Ghost Hunting Investigation Forms - DOC

Report as inappropriate Your report has been received

Description

Ghost Hunting Investigation Forms document sample

Shared by: syw11126

MORE QUESTIONS FOR THE WITNESS 10

MARKING THE MAP DURING THE INTERVIEWS 12

HISTORICAL RESEARCH 13

THE GHOST HUNT (PLANNING PROCESS) 14

THE GHOST HUNT (OPERATIONAL) 15

1. Establish a Base Area 15

4. Investigate the Event and Mark it on the Map 17

5. Replicate Events (Reconstructions), Natural Causes 17

6. Debriefing and Submitting the Data 17

THE SKEPTICAL INQUIRY 18

Psychological Explanations 19

Physical Explanations 20

Environmental Explanations 21

HOAXES 24

SUMMARY OF THE SHIELD INVESTIGATION 24

CASE REVIEW 26

The SGHA Investigative Process, Phase 2
1. Composing the Team 27

The SGHA Investigative Process 2
The SGHA Investigative Process
2. The Skeptical Ghost-Hunt 27

3. Surveillance 28

4. The Case Review 30

THE SGHA INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS, PHASE 3 (RESEARCH) 30

THE RESEARCH PLAN 31
RESEARCH PLAN PART A: Specific Aims 31

RESEARCH PLAN PART B: Background and Significance 32

RESEARCH PLAN PART C: Preliminary Results/Progress Report 33

RESEARCH PLAN PART D: Research Design and Methods 34

BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION 35

EXPERIMENTAL TESTS 35

ANALYSIS 36

The SGHA Investigative Process 3
The SGHA Investigative Process

The SGHA Investigative Process, Phase 1
The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate
representation of the world.

T he investigative process used by Southwest Ghost Hunters Association (SGHA) is designed
to reduce, if not eliminate, investigator bias and to collect reliable data on reportedly haunted
locations for future research. The process has several different phases, each with its own
steps, which must be completed fully in order to obtain useable data. The purpose of this
manual is to guide SGHA investigators through each of the phases and the steps that are involved.

T H E 1 S T
The first phase is comprised of four parts. Each of these parts is
designed to gather a particular set of variables from a suspected haunted
P H A S E
location. It is especially important that information from each step is not
 Initial Survey shared with any of the investigators involved in the future steps until the
 Ghost Hunt case review is finished. This is to eliminate investigator bias.
 Skeptical Inquiry
 Case review The Initial Survey (Recon)
The Initial Survey (also called a Recon) is the beginning of the SGHA investigative process. It
is via this process that investigators establish baseline data, conduct interviews and map out
the location for future exploration.


The Initial Survey is very important!
The first step of the initial survey is to map out the potentially haunted location on graph
paper. One must move around the outside (perimeter) and get the measurements of the
entire area. This will aid in establishing a proper scale to the map being created. Each
square on the graph paper should be equal to a certain distance. Determining the
parameters of the investigation area is vital for planning the next step.

Next, one should then work to map the interior of the area. If the location is a building,
carefully note the location of all rooms and corridors. Also, it is critical to mark the
location where power enters the building, as well as any mechanical areas that may give
off electromagnetic, electrical and static fields. Once the mapping of the area is
successfully completed, investigators may begin conducting interviews.

The best method is to have the witness physically return with the investigative team to
the place where the incident(s) occurred. Ideally, all interviews should be recorded on
video whenever possible, taking care to include both the areas where the events took
place and the witness as he or she tells of the event.

The Initial survey also serves to establish good public relations with the owners of the location.

The SGHA Investigative Process 4
The SGHA Investigative Process

Interviewing Witnesses
The most important aspect of a ghost investigation is the witness interview. In most haunting
cases, the testimony of the eyewitness will be the primary decision-maker in choosing what
direction to go with the ghost-hunt. If the interview is handled correctly, the information
gathered can be very helpful in the rest of the investigation. In order to be successful, each
interview must be well prepared for prior to conducting it. Whether the witness is a total
stranger or well known to the investigator, the same rules of conduct will apply.

A good investigator will acknowledge and adhere to the following ethical guidelines before and
during all interviews:

 Investigators must conduct themselves in a professional manner.
 Value and/or character judgments based solely upon superficial markers such as age,
race, gender, educational or economic background will not be tolerated.
 Every witness interview must be conducted with the mindset that the honesty and
credibility of the witness initially is unquestionable.
 One needs to be mindful and considerate of the witness’ feelings at all times. The
comfort level of the witness has direct bearing upon the success of the interview and the
quality of the information recollected. Interviews should not be conducted with a tired
witness, as details can be unwittingly altered, incomplete or forgotten altogether.
 The interview must be kept on track when necessary and every possibility, whether
natural or supernatural, explored.

Conclusions regarding the validity of stories told may only be drawn following the completion of
the entire investigation and careful evaluation of all evidence gathered.

Preparing for the Interview
First, determine the number of witnesses to the event(s). If there is more than one witness,
always conduct separate interviews. Each person sees things from his or her own perspective,
and that is precisely the desired result: each witness’ own uncontaminated observations. With
a group interview, there is always the chance that one person's testimony will influence the
next. Witnesses may feel pressured into saying that they experienced something that they did
not, simply because one or more people interviewed prior to them reported experiencing a
particular occurrence.

The only time that all witnesses should be grouped together is upon returning to the actual
scene. However, returning to the site is not always a viable possibility.
Sometimes the witness will refuse or other circumstances just will not permit it. Whenever
possible, investigators should return to the scene, as this usually enables the witnesses to
relive their experience more vividly. It also will provide examiners with a much more accurate
visual picture of the details and events that transpired.

The witness must not be pressured in any way to do the interview or to return to the scene. It is
not at all uncommon to come into contact with individuals who seem willing to cooperate at
first, then back out at the last second or disappear altogether. Some may even choose to
The SGHA Investigative Process 5
The SGHA Investigative Process
change their minds in the middle of the interview. That is one key reason to make the witness
feel comfortable as much as possible. The higher the comfort level is, the greater the likelihood
that the witness will consent to finish the full interview. However, if he or she indicates in any
fashion a desire to stop the interview and discontinue the arrangement with the investigative
team for any reason, then that is what must happen. The interview is over.

Always reassure the witnesses that their names, addresses and other personal information will
remain private. Assurances of confidentiality must then be strictly adhered to. It is never
acceptable to disclose any part of a witness' personal information to anyone, for any reason,
without first obtaining full permission. Interviewing a witness may be the most difficult portion of
any given investigation. As any law enforcement officer or psychologist can attest to, two
individuals rarely see the same incident in the exact same way.

In the experience of the paranormal investigator, this difficult task is compounded by another
unique challenge that must be considered and overcome. Those who believe that they have
had an encounter with the paranormal are often quite frightened by the sight or sound of
something that they themselves cannot explain. Such witnesses should be handled in a
careful and deliberate manner. They have to be made to feel comfortable with the investigation
and the entire situation. The paranormal is something completely bizarre to the ordinary
person.

All interviews need to be tape recorded unless the witness objects. The recording allows for
the interview to be analyzed at a later time and place when full attention can be given to all of
the details. This also increases both the integrity and the amount of data captured since the
written notes of the interviewer are not the sole source of information. Let the witness know
that the recordings are only to ensure that the case file is accurate and that only other
investigators directly involved will have access to it.

It is important, however, that an investigator take thorough notes, regardless of if the interview
is being recorded. Such notations can easily be incorporated as points of discussion to follow
up on, documentation of visual cues the audio recording cannot capture or the like. The idea of
the interview is to get as much useful information as possible.

In some instances, witnesses will consent to the interview being videotaped. This is obviously
preferred over audio recordings because it allows for facial expressions and body language to
be scrutinized as well.

Interviews should be conducted in a relaxed, confusion-free atmosphere. The ideal setting for
a productive interview is a quiet, well-lit room with a table for the witness and the investigator
to utilize. The only tools that are necessary during this phase of the proceedings are a video
camera, tape recorder, pen and a notepad. All televisions, radios, or similar distractions should
be turned off for the duration of the session. Whenever possible, interruptions should not be
permitted. Only after the appropriate setting and comfort levels have been accomplished
should the actual interview begin.

