Paranormal Investigations - What have we got right?

Have Paranormal Investigators Got It Right?

The field of paranormal investigation is often met with scepticism or even outright ridicule and is sometimes dismissed as mere entertainment or pseudoscience. Yet, despite the critics, there’s a growing case to be made that paranormal investigators have actually got some things absolutely right, both in practice and principle.

Paranormal Researchers team member Ian Quigly documents readings from the mel-meter

1. Open-Minded Inquiry

Good paranormal investigators approach the unknown with a mindset that’s curious but cautious, sceptical but not dismissive. In many ways, investigators embody what  scientific inquiry should look like: asking questions when there are no clear answers and following systematic processes to explore possibilities.

However, anyone can call themselves a paranormal investigator and while there are many  dedicated, ethical researchers there are also plenty of self-styled “ghost hunters” who are more interested in cheap thrills than genuine exploration, and they often ignore scientific methods altogether.

While there is nothing wrong with the thrill-seeker type ghost hunter it is very wrong to refer to them as paranormal researchers or even investigators and for the purpose of this blog I am referring to serious investigators and researchers.

2. Respect for Lived Experience

Traditional science tends to dismiss anecdotal evidence. Paranormal investigators, however, understand that personal experiences do matter. Most people love a good ghost story, but for many, these stories come from deeply unsettling, personal events. Whether it’s a family troubled by unexplained activity or a historic site with a long legacy of hauntings, reputable investigators treat these accounts with seriousness and compassion,  not ridicule.  A good paranormal investigator will encourage people to tell their stories while keeping in mind that stories can alter slightly over time and many recounts.

Anecdotal evidence is important to paranormal researchers

3. An Interdisciplinary Approach

Good investigators draw from psychology, history, environmental science, theology, and even quantum theory to try to understand what’s happening. This holistic, cross-disciplinary approach is surprisingly similar to how early pioneers worked.

For example, in the mid-1800s, the Fox sisters popularized communication with spirits through rapping and knocking — a practice still used today, despite the sisters later confessing they faked the sounds. Yet their legacy endures in parapsychological literature.

From the 1920s until his death in 1949, paranormal pioneer Harry Price employed innovative methods: cameras, Dictaphones, mercury, chalk, and even barographs to measure atmospheric pressure, believing it might relate to paranormal events. His meticulous record-keeping — with detailed notes, photographs, and recordings — set a high standard. Investigators today still follow many of Price’s techniques, albeit with more advanced equipment, but the core methods remain much the same.

Harry Price - A Pioneer in the Paranormal Investigation Feild

4. Emphasis on Documentation

From EVP recordings to infrared video and baseline environmental readings, documentation is a cornerstone of serious paranormal work. While this evidence might not withstand rigorous scientific scrutiny, the practice of careful documentation fosters transparency and accountability. Many reputable teams share their findings with others for peer review and second opinions — a process not unlike scientific research.

5. Preservation of Folklore and History

In tracing hauntings, investigators often dive deep into local legends, archives, and oral histories. By recording, filming, and writing reports, investigators preserve stories that might otherwise vanish. This work helps maintain cultural memory and community heritage, especially when official histories overlook strange, tragic, or unexplained events.

6. Real Investigations vs TV and YouTube Investigations

There’s no denying the massive influence of television and online paranormal content. Many investigators, whether consciously or not, imitate what they see on TV or YouTube. But viewers should remember that these shows exist to entertain. Investigations on-screen are  often dramatized or even, at worst, completely fictional. Have you noticed how some TV ghost hunters almost always get a response from the “spirit”? That rarely happens in real-life investigations.

TV and You Tube "investigators often "uncover" paranormal occurances however this is rare on real paranormal investigations. (Thank You BBC for the image)

7. Creating Space for the Unexplained

Perhaps the greatest contribution of paranormal investigators is that they keep space in society for mystery. In an age of instant answers, algorithms, and relentless certainty, the paranormal reminds us that some things can’t , or maybe shouldn’t, be immediately explained.

So, HAVE we got it right?

While the paranormal field still grapples with credibility, inconsistency, and a lack of standardization, reputable investigators and researchers have undeniably gotten many things right particularly in how we approach the human side of mystery. 

Yet, I can’t help but wonder: what if we’re on the wrong track entirely? Perhaps there are other dimensions intersecting with ours, and what we interpret as “evidence of the paranormal” could be glitches or glimpses into these realms. Could some paranormal sightings actually be accidental encounters with time travellers? Or maybe we’re simply not meant to fully understand other existences, which might explain why so many anomalies seem reluctant to reveal themselves or communicate.

Perhaps there are other dimensions intersecting with ours, and what we interpret as “evidence of the paranormal” could be glitches or glimpses into these realms.

Perhaps we need a blog titled “Have We Got it All Wrong?”

Either way, paranormal investigators, at their best, remind us that our world is still full of wonders waiting to be explored.