Paranormal Investigator Magazine Issue I

Paranormal Investigator Magazine Let’s draw a distinction between types of paranormal investigators. Most paranormal groups will not admit it, but they are performing investigations primarily for fun and entertainment. There is usually no money involved and they rarely provide a practical service. In these cases, there is probably little harm done to the participants by spending a spooky evening with friends and indulging in a bit of fantasy. However, there may be a great deal of harm done to the occupants. They may be living in fear where unsubstantiated conclusions can only validate their fears unnecessarily. Most paranormal groups will not admit it, but they are performing investigations primarily for fun and entertainment. The key here is to approach each investigation as a non-believer and do everything you can to find legitimate causes for each unusual event. You must also understand your own psychological shortcomings. When the dust settles and things still don’t have viable explanations, allow others outside the group an opportunity to analyze the data. Once you have dissected the evidence without finding a rational explanation, then you may have something truly remarkable. Plus, it will stand up to the scrutiny of others. Paranormal research is like treasure hunting. If you find a chunk of metal covered with dirt and mud, you don’t announce you have found a Spanish doubloon until you have thoroughly cleaned it. It could be just an old button. However, many in the paranormal community would rather place that chunk of dirt in a display case and just believe it’s gold. On the other side, investigators and researchers that are delving into this for academic or personal discovery should take steps to avoid the pitfalls that skew their conclusions. Many of these steps are simple but require self-control for all participants. In essence, this would be the scientific method. Investigators should limit conversation or discussing events during the session. You may have faith in yourself, but psychological studies and tests consistently show that all of us are subject to suggestion. If someone says a sound was a voice, you may stop your internal analysis and agree. Alternatively, take notes and compare them well after the investigation. If everyone agrees they heard the same thing, then it is better to reach that conclusion individually and without peer pressure. The same thing holds true for recorded evidence. Individuals, not groups should review photos and audio files and not discuss opinions with others. Something like suggesting there is a face in a window will prime other viewer’s mind to be looking for a face. Ghost box sessions will probably produce fewer confirmed voices if participants take notes rather than blurting out what they think they heard. — 14 — BIO for Dave Mace Dave Mace is a paranormal researcher and hosts “Outside the Veil”, a podcast about true ghost stories. He has a profound interest in anything paranormal and has since he was five. In his adult life, he has been able to merge this with eighteen-years of law enforcement experience, computer expertise and knowledge of photography to develop a no-nonsense approach to paranormal research. He accepts that the world is full of wonderful and unusual events, but views most sightings as misinterpreted facts or self-delusion. Dave believes that through critical thinking skills and the application of analytical standards we can discover the truth about the unknown.

Paranormal Investigator Magazine Issue I | Page 18