The following considerations and procedural guidelines must be taken into account during all
witness interviews:

The SGHA Investigative Process 6
The SGHA Investigative Process

 Obtain a full and detailed account of all experiences and events.
 All details given during the interview must be independently corroborated whenever
possible. For example, if one of the details the witness recalls involves a rainstorm, one
should verify this with the Weather Service reports. If a seemingly unrelated detail such
as this can be disproved, the investigator must then analyze the remaining memories
accordingly as the other details may also be faulty.
 Whenever possible, attempts should be made to recreate the events being reported.
With the witness in the same position as when the occurrence first happened,
investigators should attempt to duplicate things such as noises or odd lighting effects by
natural means in order to rule out normal explanations.
 Objectivity and painstaking attention to detail is the best way to correctly assess any
situation. Detaching from things such as personal biases, belief structures, premature
judgments, and even previous investigations is crucial to conducting a solid
investigation.

The following is a list of potential problems encountered in witness testimonials.

1. A witness may be totally unaware of everyday explanations for events and occurrences.
Check into the details of the account as there may be something natural about the location that
caused the lights to go on and off, etc.

2. Eyewitness testimony is not always what actually happened. It is important to remember
that it is merely what the witness believes to have happened. It is helpful to discover if the
witness is already convinced that the location is "haunted" or not. Preconceived ideas and
conclusions can easily sway testimony.

3. Witnesses can also be influenced by information provided by the investigator. Caution
should be exercised and words chosen carefully even prior to the start of the interview. Even
joking about paranormal events can adversely affect the perception of events. For example,
casual comments or comparisons made between the reported events and scenes in horror
movies, for example, could easily result in the witness beginning to report blood seeping from
the walls or similar events.

4. The witness may be mentally unstable. In cases such as these, the team must be extricated
from the setting and quickly and as politely as possible.

5. On occasion, the witness may choose to deliberately fabricate events. A person may choose
to completely make up the entire scenario for attention or amusement. Alternately, a person
might have actually had a real experience but since they cannot recall all of the details, he or
she has "filled in the blanks" with less honest information in order to lend credibility to the
claims. This is another illustration of the importance of independently confirming details of all
accounts.

The SGHA Investigative Process 7
The SGHA Investigative Process

The Interview
The interview must begin with the witness telling his or her story from beginning to end, without
interruption. All questions should be held off until the witness has finished recounting the full
story. During this initial retelling, the sole purpose of the interviewer is to listen to and record
information. All questions or points needing clarification should be written down so that they
can be asked at a later time.

It is only once the witness has finished telling the story that the interviewer should begin to ask
any questions. The way the questions are phrased is extremely important. Do not lead the
witness! Most interviewers will do this without being aware of it and that can be an even
greater problem, as the bias is unrecognized.

For this reason, questions in multiple-choice form, or ones in which the witness is asked to
speculate, are incorrect and useless as they are leading by nature.

The following are some examples of questions that could occur in a typical interview. Each
question has two forms, a leading question and an open-end question.

Leading: Did you see an apparition, full body ghost or a gray mist?
Open: What did you see?

Leading: Were you frightened?
Open: How did you feel?

Leading: Was the sound a banging or scratching?
Open: What kind of ordinary sound did it remind you of?

One can easily see the difference in the questions. The leading questions make the witness
feel that the only correct answers are the ones offered in the question itself. The open
questions leave the witness free to give his or her exact observations without the pressure that
they may give some kind of incorrect answer. Write out twenty or more typical questions and
review them. Change them so that they are open-ended questions. Make sure to practice! Like
anything else, good interviewing takes practice. Interviewers must strive as much as possible
not to ask a leading question as this could corrupt the entire interview.

Some clarifying questions that may be helpful to ask following the initial verbal account are:

 Where were you when this took place?
 What were you doing at the time?
 What did you think it was at first?
 Describe the figure and/or any sounds, odors, etc.
 During the event(s), what were your initial actions or reactions?
 How did you feel?
 How did the occurrence end?
 What were your reactions directly following the events?

The SGHA Investigative Process 8
The SGHA Investigative Process

Questions Involving Witness Sensory Perceptions:
A huge part of information from a witness will be based on what was seen, heard, felt, and/or
smelled during the events. Responsible investigators have the duty to reasonably question the
witness regarding the working ability of any sensory perceptions.

Sense of Sight:

 Does the witness need eyeglasses or contact lenses? If Yes: Were they being worn at the time of the
observation? Type of prescription?
 Are there any other physical eye problems?
 Is the witness colorblind?

Sense of Hearing:
Witnesses who have reported hearing strange sounds must be questioned about any hearing
impairment or aids.

 Does the witness have any known hearing impairments?
 Is a hearing aid ever used? If Yes: What kind of hearing aid is it? Was it worn during the
encounter?
 Was the person “actively listening” at the time?

It is also important to keep in mind that there are numerous natural sources that create sound
and strange noises. Wind speed and direction can cause sound vibrations. Rustling trees,
banging shutters, broken pipes, animals scurrying, buzzing electric lines and mechanical
devices are all possible sources for sound misinterpretations.

Sense of Smell:
Strange odors are common in supernatural cases. Every odor needs to be identified and
cataloged along with the exact time and area.

 Does the witness have a good sense of smell?
 Was there a smell involved with the experience? If yes: How would the witness describe it? Strong
or faint? Did he or she recognize the smell?
 How did the witness feel and react during this time? Directly afterwards?

Sense of Touch:
Falling into this category are sensations of tingling, numbness, levitation, paralysis, confronting
unseen barriers, as well as physical attacks.

 Did the apparition make any physical contact with any of the witnesses? If Yes: What kind of
contact? Could the sensation have been natural (i.e. hair standing up, goose bumps, etc.)?

The SGHA Investigative Process 9
The SGHA Investigative Process

More Questions for the Witness
Let the witness know ahead of time that any question that he or she feels uncomfortable with
or extremely personal questions do not have to be answered. Witnesses should be advised,
however, that the more information that is given, the better the chances would be for the
investigative team to determine what transpired. Never try to force a witness to answer these
or any other questions.

Initial Questions

 How many witnesses were present? List their full names.
 Where did the sighting occur?
 What was the exact date and time?

Condition Questions

 What was the weather like that day?
 What was the weather conditions like during the time of the events?
 Was there any visible lightning? Was thunder heard?
 Was there any form of precipitation (rain, snow, hail, fog, mist, etc.)?
 Was there any kind of electrical problems before, during or after the occurrence?
 Was there any sort of temperature variation associated with the sighting?

Apparition Questions

 Describe the apparition.
 How far away from the apparition was the witness?
 Did the apparition cast a shadow?
 Did the apparition seem to manipulate or move any objects?
 Did the apparition appear to make eye contact with anyone?
 Did the apparition acknowledge the witness’ presence in any way? If Yes: Explain.
 Did the apparition speak to anyone? If Yes: What exactly was said?
 Did the apparition move? If Yes: Explain.
 Was there any sort of physical attack by the apparition? If Yes: Explain.
 Could the witness see through the apparition or did it appear solid?
 Was the apparition wearing clothes? If Yes: Describe.
 How long was the apparition visible?

Witness Questions

 What does the witness believe to have happened?
 Was the witness sleeping before the sighting?
 Was he or she tired prior to the events?
 Did the witness call for help or scream during the sighting?
 Was the apparition familiar or recognizable?
The SGHA Investigative Process 10
The SGHA Investigative Process

 Did anyone attempt to speak or communicate with the apparition?
 Were any pictures or video recordings made of the apparition?
 Did anyone attempt to move closer to the apparition?
 Has the witness experienced anything similar in the past?
 Does the witness know of anyone who has experienced something similar?

General Questions

 Were there any animals present at the time of the sighting? If Yes: List them.
 How did the animal(s) react?
 What was the behavior of the animal(s) like throughout the day?
 How did the animal(s) act following the sighting?
 Did any objects break before, during or after the sighting? If Yes: Describe
 Did anything else happen that was out of the ordinary?

