Evidence Analysis & Review

 

Evidence analysis and review is what separates amateur “ghost hunters” from professional paranormal investigators & researchers

Amateur "Ghost Hunters"	Paranormal Investigators & Researchers
Hunt for thrills, excitement	Seek truth and accurate understanding
Rely on gadgets & hype	Rely on process, logic, documentation
Focus on capturing proof	Focus on analyzing evidence and explaining phenomena
Jump to paranormal conclusions	Consider natural and psychological factors first
Share unverified results	Present verified, cross-checked information

✅ Core Principles

Principle	Description
Systematic Review	Evidence examined in structured, repeatable manner
Avoid Bias	No immediate assumptions—paranormal or natural
Cross-Verification	Compare across devices, witnesses, environmental data
Scientific Mindset	Form hypotheses → test → eliminate causes → document
Pattern Recognition	Time, place, witnesses, environmental triggers
Skeptical but Open	Reject neither the mundane nor the anomalous prematurely

🧠 General Workflow: Review & Analysis

Step-by-Step Evidence Review Process

1. Gather All Data

   • Notes, audio, video, photos, EMF logs, environmental data, witness interviews

2. Organize by Location & Timeline

   • Room by room

   • Chronological sequence

3. First Pass Review

   • Watch/listen/read without interpreting

   • Highlight timestamps of interest

4. Second Pass

   • Focus on flagged moments

   • Cross-check with other data sources

5. Compare With Witness Accounts

6. Check Supporting Conditions

   • EMF, temperature, vibrations, appliances, weather, people present

7. Form a Hypothesis

8. Conduct Field Tests to Validate

9. Eliminate Natural Causes

10. If still anomalous → Label: “Currently Unexplained”

🎯 Aim is not to force a conclusion — but to reach a justified one.

⏱️ Listening & Viewing Protocols

Rule	Reason
30-minute review limit	Prevent fatigue + auditory hallucination risk
Minimum 15-minute break	Reset perception, avoid pattern-seeking bias
2-person review	Reduces subjective misinterpretation; prevents pareidolia

⚠️ Better to finish first full review before deep diving any anomaly
Because early focus = tunnel vision + confirmation bias

 

📝 Note Taking & Annotation Checklist

When reviewing evidence, record:

Category	Details to Capture
Time Stamp	Exact time on recording
Location	Specific room/area
Signal Source	Device & settings
Description	What was heard/seen
Environmental Context	Temperature, EMF, lighting, weather
Human Context	Who is/are present? Movement? Talking? Emotion?

🔄 Cross-Reference Protocol

Event Type	Cross-Check With
Cold spot	Temperature logs + HVAC + drafts
Audio anomaly	Other recorders + cameras + footsteps + voices
Physical sensation	EMF + temperature + psychological state
Visual anomaly	Other cameras + lighting + reflections
Object movement	Reviewed from multiple angles + human activity + airflow

📊 Pattern Search Framework

Pattern Type	Examples
Time-Based	Same hour daily? Only at night? During storms?
Location-Based	Same room? Corner? Staircase?
Witness-Based	Same person present? Emotional trigger?
Environmental	EMF spike + sound + cold spot co-occur?
Phenomenon Type	Voice frequency? Shadow size? Repeat shape?

Patterns help identify haunting types, psychological triggers, or environmental causes.

🧪 Field Experiments

When patterns emerge, reconstruct them

Experiment	Purpose
Reenact witness positions	Rule out angles, shadows, acoustics
Replay environmental conditions	Identify mechanical or natural triggers
Repeat time-based visits	Test consistency of events
Blind control tests	Detect intentional/unintentional interference

Subtle controls prevent upsetting social or psychological dynamics.

🧾 External Verification

Source	Purpose
Historical records	Validate claimed identities or past events
Blueprints & building plans	Structural noises, pipes, wiring
Geology & geography	Magnetic anomalies, underground water
Expert consultation	Magicians, engineers, psychologists, electricians

🧠 Decision Model: Occam’s Razor

Check	Ask
Mechanical	Vents? Pipes? Appliances? Vibrations?
Environmental	EMF? Drafts? Lighting? Weather? Wildlife?
Human	Whispers? Movement? Stress? Expectation effect?

