Dr. Mark Farley's Personal Blog

I believe if you’re truly trying to “help” the client. You should be focusing on explaining the events they are witnessing. In these situations, proof doesn’t help anyone but you; explanations help the client. Deep down, the practice of debunking only helps the investigator. Because deep down, through this facade of skewed skepticism, they really want to capture the “Holy Grail” of paranormal evidence. Investigations are for explaining; research is for proving.

I am rather strict during the investigation because the last thing I want is a team full of thrill seekers. I want professionals; I want standards; and I want quality. If our field is going to be accepted as a legitimate field of study. These are the three traits I feel every team must strive for.

So, what should you do in the beginning? First, don’t go out and buy a lot of equipment. I know veteran investigators are against using cell phones, but really, they are the best tool to have. They already have a quality camera, and you can download a voice recorder app for EVP’s.

Over the years, I have posted several hundred ghost photos on social media. Every time I do, there always seems to be a self-proclaimed professional photographer commenting that the photo is fake and here’s why, and then other “debunkers or paranormal experts” chime in, agreeing with them. So, in response to this, I don’t post as many ghost photos.

Almost every paranormal investigator has an infrared thermometer in their investigation kit. In my former career as an aircraft mechanic, I used infrared thermometer guns to troubleshoot windshield heat problems, locate blown ducts, troubleshoot anti-ice problems, and various other aircraft systems. It was a very useful tool in certain situations. However, for paranormal investigations, I think they are next to useless.

The most commonly accepted definition of a residual haunting is one that recurs repeatedly, like a video playing on a perpetual loop. In my experience, if a haunting truly repeats itself, it should be predictable.

So, I allow team members to carry their cell phones during investigations. There are just too many advantages to having them.

I also think investigating cemeteries is extremely beneficial for new investigators. Until you get established, investigations are hard to come by, and if you rent out haunted locations, it can be rather expensive. Cemeteries are free, open year-round, and a great opportunity for investigators to gain experience.

There is also another side of an investigation that cannot be solved with the Scientific Method: the research side. The site's history and the reasons why it’s haunted. The side of the investigation that answers the who, what, when, and why questions of a haunting. Waving equipment around may help answer some of these questions (in the form of responses), but never entirely.

Most members of the community base their reasoning on the apparition’s color. Because black is the color most associated with evil, most investigators think shadow figures are evil. My answer tends to be unpopular because I don’t subscribe to the widely held belief that the color of the apparition determines its nature.