Final Notes on Interviewing
After the interviews are complete, check again to see if any witnesses have photos or video
evidence of the account. If they do, ask to get copies. If they don't have visual proof, give them
a piece of drawing paper and ask them to draw and label exactly what they saw. Artistic
abilities are not important. Attach all of the information gathered to the final report.
Take care not to confuse the witness with the use of "jargon" that might not be understood. If
the witness feels intimidated, it will be impossible to get the best account. The witness may feel
that he or she needs to exaggerate. Do not try to answer witness questions that one could
have no way of knowing, regardless of initial conclusions. These types of questions might be:

Will this happen again?
Will it come back?
Am I safe?
Why did this happen to me?
What does this mean?
Why is this happening?
No matter how confident an investigator may be in conclusions reached, the correct thing to do
is to politely decline to answer and explain to the witness that any answers that could be
provided would be nothing more than speculation.

If possible, try to interview the witnesses two or three different times. Conduct an interview at
least once at the beginning and once again at the end of the investigation. The reason for this
is to look for any inconsistencies that may pop up in the story. If there are inconsistencies that
does not necessarily mean that the witness is lying, but they are important to document. Plus,
investigators should take note if anything else has happened to them during the course of the
ghost-hunt.

The SGHA Investigative Process 11
The SGHA Investigative Process
In the ghost-hunting field, one will run into people who lie, want attention, publicity, or have
some other ulterior motive for coming forward with supernatural stories. Some people may
even be emotionally troubled to the point of mental illness. On the other hand, investigators will
meet people with genuine, real life supernatural experiences. It will be up to each investigation
team to determine which stories are credible and worthy of a ghost-hunt.

Marking the Map during the Interviews
As information becomes available during the interviews, the location of each suspected
paranormal occurrence is marked on the map in alphanumerical sequence (example S-1, S-2,
Etc.). Then, on a separate piece of paper, identify the description of the event to the
alphanumeric number. Keep the descriptions short and to the point but be sure to include
important details.

For Example:

 S-1: Ball of light; evil presence
 S-2: Apparition sighted near door; feelings of being watched
 S-3: Same as S-2, but by different witness. Also, a separate incident involving noises (footsteps,
movement) heard in room during the night when second floor was supposedly empty.
 S-4: Sound of footsteps; objects on table move by themselves
 S-5, S-6: Smell of perfume/roses. Apparition seen in window from outside of building; light
turns on by itself, two separate witnesses.

The SGHA Investigative Process 12
The SGHA Investigative Process

Historical Research
The final step in the initial survey is historical research. Some of this information can be
discovered before, after the survey is over and even during the execution of the survey itself.
Investigators are searching for historical events or occurrences that may be responsible for the
haunting. In addition, one needs to know specifics of the building itself. Was it remodeled?
What sections of the building are original? Have former occupants experienced the same
phenomena?

Start off easy and check out what the current occupants know about the house's history. Be
prepared for some inaccurate information, as there is always a chance that the occupants
could shadow their information in a suggestive way. Researchers should also find out if there
are any neighbors who may have been in the area for a long time. The little old lady who has
lived down the street for sixty years will often remember many of the former occupants of the
property and any unusual occurrences that may have happened there.

These local residents may also know if there is any local folklore about the location. This type
of information is rarely scientific and usually only partially accurate, but must not be totally
discounted. Folklore can sometimes point the researcher in the right direction.

The next step should be checking to see if anyone else has ever traced the history of the
house in question. Each state has a State Historic Preservation Officer who nominates
structures that are “significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and
culture” and then gets them listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One can get a
list of historic buildings in any state by visiting the State Historic Preservation Office.

Other places to look are the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Historic American
Engineering Record. They have documented more than 37,000 historic structures and sites
since 1993 and their reports contain measured drawings, photographs and historical
information. The data is available on microfilm and at the Library of Congress.

Investigators also might find a history of the house at the local library or at the local
newspaper. Many newspapers have a research division also, but may charge exorbitant prices
for providing assistance. The Internet can also be utilized in the search for valuable information
on the location’s history. When using search engines, be sure to provide a variety of keywords
and use more than one search engine.

If the city has a town historian, he or she can also be quite insightful. Be sure to check multiple
sources and cross check those sources. Include a synopsis of the history with the location
map, photographs and any other data obtained to Logistics after the survey is completed.

Finally, the personnel performing the initial survey should do an impromptu ghost hunt of the
location. This allows the owners to see a small portion of what we do to sedate their curiosity
and allow the next step of the process to go unimpeded without turning it into a circus.

Proper historical research is vital because many “hauntings” have been debunked by their
history. The location’s history will either support or conflict with the stories coming from the
location.

The SGHA Investigative Process 13
The SGHA Investigative Process

The Ghost Hunt (planning process)
The ghost-hunt is a liberal look to see if any paranormal activity can be identified. Suspect
areas of activity are identified and initial scientific measurements are taken. The goal of a
ghost hunt is to provide a reasonable doubt that “paranormal activity” may be the cause of the
reported phenomena. They may also be performed to check up on known haunted locations
that have been visited before.

The Planning Phase

Before the ghost hunt can executed, the Charter Officers and Team Leader (if one is
appointed) must have a planning meeting to sort out details, assign or delegate responsibilities
and to determine what techniques/ experiments are going to be used. It should be noted that
when an Officer delegates a specific responsibility, they are still held accountable for that
responsibility.
The Charter Officer’s responsibilities are as follows.

Operations Officer
 Determine which techniques or experiments are going to be used
 Develop a plan to ensure that there is enough allotted time for experiments and to
adequately search the location. Other factors, such as breaks, meals and travel time
need to be considered.
 Determine how many people are needed to carry out the operation based on its size
and the amount of time the Team has access to the location.
 Post the ghost hunt in the forum to determine which investigators are available for the
ghost hunt. Try to give at least two weeks of notice to allow members to adjust their
personnel schedules (coordinate this with the Charter Secretary).
 Determine if additional (rented) instrumentation is required. Coordinate this with the
Charter Secretary.
 After the Team is chosen, assign a Team Leader (optional). If no Team Leader is
chosen, the Operations Officer or the State Coordinator will act as the Team Leader.

Logistics Officer
 Inspect equipment and instrumentation prior to leaving to ensure serviceability
(Batteries, calibration, condition)
 If instrumentation is to be rented, make any needed arrangements (payment, pick up
and drop off). Inspect instrumentation before and after the ghost hunt.
 Make travel arrangements for the Team (carpooling, etc.) Designate a place and time
for the Team to meet up before the ghost hunt.
 Ensure hotel arrangements are made (if needed) and know the room numbers of the
team members.

Secretary
 Arrange a date, place and time for the planning meeting of the Officers.
 Bring financial statements with current balance to the planning meeting (if applicable).
 Advise the Operations Officer on member participation, training levels and special skills.
 Type up the final plan and print a copy for the Operations Officer and Team Leader.

The SGHA Investigative Process 14
The SGHA Investigative Process

State Coordinator
 Assume the responsibilities of any Officer not available for duty.
 Preside over the Officer’s planning meeting.
 Make the final determination and approval of the plan.

Strategic Officer
*The Strategic Officer is only required if media is going to be present during the investigation.
 Define who the media source is
 Define what the media wants to do at the location.
 Assist the State Coordinator in determining who will escort the media during the
investigation and who is authorized to do interviews.
 Make arrangements (time, date and place) to meet the media at the location.

The Officer’s Planning Meeting

The Officer’s planning meeting will be held to determine the following.

 Are additional resources needed? (Instrumentation, rentals)
 Which members are participating in the ghost hunt (compose the Team). Ensure that
the Team is balanced (experience and skills) and that the Charter members are
selected fairly.
 What controls are required for the Ghost Hunt and how they will be maintained (define).
 Assign duties for participating members.
 Implement a schedule that moves teams from location to location at regular intervals
and allows for periodic breaks for each of the teams. In certain instances, the team may
be mobile and not stationary. In this case, the team moves from one place to another
and calls any information back to a team stationed at the base.
 Identify problems with the operational plan and correct them.
 Approve and implement the plan.

