How Do I Conduct A Paranormal Investigation

Paranormal Investigations must be professional.

First, I have to admit that I am pretty strict when it comes to conducting paranormal investigations.  I have realized over my tenure in the paranormal that each investigator has their own style and preferences when it comes to investigating, and that’s fine.  For me, my style is primarily observation.  I like to sit quietly, observe, and take notes on what I'm witnessing.  I am, however, a stickler for how I start, end, and how investigators conduct themselves during an investigation.

First, I want everyone to arrive on time.  Nothing says unprofessional like being late.  Second, I always discuss the goals of the investigation.  What are we trying to accomplish, and what exactly are we dealing with?  Third, who is going to investigate where.  Nothing aggravates me more than someone who can’t sit still, trampling through the area I am trying to investigate.  I do this team meeting away from the client, and if possible, off-site.  After our team meeting and when we arrive on-site, I introduce my team to the client.

During the investigation, I insist that there is only one point of contact between the team and the client: the team leader.  This is a hard lesson I learned through experience.  Too many people talking, trying to show off how much they know, not only confuses the client, but also scares them.  I also prohibit the word “demon” from ever being said during the investigation and never around the client.  This is another hard lesson I learned through experience.  I also prohibit evidence from being reviewed on site and prohibit equipment like cameras and camcorders from being passed around.  A quick pass of a camera to a fellow team member to show what they just captured will only serve to scare the client.  Testing equipment and reviewing test shots is one thing; reviewing evidence in front of the client is another.

I do use psychics during investigations, but only the ones I trust.  In my experience, some psychics like to showboat and be the center of the investigation.  They want to tell the client everything they sensed.  Again, through hard lessons, I want psychics to be discreet and, if possible, blend in with the rest of the investigators.

To wrap things up, I give two weeks for evidence review.  Also, I want a written report of your evidence, what you did, and a copy of your field notes.  Even if you didn’t “catch” anything, I still want a detailed report of what you did during the investigation and a copy of your field notes.

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.