Conclusions may be possible in some |
| of the current technology available. To draw | | | | circumstances but it is likely that the compilation |
| conclusions based on limited or contaminated | | | | may most often be the end product and |
| information is erroneous and dangerous. On the | | | | represent the limits to which we can extend. |
| other hand, to say that the reports are flawed, | | | | Hopefully, in total, the information may be of |
| therefore, useless, is far too dismissive in scope. | | | | some use for the field in general. Next Article: |
| In order for the information to have any true | | | | Identify your own weaknesses and strengths. |
| value it must include in the reports themselves | | | | |