The Ghost Hunt (Operational)
1. Establish a Base Area

After the team has arrived at the site, the first step in a ghost-hunt is to
establish a “base” area. The base is the primary place where briefings will
be conducted and serves as a rendezvous point for the team while at the
location. The decision of where to put the base is important. It should not
be in an area where known activity as occurred if at all possible. Since this
area is also where equipment cases and other items are kept, it should also
be secure or have a secure area nearby where those items can be placed while the ghost
hunters are away.
 Check Out the Equipment: Look over the equipment and perform function tests. This
step also requires that new batteries are installed in all equipment to be used and that
this is done in the presence of the Team Captain. Synchronize all instruments and the
time stamp on cameras with the team captain’s watch.
The SGHA Investigative Process 15
The SGHA Investigative Process

 Ops Briefing: The Team Captain now briefs the group on the plan. This includes where
the hunt will begin, where it concludes and the sequence of events in between. The Ops
Briefing may also include reminders about rules for ghost hunting and an emphasis on
being thorough and keeping controls intact. Again, everyone participating in the
investigation should always know where the others are so that there is not any
confusion or misinterpretations. Brief the members on their assigned duties during the
ghost hunt.

 Safety Briefing: Following the Ops Briefing, the Team Captain now briefs the team on
all known hazards associated with the location and any steps that need to be performed
to ensure the safety of the group. The Safety Briefing should also include emergency
procedures that describe what to do if someone is injured during the ghost-hunt.

 The Walk-Through: This step consists of walking through the location and pointing out
certain areas for identification purposes. During the initial walk-through or at any other
time during the investigation try not to unnecessarily touched or move objects. The
natural environment should be left alone.

No participant in the ghost-hunt (other than the Team Leader, Site Manager and Operations
Officer) should be given any information about the haunting before the hunt. If they then
witness something on the night of the hunt that agrees with previous reports, it obviously
greatly strengthens the case.

2. Execute the plan

The ghost-hunt now begins. The Team will have some idea on where paranormal incidents
have occurred by looking at the map prepared during the initial survey. However, it is very
important to not place too much of an emphasis on these areas because the information
provided to the team is intentionally limited to prevent investigator bias. It is also possible those
things were missed during the initial survey or that the haunting is moving about the location in
a pattern. Be sure to check all areas of the location thoroughly.

After the initial run through, the Team meets at Base and is briefed on the phenomena that
have been reported at the location. Information gathered during the first run through is
compared with the information obtained during the initial survey. Adjustments to the operations
plan are made at this time (if needed) to focus on areas that have significant comparisons.

3. Record any findings

Hopefully, something interesting will occur during the ghost-hunt. These
incidents are called “EVENTS” for the purpose of identification and are
listed in numerical order as they are encountered. It is extremely important
that every detail that can be accounted for is logged and recorded. Always
log every event that seems out of the ordinary (doors that lock, electrical
problems, chandeliers swaying, strange lights, etc.) Videotape everything
for proof. Form 001 is used by SGHA for recording events that have
occurred during a ghost hunt. In particular, three items are very important.
The SGHA Investigative Process 16
The SGHA Investigative Process
1) Electromagnetic Fields: Type, Power level and Frequency
2) Temperature Variations
3) Photographs taken during the event

4. Investigate the Event and Mark it on the Map

Mark on the map everything that the team came across. Then, add in
the important points such as position of team members / witnesses and
the apparent track of the phenomena (if applicable). After an event has
occurred, it is important to investigate the event. Note whether the site
is likely to have been seen by pedestrians or other people at the time of
the event.
Take photographs of all important points of the incident. Put an object
of known size in the field of view to act as a scale marker. Shoot the
whole scene from different angles as well as taking details of particular
points. Ensure that any controls implemented for the ghost hunt are kept intact / followed.
Finally, look at the scene again. Try to imagine what happened by visualizing and replaying the
original incident. Doing so might allow one to notice something that may have been missed
before and that may have a bearing on the event.

5. Replicate Events (Reconstructions), Natural Causes
Sometimes, reconstructing events at the original site can lead to a
normal explanation of the event. Suppose, for instance, that a weird
groaning noise was heard by one of the investigators in an old derelict
building. Upon further examination, it was discovered that the wind
produces just such a noise when it blows through the building from a
particular direction.
Other odd noises or smells could be produced by animals or nearby
vegetation. The ghost hunter should follow where the facts lead. Often
those facts will need to explanations with a basis in a natural cause.

6. Debriefing and Submitting the Data
After the ghost-hunt has concluded, the Team Captain will sit down with the
investigators to discuss the events encountered during the ghost-hunt. Each
investigator gives his or her opinion of the event, and if necessary the team
can revisit the site the next morning to reexamine certain areas. The purpose
of the debriefing is to examine all the events from all possible angles.
Different phenomena may be interpreted in different ways and this may be
apparent by examining the viewpoints of those involved in the ghost-hunt.
After the debriefing, the final results are recorded and submitted to Logistics with the map &
Form 001.

The SGHA Investigative Process 17
The SGHA Investigative Process

Arrive at Location
Establish Base Area

Check Out Equipment
Ops & Safety Briefing

Walk Through Area
Establish Controls

Search the Areas
Record Any Findings

Electromagnetic Fields
Identify Frequency

Take Photographs
Investigate Event
Mark Event on Map
Replicate Events
Natural Causes?
Debriefing
Submit Data

The Skeptical Inquiry
Science and rationality are NOT dedicated to confrontation, "debunking", or to attacking
religion and belief systems. The use of the scientific method, and its companion tool, statistical
analysis, are nothing more than very effective ways to investigate and explain the physical and
human world around us.
In SGHA, the skeptical inquiry will be performed by SHIELD. This
group of investigators is committed to finding natural causes for
reported ghostly activity. The focus of this approach is that
anomalous phenomena are seen as not being explicable in terms of
current sciences, but requiring normal explanations. In other words,
all such phenomena are viewed as being misinterpretations of
naturally occurring events.
The skeptical inquiry begins with SHIELD receiving the map and
photographs from the Initial inquiry and the ghost-hunt. Along with the
map, the SHIELD team is given a basic description of the events that
have been recorded. They may also review the videotape of the
witness interviews that were recorded during the initial survey.

The SGHA Investigative Process 18
The SGHA Investigative Process
Before going to the suspect location, SHIELD will develop hypotheses based on all available
data in an attempt to eliminate normal explanations. They will then test these hypotheses once
they get to the location before reexamining the area for other possibilities. Typically, all
explanations fall into three categories although the best answer may often lie in a combination
of these.

Initial Hypothesis

Psychological Physical Environmental
Explanations Explanations Explanations

Figure 2. The three common types of explanations for ghostly encounters.

Psychological Explanations
Many ghost-related events have a psychological basis. Cognitive psychologists have
uncovered a dozen or so inferential errors that could lead to paranormal beliefs, as well as
some memory biases that might lead to repressed memory syndrome, alien abduction, etc.
Social psychologists have developed theories about persistence of belief after falsification, the
need to believe in supernatural forces, and how everyday experiences can bias
individual perceptions. Behavioral psychologists have studied how people
develop their superstitious beliefs and behaviors. Neurologists/physiologists
have identified brain processes that might explain out-of-body experiences, and
ghost experiences. Finally, clinical psychologists have extended
psychopathology to the realm of the paranormal, designating some paranormal
beliefs as mild forms of delusional or magical thinking.
SHIELD takes a skeptical stance by trying to “explain away" the paranormal by
using psychological theories or research findings. Through the use of critical
thinking skills, they determine whether paranormal experiences merely represent
"psychological phenomena" or are something supernatural. Here are some of the
most common psychological explanations that can be reviewed without
professional assistance.

 Traumatic Life Events: Check for any unusual events in the life of the witness, but
ask such questions subtly. Clearly unusual, stressful or traumatic life events involving
work, home or health could have an effect on how the witness reacted to the incident.