Always attempt to eliminate all normal explanations first.

If all eliminated → Unexplained, not “proven paranormal.”

📷 Photo Analysis Checklist

Rule	What to Check
Evaluate Context	Lighting, humidity, distance, flash angle
Identify Artifacts	Lens flare, dust, insects, pixel noise
Check Camera Settings	ISO, shutter speed, exposure
Metadata Review	EXIF date/time/camera integrity
Comparison	Adjacent photos same anomaly?
Software Tools	Photoshop, GIMP, Exif viewers

🎧 EVP/ Audio Review Protocol

Step	Best Practice
Initial Review	Listen immediately after recording
Timestamp	Mark abnormalities
Context	Record room noise, people talking
Second Opinion	Blind review — don't suggest what to hear
Software Tools	Audacity, WavPad
Avoid Heavy Processing	If you need to stretch, slow or distort, EVP weak
Original State Review	True EVP should be audible raw

🎥 Video Analysis Checklist

Category	Considerations
Typical False Positives	Dust orbs, insects, IR reflections
Manifestations	Translucent figures, shadow forms, light anomalies
Audio Sync	Check if sound corresponds to visual cue
Enhancement	Brightness, stabilization — avoid manipulation
Tools	VLC, Premiere, Final Cut

Watch in segments → avoid hallucination from motion fatigue.

📡 EMF Data Protocol

Check	Purpose
Baseline Sweep	Establish normal environment EMF
Identify Sources	Appliances, wiring, transformers, phones
Behavior	Constant, fluctuating, localized?
Symptom Correlation	Fear, dizziness, “presence” feelings

High EMF can create haunting sensations in humans.

📁 Case File Completion

Final Report Includes

✅ Event logs

✅ Environmental logs

✅ Audio/visual analysis

✅ Cross-verification sheet

✅ Hypothesis + test results

✅ Rejected causes

✅ Remaining unexplained phenomena

✅ Recommendations for future study

If evidence remains unexplained → label correctly:
“Unexplained at this time” — not “Paranormal.”

🎓 Professional Investigator Mindset

• Neutral, disciplined, methodical
• Curious but skeptical
• Patient with data, ruthless with bias
• Seeks truth, not “proof”

🧰 Quick Pocket Checklist

✅ Log everything, time + place
✅ Review as team
✅ Cross-reference with environment
✅ Test hypotheses
✅ Rule out normal causes
✅ Use blind reviews
✅ Document everything
✅ Never force a conclusion

🔷 Evidence Analysis Flowchart (Paranormal Investigation)

🔶 Decision Tree: Is This Evidence Paranormal?

🧠 Key Principles Built In

Principle	Why
Complete review first	Avoid tunnel vision + bias
Cross-checking	Paranormal claims demand multiple support lines
Hypothesis + testing	Scientific discipline applied to paranormal
No instant “ghost labeling”	Protects credibility
Document everything	Builds case integrity + future comparability

✅ Quick Investigator Checklist

Before calling something paranormal:

Recorded event? (not just “felt”)
Timestamp & description logged
Cross-verified across devices or witnesses
Environmental causes checked
Equipment malfunction ruled out
No tricking or human interference
Psychological factors considered
Patterns analyzed (place, time, witnesses)
Attempted replication / field experiment
Hypothesis tested + documented

Only then:

Classify as unexplained (not yet paranormal)

This process separates ghost hunters from investigators —
emotion from method, hype from truth, hobby from discipline.

Sources:

• Exploring the Unknown: How to Become a Paranormal Investigator — Rith Deb

• Ghost Hunting: How to Investigate the Paranormal — Loyd Auerbach

• Guidance Notes for Investigators of Spontaneous Cases — Steven T. Parsons

• Paranormal Investigations: The Proper Procedures and Protocols of Investigation for the Beginner to the Pro — Chad Stambaugh

- Chris

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