By Founder Teri French
 

What is paranormal research?
Is it a bunch of fancy equipment? Is it a true science? Is it pseudoscience?
The answer to all of this is NO.

We get e-mails daily from new folks in the field (aka: Newbies) asking us what is needed to do this research and each time we have a "standard" answer for this...applied logic and an open mind. They might become confused or bewildered looking at the arsenal of equipment that P.I.T.T. has but truth be told this equipment is NOT "ghost hunting equipment". We have said it all along and will continue to do so...there is no such thing as "ghost hunting equipment". Our equipment bag consists of that which tests the environment - it does not detect ghosts.

So, why does P.I.T.T. have all this equipment?
Good question.
"IF" (and that is an resounding if) *ghosts* are real, there has to be a way to measure this. Its a "theory" that ghosts disrupt the environment around us when they enter our dimension. If this is true, the equipment we use would detect changes in the environment...that is why we use it! Are we techo-gadget freaks? Well, maybe a little bit. haha
How many times have you heard a witness claim that a room turned cold when they saw a ghost? Is this a biological or environmental response? Most likely it's both but with so many personal encounters claiming the same thing - we feel its necessary to carry a temperature meter to see if we can validate the temperature changes we so frequently hear about.

It is also a "theory" that ghosts disrupt the electromagnetic fields (EMF) that any given room will provide when a *spirit* enters...is this true? We don't know, but without testing this theory we will never find out so we carry EMF meters to see for ourselves. If we have a strange experience and we get a temperature drop as well as a EMF fluctuation from the normal range - there just might be something to it. However, we can say with all honesty that we have yet to notice this...but we will continue to test and see if this "theory" rings true or not. So why do we still carry all this silly equipment? The answer is.....without it we can't test the theories already provided by those who have gone before us (with many more years experience, I might add) and see for ourselves if these theories have merit or not. Without experimenting, you will never know.

The other equipment we carry is video cameras, still cameras, audio recorders and the basic pen and notepad. Why? Well, if we ever get that coveted "apparition on film" we want to prove it, be it on video or still cameras as well as document the occurrence as it happened. One thing I have learned is documenting the experience AS IT HAPPENS adds much more credibility than trying to document it later and recall from memory. I have learned from being in court for different things with my job...documenting NOW means that you won't have to recall fuzzy memories later. More of the ACTUAL FACTS will be recorded accurately if you document the experience and other peoples reaction to it - as it happens - rather than after the fact. Emotions, feelings and reactions can get exhaggerated after the fact because of the fuzzy recall....video, audio and hand written notes will document the experience more truthfully.

We have witnessed many groups who claim to have an "apparition on film" but have seen very few that impress the real skeptics of this research. Most of those films are very dark, shaky and questionable at best. If the proper research is done, the EXACT moment will be documented properly leading to the "evidence" being better preserved. This doesn't mean it won't be arguable, it means it will be better documented...when you have all your facts straight it is harder to question...but not impossible. Anything can be questioned.

So - is this research scientific?
Hardly. This is as far from true "science" as you can get. Science does not recognize metaphysical research and rightly so. Science only recognizes that which can be reproduced in a controlled environment and that is impossible with paranormal research. Ghostly phenomena is so fleeting and elusive that you can't put it in a controlled atmosphere. It is unfortunate, but it's true.

Is is pseudoscience?
Pseudoscience is considered false science or bad science but because paranormal researchers are trying to contribute does not make it bad science. They are attempting to bring answers to human's most sought after question; Is there life after death? People that try to bring recognition to the field by ACTIVELY researching are not doing "bad science" or even "false science" they are attempting to make a contribution to society by researching something that is basically a very big mystery....the UNKNOWN. They are bringing different suggestions to the table - hypothesis', educated guesses to hopefully one day make paranormal research one that is recognized by the scientific community proper. I think that eventually we will have that...

So what about these teams who claim to be "Scientific"?
Well, many teams coin the term "scientific" but that doesn't mean they are claiming to be scientists....it means they are using equipment (technology) AND the scientific method to detect changes - it doesn't mean they scientifically detect ghosts. "Science" is about procedures for data collection and the methodology used in this research. Its what you do with the data you collect from the equipment, its how you measure that data and bring it into perspective. There seems to be a misconception in what it means to be a scientific team. Simply put, they don't use ouija boards, psychic impressions or other "metaphysical" means to predict the outcome of their research, nor do they solely rely on equipment readings to determine the results of an investigation...they use the outcome of the data from that equipment to show what could (or could not) be related to a ghostly encounter. Teams that use the "scientific" theme should also be applying and adhering to the scientific method. This means they should use logic and deductive reasoning as a cornerstone for everything they do. Sadly, not all teams do this and some confuse using equipment as being "Scientific". Truth be told, science has nothing to do with "gadgets" - that is technology. Technology and Science are two totally different things.

So - that is paranormal research defined....as P.I.T.T. viewes it. Some may agree, some may not and that is ok...that is what makes this research so interesting. You have teams all over the United States and beyond that use all different types of variables to conclude their findings.....the diversity within this research is what makes it so appealing, it's always open to interpretation.

 

T. French
January, 2006