 Sleep: Check to see if the witness was on the verge of sleep (falling asleep or waking)
as the incident took place. Several mental factors can occur during this state including
The SGHA Investigative Process 19
The SGHA Investigative Process
sleep paralysis and other chemical related factors. The chemical serotonin is
manufactured naturally in the brain causing a normal, healthy individual to feel tired and
fall asleep. Serotonin is also a hallucinogen. It is a proven fact that when one is sleep
deprived, hallucinations occur as a result. Truck drivers, airplane pilots, or anyone who
must fight sleep will sometimes experience visual apparitions of flashing, streaking, or
steady white lights, ghostly or distorted faces, animals, and an increased tendency to
focus on one object causing the surroundings to appear dark, creating a tunnel-like
effect. DMT or N, N-diemethyltryptamine, is a hallucinogen which is found in human
cerebrospinal fluid, lungs, brain, liver, heart, blood and urine, and is produced especially
while dreaming. It is a short-acting hallucinogen, lasting only 2-5 minutes, and the effect
are usually gone in 15 - 30. Lab reports on DMT show that those who are exposed hear
a buzzing sound which gets louder, and then are "thrown into hyperspace" where they
have a sense of "transcending time and space", "a universe of formless vibration", and
encounter a wide variety of beings which appear to be highly intelligent, having
extensive knowledge of the universe and its workings. Experiences have visions of
strange machines, strange plant or plant like forms, and hear "alien" music or languages
(understandable or not).

 Psychosomatic Response/Hysteria: The witness has prior knowledge of a
“ghost” then reacts subconsciously when in the area where the “ghost” was seen. Often
the events that initiated this response are explainable in and of themselves.

 True Believer Syndrome (TBS): The true believer mindset is characterized by a
willingness to believe in something even when there is no hard evidence. In other
words, some people convince themselves that ghosts exist because they simply choose
to believe, thereby ignoring other, more traditional explanations. TBS occurs when the
person becomes so fixated on the belief that they will often intentionally misinterpret an
explainable event to reinforce their belief system. TBS is most common in people who
claim to have extraordinary abilities such as psychics and mediums. They often become
quite defensive when questioned about the validity of their experience.

 Psychosis or Disorder: There are many of these but they require a diagnosis by
qualified medical personnel.

Physical Explanations
Physical explanations for paranormal events are often more
elusive. There are many different phenomena and substances
that are able to affect the human body in such a way that it
appears that the person had a paranormal incident.
Interviewing the witness can often identify physical causes for
such perceptions.
Medication: Subtly ask whether the witness was taking
medication at the time of the event, as some types can affect
perception and even induce hallucinations.

The SGHA Investigative Process 20
The SGHA Investigative Process

Mind-altering Substances: Drugs, alcohol, etc.
Sensitivity to Electrical and/or Magnetic Fields: Electromagnetic field
(EMF) sensitivity is a physical condition where a person has a reaction when exposed to a
certain field (much like an allergy). Some of these effects that have been studied include
symptoms that may be misinterpreted as paranormal events. Electromagnetic field (EMF)
sensitivity can be initially diagnosed by giving the witness Electrical Sensitivity Diagnostic Test
(ESD).

Environmental Explanations
The most common misidentified cause of a haunting is contained within
the environment of the location. The map provided by the initial survey,
along with a walk-through of the site can be quite insightful in
determining the potential of environmental causes.
Often expertise in construction and building trades are necessary to
pinpoint an exact cause. There are quite literally hundreds of possible
causes but the most common are identified below.

Movement of Objects: Object movement can be due to earth tremors, vibration from
nearby railroad tracks or highways and sonic sound waves. Opening and closing doors could
be faulty hinges or caused by drafts. Improper or inadequate adjustment of the heating system
can create excessive pressure imbalances in the room that may cause cabinets and doors to
open on their own accord.

Unusual Noises: Noises could be house settling, plumbing or even vermin such as mice
and squirrels. Boilers and mechanical rooms can also make unusual noises.

Unexplainable Smells: Unexpected smells can be caused by animals, scented bedding
and even concealed air fresheners installed in the bathroom fan or behind the bed. Mold and
certain chemical compounds can also create odd smells.

Effects of Light: Shadows could be just that: shadows caused by a passing car's
headlights. Apparitional effects can be caused by light reflected off of glass, mirrors and other
reflective objects.

Electrical Problems: The location or object may have old or defective wiring that may
cause lights to flicker. Faulty wiring is another source of magnetic fields. Often, a neutral lead
inside the house is accidentally, or in some cases, improperly connected to a grounding wire.
This allows for multiple return current paths to occur, resulting in an imbalance of wires in close
juxtaposition. The resulting magnetic fields are often high. Unusual wiring, such as knob and
tube wiring and current loops created by two-way switches, can cause localized higher
magnetic fields. Knob and tube wiring is sometimes found in older homes, where two wires
inside the walls are separated by two or three inches and supported by porcelain knobs and
tubes. The magnetic fields of unbalanced wires and faulty wiring may be confused with those
The SGHA Investigative Process 21
The SGHA Investigative Process
of water pipe ground currents because they have similar decay characteristics (as described
below).

Electromagnetic Fields: All magnetic fields decrease with distance from the source, but
the rates of decrease differ. The fields from transmission lines usually involve balanced phase
lines in general proximity with hot and neutral current flow in opposite directions, resulting in a
net current of zero (sum of currents on all conductors). Under these conditions, the magnetic
field generally decays at a rate of one over the distance squared from the lines. Balanced
distribution line fields also decay at a rate of one over the distance squared, or at the same
rate as transmission lines.

Magnetic field readings of .01 - 1 mG are well within the range of commonly seen levels.
Fields in the range of 1-10 mG are the subject of much medical controversy. Exposures of 10-
100 mG are uncommon, and readings of more than 100 mG are rare. The major sources of
magnetic fields (in addition to the electrical problems stated previously) in typical dwellings are:

 Transmission lines supported by steel or wooden towers. These lines are used to
transmit power from generating plants to substations or between substations.
Substations are often large complexes of transformers and switchgear equipment
surrounded by chain link fences, or located in special buildings or bricked-in yards. The
voltages for transmission lines are from 32 kV to as much as 750 kV. Trees and other
conductive objects can block the electric fields, but not the magnetic fields, of these
transmission lines.
 Distribution lines are operated at lower voltage (such as 5, 13.8, or 27.6 kV) and are
energized from step-down transformers. The first-step transformers are usually located
in substations, but subsequent-step transformers may be located on wooden poles or
underground. These transformers bring the voltages down to the typical three-wire drop
that provides electrical service for residences. The transformers look like metal milk or
trashcans when on poles, and are pad-mounted within rectangular steel boxes for
surface and underground systems. There is no inexpensive way of blocking or shielding
the magnetic fields from existing distribution lines or transmission lines.
 Appliances have fields that, while quite large at the source (anywhere from 20 to 1000
milligauss (mG)), decay to ambient levels a few feet away. In conducting a magnetic
field home survey, it is important to be aware of the fields from appliances, and to avoid
including these fields in the estimates of ambient fields from other sources. Because
walls do not stop magnetic fields, appliances can cause fields in adjacent rooms. For
example, a dial electric clock in a stove will produce higher fields on the other side of
the wall than in front of the stove. Humidifiers and dehumidifiers often have high fields
that can extend several feet around them.
 Water pipe ground currents are found in many suburban communities that have all-
metallic water service and mains. However, homes that use wells do not generally have
this problem. To prevent electric shocks within a home, all metallic surfaces of
appliances and conducting pipes should be grounded. This produces an alternative
metallic path through the house that can carry, in some cases, neutral or return
currents. Currents on metallic plumbing are not canceled; unlike household wiring in
which hot and ground conductors are in close proximity and, as a result, magnetic fields
produced by each wire tend to cancel out. Even when all the power in the house is off,
there may be ground currents, and thus magnetic fields, in the house from electric use
The SGHA Investigative Process 22
The SGHA Investigative Process
in neighboring homes. It should be noted that the term "ground currents" is also used to
describe currents that flow through the earth itself. While ground currents through the
earth may constitute a shock hazard, they are generally on the order of a few milliamps
that are too small to produce a significant magnetic field. The term "ground current," as
used in this paper, refers to current flowing along buried metallic water pipes (with or
without water in them) rather than current flowing in the ground itself.

Unusual Stains: The most recent and increasingly common form of staining is caused not
by dirt or dust but by soot. Ghosting from soot is seen primarily in more recent construction,
but diagnosticians have detected soot stains in older residences as well. Typically, newer
homes--often still under warranty--are the focus of attention. There have even been reports of
the problem in newly built, still unoccupied, model homes.

Unfortunately, there are as many opinions about the causes of ghosting as there are
occurrences of the mystery. The black soot will outline items, such as ornaments and pictures
hanging on walls. Some of the substances seem to have a particular affinity for plastics, such
as coffeemakers, blenders, or garbage cans. Deposits have also frequently been observed
along the traceline between carpeted flooring and the edge of draperies, vertical blinds and
bed ruffles--even on the inside of refrigerators!

The marks may be random smears or they may form clear geometric patterns, following the
lines of the framing behind the surface. The marks range in size from small and isolated spots
to soot running along the entire height of a wall. Investigations in buildings across the nation
reveal multiple sources of the stains. Lab analyses indicate ingredients ranging from carbon
soot (that might come from fireplaces, water heaters, furnaces, standing pilot lights, candles,
cigarette smoke, cooking byproducts, and even automobile exhaust) to other ingredients such
as paraffin, benzene, toluene, silicates, iron oxide, cellulose and cotton, dirt or clay, pollen and
carbonates (typically found in airborne dust), common grease, and nicotine. One lab even
reported that these black deposits "could be the result of carbon from automobile tires which
becomes airborne as tires become road-worn".

Occasionally, tests do indicate mold spores and/or mildew, but these are easily identified and
should not be confused with the increasingly more common forms of black stains that are
cropping up. While dirt and mold are possible sources of staining, ghosting is more commonly
caused by soot from combustion sources such as fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, furnaces,
cooking, smoking and burning candles.

Two common sources of soot are gas fireplaces and scented candles. Pilot lights in gas-
fireplace log sets can produce large quantities of soot if the gas burner becomes out of
adjustment or the flame is partially obstructed by the log set. Rearrangement or cleaning of the
ceramic log set can cause it to partially cover the flame, causing incomplete combustion and
soot production. A blue flame does not always guarantee complete combustion. Under certain
circumstances - oversized burner orifices or excessive gas pressure - blue flames can produce
large amounts of soot. Scented candles also produce ghosting. Unlike paraffin candles, which
burn relatively clean, scented candles contain perfumes and oils that don't completely
combust, become airborne and deposit as ghost stains. Ghosting will often appear on
carpeting in doorways. This staining is caused by room air moving at high velocity under a
closed door to get back to a furnace cold-air return outside the room. Soot particles in the air
The SGHA Investigative Process 23
The SGHA Investigative Process
are deposited on carpeting as the air rushes under the door. The technical name for it is
"thermal bridging".

Cold Spots: Cold spots can be caused by an improperly laid out or inadequate heating
system. They are also often caused by bad or aged insulation in the wall. Areas that are
constantly drafty suggest large amounts of air leakage. The common source for this is faulty or
damaged window and door weather stripping.

Hoaxes
Hoaxes do occur and investigators should always keep that possibility in mind. Sometimes
people will undoubtedly be attracted to the idea of hoaxing because they can often become
minor celebrities by reporting strange phenomena.
The paranormal is easily hoaxed. Pranksters and the overzealous have, over the years,
manufactured fake photographs, recordings, video and evidence for paranormal events. The
intent of the prankster, usually, is to try to make fools of paranormal investigators by getting
them to accept or at least investigate false evidence. Overzealous "believers" also have
falsified evidence in a wayward attempt to convince the unbelievers that paranormal
phenomena are real, or to seek fame.
 Several key points to look for are:

 The Evidence is just too good and the ghost-hunt went too smoothly.

 Look at the possible motivation: Are the witnesses looking for fame? If they seem
very keen to get on television or in the newspapers, then be wary. Other motivations
may include a report to raise money, to please others and gain acceptance, group
influence or even to get power.
 Changing stories
 Vagueness and evasiveness during interviews
 Evidence (including photographs) have been obviously manipulated
 Timeline of events between witness sightings is too varied

Summary of the SHIELD Investigation
Difficulties experienced by investigators in explaining what happened and why it happened in
specific paranormal incidents are examined. These include problems with delineating the
beginning and end of the incident, methods for discovering and testing the relevance of facts of
the incident, and methods for presenting the findings of the investigation. Events and causal
factors usually do not emerge during the investigation in the sequential order in which they
occurred. Initially, there will be many holes and deficiencies in the paranormal event.

Efforts to fill these holes and get accurate tracking of the event sequences and their derivation
from contributing conditions will lead to deeper probing by investigators that will uncover the
true facts involved. In proceeding logically, using available information to direct the search for

The SGHA Investigative Process 24
The SGHA Investigative Process
more, it is usually easiest to use the accident or loss event as the starting point and reconstruct
the pre-incident and post-incident sequences from that vantage point.

SHIELD will record its findings on SGHA Form 002.

Events are classified and
arranged according to
attributes or properties

Psychological Physical Environmental
Explanations Explanations Explanations

Observations and data are
communicated orally and
with simple graphs,
pictures, written reports

nferences are made and Predictions are based on
conclusions are drawn patterns of observation
about familiar objects and rather than random guesses
events

Simple experiments are
conducted to answer
questions and test
hypothesis

The only human inputs to the above procedure are those that require
intelligence and deduction. The paranormal world is almost exclusively
human-based observations.
This is crucial: the human body is a terrible judge of environmental
conditions, and must, as much as is possible, be completely divorced from
the data gathering process. Humans are prone to hallucination, drunkenness,
drug usage, persuasion, personal beliefs, fatigue etc., which makes any of
our observations questionable. In a court of law, forensics is always placed
before eyewitness testimony.

The SGHA Investigative Process 25
The SGHA Investigative Process

Case Review
After the SHIELD investigation is completed, all of the data from the initial survey, the ghost-
hunt and the skeptical inquiry are turned over to the President and the Director of SAGE
(Research). This specialized team will analyze the combined results.
The goal of the case review is to find any substantial findings that are open ended (unsolved or
unexplainable) to warrant any further investigations at that particular location.

Data
Review

Data Potential of
Site for
Analysis Research

Unusual Investigator Possible Evolved
Photos or Opinions
Hoax Stories
Video

Unusual Level of Interview Items
EM fields Explained
Activity Analysis by SHIELD

Unexplained
Events

Conclusion
Based on
Evidence

Closed Pending
Further
Proceed to
Phase 2
Review

The SGHA Investigative Process 26
The SGHA Investigative Process

The SGHA Investigation Phase 2

T he investigative process used by SGHA is designed to eliminate investigator bias and to
collect reliable data on haunted locations for future research. The process has several
different phases, each with its own steps, which must be completed fully in order to obtain
useable data.

The second phase is composed of four parts. Each of these parts is
P H A S E 2
designed to gather a particular set of variables from a suspected haunted
 Compose the Team location. Unlike Phase One, the Team members are knowledgeable of the
 Skeptical ghost hunt stories, reported sightings and any information that was gathered during the
 Surveillance first phase. This phase differs in that SHIELD and the ghost hunters are
 Case Review
paired together and the investigation has controls and certain protocols
implemented. Specific areas will be targeted to monitor for any signs of
unusual activity.

1. Composing the Team
The first step in an investigation is to compose the team that will perform the investigation.
Team members should be evenly balanced, as possible,
between ghost hunters and SHIELD members. The
number of investigators that will be required for the
investigation is based on the size of the location and the
amount of time that the team has available on site.
The investigation may also include one or two specialists.
These could be expert photographers, electricians or
others with relevant technical abilities that must bring their
own specialist equipment. The determination of the
inclusion outside specialists will be based on the need to
analyze specific things at the location.
After the team has been selected a general meeting is
held to determine what areas to select for monitoring and
to brief the team on control and protocol procedures that
are specific to the location. This includes a rotation
schedule that will be used to organize teams and their
movements while the location is under surveillance. All participants must agree to abide by any
rules and protocols issued by the Team Captain. Additionally, SHIELD is assigned the
responsibility of ensuring that any implemented controls are not violated.

2. The Skeptical Ghost-Hunt
After the investigative team arrives at the location, the equipment must be inspected and
prepared. Equipment on an investigation serves two purposes. One is that it eliminates natural
causes, for example, a video camera would see anyone interfering with an object that is
supposed to move by itself. The other is to actually record phenomena. The instruments must
be positioned where they cannot move. Try to deploy instruments close to each other if at all
possible.

The SGHA Investigative Process 27
The SGHA Investigative Process
After the instruments have been deployed, the Team assigns an area as the base station and
has a final briefing on the objective of the investigation and the protocols assigned to the
location. Controls are then implemented. Typical controls for an investigation include (but are
not limited to) the following:

 The investigation team is locked inside the building. All doors and windows must be
secured. This is to prevent any interference from outside sources. In the case of an
outdoor investigation, the perimeter of the area must be monitored or secured in some
fashion.

 All equipment that is used by the investigators (meters, cameras and such) must be
inspected and have an operational check performed in front of the Team captain and a
SHIELD representative. New batteries are required in all instrumentation.

 All personnel must be accounted for at all times. This includes authorized by-standers
such as building owners and employees. All team members need to have radio
communication with the base station.

 Power to the location must be turned off at the breaker box. If complete power cannot
be turned off, then attempt to shut off breakers in the areas where the investigation is
focusing on. This is done to eliminate man made electromagnetic fields.

 Movement around the location is controlled and monitored. The Team Captain must
approve any deviation from the assigned positions or unauthorized movement.
Positions of the Team and approved movement around the location are briefed to the
team during the pre-investigation briefing.

 A single investigator should never be left alone.

The remainder of the skeptical ghost hunt mirrors a ghost hunt of Phase one but with a few
exceptions. SHIELD members are assigned with ghost hunters to immediately investigative
any suspect phenomena. Additionally, all events are radioed to the base station for recording
purposes.
When the ghost hunt is finished, all members return to the base station and observations are
discussed. If necessary, instrumentation will be moved to cover another, more active, location.

3. Surveillance
The basic principle of conducting surveillance is to split the investigators up into teams of two
or more. Each team is then stationed at a particular location to look for phenomena and
operate any instruments set up or assigned there.
Anything unusual is radioed back to base so that it can be recorded. The rotation schedule
moves teams from location to location at regular intervals. Breaks are also scheduled to allow
the investigators time to rest.

The SGHA Investigative Process 28
The SGHA Investigative Process

Sample Rotation Schedule for 4 Teams (8 investigators)

10 – 11:30pm 12 – 1:30am 2 – 3am 3:30 – 5am

Lobby D C B A

Stairs A D C B

2nd Floor B A D C

Main hall C B A D

The teams are moved to prevent boredom. It is important that a single investigator is never left
alone. This is done to prevent psychosomatic response and misidentification of natural causes
of phenomena. This is most likely to happen during bathroom and refreshment breaks.
If remote monitoring is employed, two investigators should watch the monitor at all times
unless the plan specifically states to record the cameras without monitoring. This may be done
if the investigation is short on manpower.
If the cameras are monitored, anything unusual seen on the monitor must be reported to the
team captain immediately so that it can be investigated as soon as possible. The monitoring
station should be set up in the established base area so cameras can be checked if an event is
radioed in by any of the surveillance teams.
Additionally, two investigators need to be assigned to a “stand-by” team. This team is deployed
at the base station and if a significant event is reported, the standby team proceeds to that
area to investigate the occurrence.

After the surveillance is completed, the Team captain should set up a debriefing. Review your
work. Go back and study each of your steps. Did you do everything correctly? Did you find all
the information that you could? Is your research valid? If you do find a mistake in your work try
to determine how it affected the outcome up to this point.

All data from the surveillance is recorded on SGHA Form 001. Additional information may be
recorded in the form of attachments.

Once the Team arrives back home it begins to work on the final written report. Include stories,
facts, evidence, theories and conclusions and any other information prudent to the final report.
Be sure to include maps and historical information. Double and triple check all of these steps
and your work involved in them. Look for any area in your investigation that could be
considered incomplete and then go back and do your best to fill in that area. Have you done as
much as possible in this investigation?

The final report needs to be completed in a timely matter. The general guideline is that the
report is completed within two weeks of the investigation. Once the final report is completed it
is submitted to the Charter’s Secretary who will turn it over for a case review by the State
Coordinator.

The SGHA Investigative Process 29
The SGHA Investigative Process

4. The Case Review

After the surveillance is completed, a committee of
investigators is assigned to review all of the data acquired
during the investigation.
The committee is comprised of at least two ghost hunters
that have participated in either Phase one or Phase two
of the location and two members of SHIELD. The
president acts as an arbitrator as each side presents their
case as to whether to location has enough interesting
values to proceed to the research phase or not. The
decision to proceed is either decided by the President or
by a general vote by SGHA members at a regular
monthly meeting. If the decision is to be voted upon, all aspects of the committee are briefed to
the members so that they can make an informed decision.

The SGHA Investigation, Phase 3
(Research)

T The final process in the investigative process used by SGHA is research. SAGE (Science of
ghostly energetics) is assigned the responsibility of performing research. This sub group of
SGHA determines what type of research is going to be performed and can request
assistance from any source within SGHA for assistance. The process has several different
phases, each with its own steps, which must be completed fully in order to obtain useable data.

The third phase is composed of four parts. Each of these parts is
P H A S E 3
designed to gather a particular set of variables from a suspected haunted
 Compose Hypothesis location. SAGE is required to use the scientific method attempts to
 Research Plan minimize the influence of bias or prejudice in the experimenter when
 Experimental Tests testing a hypothesis. Unlike the other investigative phases, Phase 3 is an
ongoing process and experiments are not limited in type or frequency.
 Analysis

A hypothesis is a tentative explanation to account for the observation.
Formulating a hypothesis involves asking a question about the observation. The hypothesis
brings the observations together into a generalization from which predictions can be made.
Hypotheses must be testable. More importantly, hypotheses must be falsifiable.

The step from isolated observations to generalization is often called induction, or inductive
reasoning. The step from generalized question to prediction of outcome is often called
deduction, or deductive reasoning.

The SGHA Investigative Process 30
The SGHA Investigative Process

The Research Plan
The purpose of the research plan is to describe the what, why, and how of the proposal. This is
the core of the proposal and will be reviewed with particular care. The what will be Part A:
Specific Aims; the why, Part B: Background and Significance; and the how, Part C: Preliminary
Results contributes to both the why and how. Part D: Research Design and Methods. The
assessment of this research plan will largely determine whether or not the proposal is
favorably recommended for funding.

Recommended Length: The maximum length of the research plan is 25 pages.

Content: The research plan should answer the following questions:

 What do you intend to do?
 Why is this worth doing? How is it innovative?
 What has already been done in general, and what have other researchers done in this
field? Use appropriate references. What will this new work add to the field of
knowledge?
 What have you (and your collaborators) done to establish the feasibility of what you are
proposing to do?
 How will the research be accomplished? Who? What? When? Where? Why?

Suggestions

1. Make sure that all sections (A, B, C, and D--the what, why, and how of the proposal) are
internally consistent and that they dovetail with each other. Use a numbering system,
and make sections easy to find. Lead the reviewers through your research plan. One
person should revise and edit the final draft.
2. Show knowledge of recent literature and explain how the proposed research will further
what is already known.
3. Emphasize how some combination of a novel hypothesis, important preliminary data, a
new experimental system and/or a new experimental approach will enable important
progress to be made.
4. Establish credibility of the proposed principal investigator and the collaborating
researchers.

RESEARCH PLAN PART A:
Specific Aims

Purpose: The purpose of the specific aims is to describe concisely and realistically what the
proposed research is intended to accomplish.

Recommended Length: The recommended length of the specific aims is one page.

Content: The specific aims should cover:

The SGHA Investigative Process 31
The SGHA Investigative Process
 Broad, long-term goals;
 The hypothesis or hypotheses to be tested, and
 Specific time-phased research objectives.

Suggestions:

1. Generally, the Specific Aims section should begin with a brief narrative describing the
long-term goals of the project and the hypothesis guiding the research. This is followed
by a numbered list of the Aims.
2. State the hypothesis clearly. Make sure it is understandable, testable and adequately
supported by citations in the Background and by data in the Preliminary Results
Sections. Be sure to explain how the results to be obtained will be used to test the
hypothesis.
3. Show that the objectives are attainable within the stated time frame.
4. Be as brief and specific as possible. For clarity. Each aim should consist of only one
sentence. Use a brief paragraph under each aim if detail is needed. Most successful
applications have 2-4 specific aims.
5. Don't bite off more than you can chew. A small, focused project is generally better
received than a diverse, multifaceted project.
6. Be certain that all aims are related. Have someone read them for clarity and
cohesiveness.
7. Focus on aims where you have good supporting preliminary data and scientific
expertise.

RESEARCH PLAN PART B:
Background and Significance

Purpose: The purpose of the background and significance section is to state the problem to be
investigated the rationale for the proposed research, the current state of knowledge relevant to
the proposal and the potential contribution of this research to the problem addressed.

Recommended Length: Approximately 3 pages

Content: The background and significance section should cover:

 The rationale for the proposed project;
 The state of existing knowledge, including literature citations and highlights of relevant
data;
 Gaps that the project is intended to fill

Suggestions

1. Make a compelling case for your proposed research project. Why is the topic important?
Why are the specific research questions important? How are the researchers qualified
to address these?
2. Establish familiarity with recent research findings. Avoid outdated research. Use
citations not only as support for specific statements but also to establish familiarity with
The SGHA Investigative Process 32
The SGHA Investigative Process
all of the relevant publications and points of view. Your application may well be
reviewed by someone working in your field. If their contributions and their point of view
are not mentioned, they are not likely to review your application sympathetically.
3. Make sure the citations are specifically related to the proposed research. Cite and
paraphrase correctly and constructively.
4. Highlight why research findings are important beyond the confines of a specific project
i.e., how can the results be applied to further research in this field or related areas.
5. Stress any innovations in-, experimental methods (e.g., new strategies, - research
methods used, interventions proposed).

RESEARCH PLAN PART C:
Preliminary Results/Progress Report

Purpose: The purpose of the preliminary results section is to describe prior work by the
investigators relevant to the proposed project. In a new application, the preliminary results are
important to establish the experience and capabilities of the applicant investigators in the area
of proposed research and to provide experimental support for the. Hypothesis and the
research design. This section is not mandatory for new applications, but it is virtually
impossible to obtain a favorable review without strong preliminary data. In a competing
renewal application, this section becomes a progress report describing studies performed
during the last grant period.

Recommended Length: The recommended length of the preliminary results/progress report
section is 6-8 pages.

Content: The preliminary results section should include the following:

 Most importantly, a description of recent studies by the applicant investigators that
establish the feasibility and importance of the proposed project;
 A brief description of older published studies by the applicant that provide important
background information relevant to the proposed project;
 Results of previous studies by the applicant not directly relevant to the proposed project
if they are needed to establish the applicant's competence and experience with the
experimental techniques to be used in the proposed project.

Suggestions

1. All Tables and Figures necessary for the presentation of preliminary results must be
included in this section of the application. Full-size glossy photographs of materials such
as electron micrographs, gels, etc. may be included in the appendix, but only if a
photocopy (reduced in size, as appropriate) is included in the body of the Research
Plan.
2. Figures and Figure legends must be legible. There are specific limits on type size given
in the application instructions, but beyond these rules, the critical factor is whether the
data are legible and convincing to the reviewers.

The SGHA Investigative Process 33
The SGHA Investigative Process
3. Do not dwell on results already published. Summarize the critical findings in the text and
include reprints of the full article in the appendix. Up to 10 publications can be included
with the appendix material.

RESEARCH PLAN PART D:
Research Design and Methods

Purpose: The purpose of the research design and methods section is to describe how the
research will be carried out. This section is crucial to how favorably an application is reviewed.

Recommended Length: The maximum recommended length of the research design and
methods section is 20 pages.

Content: The research design and methods section should include the following:

 An overview of the experimental design;
 A detailed description of specific methods to be employed to accomplish the specific
aims;
 A detailed discussion of the way in which the results will be collected, analyzed, and
interpreted;
 A projected sequence or timetable (work plan);
 A description of any new methodology used and why it represents an improvement over
the existing ones;
 A discussion of potential difficulties and limitations and how these will be overcome or
mitigated;
 Expected results, and alternative approaches that will be used if unexpected results are
found;
 Precautions to be exercised with respect to any procedures, situations, or materials that
may be hazardous to personnel or human subjects.

Suggestions

Number the sections in this part of the application to correspond to the numbers
of the Specific Aims.

1. Give sufficient detail. Do not assume that the reviewers will know how you intend
to proceed.
2. Avoid excessive experimental detail by referring to publications that describe the
methods to be employed. Publications cited should be by the applicants, if at all
possible. Citing someone else's publication establishes that you know what
method to use, but citing your own (or that of a collaborator) establishes that the
applicant personnel are experienced with the necessary techniques.
3. If relevant, explain why one approach or method will be used in preference to
others. This establishes that the alternatives were not simply overlooked. Give
not only the "how" but the "why."

The SGHA Investigative Process 34
The SGHA Investigative Process
4. If employing a complex technology for the fast time, take extra care to
demonstrate familiarity with the experimental details and potential pitfalls. Add a
co-investigator or consultant experienced with the technology, if necessary.
5. Document proposed collaborations and offers of materials or reagents of
restricted availability with letters from the individuals involved.

BUDGET AND JUSTIFICATION

Purpose: The purpose of the budget and justification is to present and justify all expenses
required to achieve project aims and objectives.

Content: The budget and justification should cover the following:

 Personnel;
 Consultants;
 Equipment;
 Supplies;
 Travel; and
 Other expenses, e.g., animal maintenance.

Suggestions:

1. Be realistic. Both "padding" and deliberately under budgeting reflect naiveté, which will
be recognized by reviewers.
2. Provide brief descriptions of duties for all positions listed in the budget, with the
percentage of effort requested each year and any anticipated fluctuations. Special skills
or accomplishments of a designated person may be included if not discussed
elsewhere.
3. If possible, try to identify specific individuals for each position requested. "To be named"
personnel are very often deleted by reviewers.
4. Justify all equipment purchases. The proposed acquisition of major pieces of equipment
is likely to be scrutinized very carefully. Break out supply costs into major categories
(reagents, disposables, etc.). Provide special justification for any unusual expenses
requested.
5. Detail and justify travel costs. Make sure they reflect current fares and lodging costs and
that proposed travel is project related.
6. Be complete but concise. There are no page limits in this section.
7. Prorate service contracts to percentage of time equipment is used for this project.

Experimental Tests
Scientific experiments are designed to test hypotheses to determine if the predictions made in
the hypothesis are supported. Experimental designs are a function of the field of research,
technological limitations and imagination of the scientist. Experiments can involve observations
of objects and events in their natural environment, or the experimental manipulation of objects
and events. Experiments must be repeatable. Making more than one observation allows the
scientist to understand how variable the measures are. This allows 'confidence' to be placed
The SGHA Investigative Process 35
The SGHA Investigative Process
on a generalization. This process of replication also allows statistical tests to be used to
evaluate observed differences. In both situations, replication increases the number of
observations. Replication strengthens the information that can be derived from these
observations by taking into account natural variation or variation that is not related to the
experimental manipulation. This is also achieved with a control, a parallel test in which all
variables remain constant except for the variable being tested or manipulated. Both replication
and control is the fundamental base of all scientific experiments.

Analysis
A true hypothesis will give a true conclusion, but a false hypothesis, may give either a false or
a true conclusion, due to other unknown variables. Therefore, science can only deal with truths
in terms of probabilities. For this reason statistical analyses are performed on experimental
data. Analyses help the scientist to determine the probability that a hypothesis is stating a
truth.

The acceptance or rejection of a hypothesis represents evidence, an answer to the question. If
the hypothesis is rejected then new hypotheses with new experiments are designed. Evidence
permits a scientist to regard a hypothesis with confidence. It does not offer proof. New
evidence could always emerge that refutes a previously accepted hypothesis.

A theory is simply a hypothesis that has been supported by convincing evidence often by many
different researchers. A theory is not a truth and is still subject to scrutiny by new evidence.

The SGHA Investigative Process 36
The SGHA Investigative Process

The SGHA Investigative Process 37
The SGHA Investigative Process

The SGHA Investigative Process 38