How to Conduct Yourself on a Paranormal Investigation

Poor drills in an investigation

Paranormal investigating can be exciting, atmospheric and, at times, unpredictable. Whether you are exploring a historic pub, an old manor house or a location with a long history of reported activity, the way you conduct yourself really does matter.

A successful investigation is not simply about arriving with cameras, recorders and meters. It requires patience, discipline and respect, for the location, the other investigators and any possible presence you may be attempting to communicate with.

Silence Is Part of the Paranormal Investigation

Some of the most interesting evidence is not noticed until recordings are reviewed afterwards. Electronic Voice Phenomena, often referred to as EVPs or D/EVPs, may be extremely quiet and can easily be obscured by normal conversation, footsteps, clothing movement or someone handling equipment.

During controlled recording sessions, investigators should remain as quiet and still as possible. Questions should be asked clearly, followed by a reasonable period of silence to allow time for a possible response.

It is also important to identify ordinary sounds as they happen. A stomach rumbling, a chair creaking or someone moving their feet can later sound mysterious when heard out of context. Quiet does not mean that nobody is allowed to speak, but every sound should have a purpose and be acknowledged where possible. How many times has a group walked right through a vigil and the entity has left... or made it hard to hear...

Respect the Location

Many paranormal locations are also homes, workplaces, historic buildings or active businesses. Investigators should never forget that they are guests.

Do not move furniture, open restricted doors or enter private areas without permission. Avoid damaging walls, floors or historic features when positioning cameras and equipment. Leave the location exactly as you found it.

Respect also extends to the history of the people connected with the building. The individuals whose lives and deaths form part of a location’s story were real people, not characters created for our entertainment.

Do Not Interfere With Other People’s Equipment

Paranormal investigations often involve multiple investigators using different cameras, voice recorders, REM-Pods, motion sensors and environmental meters.

Never touch, move, activate or deliberately interfere with another investigator’s equipment without permission. Even an apparently harmless adjustment can invalidate an entire recording session or create a false positive. Using IR light sources can drown out or saturate the receiver of someone else's camera equipment.

Investigators should also avoid walking unnecessarily through camera shots, shining torches directly into lenses or standing too close to sensors. Good communication before each session helps everyone understand where equipment has been positioned and what areas are being monitored.

Be Light-Hearted Without Being Disrespectful

Investigations do not need to be gloomy or frightening. A relaxed atmosphere can help people remain calm, observant and open-minded. There is nothing wrong with humour, especially during a long night in a cold and uncomfortable building.

However, there is an important difference between being light-hearted and being disrespectful.

Avoid mocking individuals associated with the location or treating reported spirits as entertainment. Loud joking, shouting or inappropriate behaviour can distract other investigators and undermine the seriousness of the investigation.

The aim should be to create an atmosphere that is calm, welcoming and professional.

Do Not Bait or Provoke

Some investigators attempt to create activity by insulting, threatening or challenging whatever may be present. This is sometimes described as spirit baiting or provocation.

I do not believe this is necessary or responsible. I have seen people scratched by the spirits as a result of being dis-respectful.

If an intelligent presence does exist, there is no reason to assume that aggression will produce reliable communication. Provocation may create fear among participants, encourage exaggerated reactions and make it much harder to assess events objectively.

Questions should instead be polite, clear and relevant to the location. Introduce yourself, explain why you are there and invite communication without demanding it.

You can be confident without being confrontational.

Avoid Contaminating the Evidence

Investigators should remain aware of how easily evidence can be contaminated. Whispering, using mobile phones, moving around unnecessarily or discussing what you expect to happen can influence both recordings and people’s perceptions.

Where possible, phones should be placed on silent or airplane mode. Investigators should also record environmental conditions, equipment failures and the movements of everyone present.

Personal experiences are valuable, but they should be documented before being openly discussed with the group. This reduces the risk of one person’s interpretation influencing everyone else.

Look After the Other Investigators

Paranormal investigations often take place at night in dark, unfamiliar buildings. Safety must always come before the search for evidence.

Be aware of uneven floors, low ceilings, staircases and restricted areas. Do not wander off alone unless this has been agreed and appropriate safety measures are in place.

Investigators should also look after one another emotionally. If someone becomes frightened, overwhelmed or unwell, their concerns should be taken seriously. Nobody should be pressured into entering a room or participating in an experiment that makes them uncomfortable.

Investigate With Respect and Curiosity

The best paranormal investigators are not those who shout the loudest or claim that every unexplained sound is a ghost. They are the people who remain patient, curious and willing to question their own conclusions.

Be quiet enough to listen. Be disciplined enough to protect the evidence. Be considerate of the people around you and respectful of those who may have once lived, worked or died at the location.

We may not always know what we are communicating with, or whether communication is taking place at all. That uncertainty is part of the investigation.

Whatever we encounter, the standard should remain the same: investigate carefully, behave responsibly and always show respect.

Summary

A good paranormal investigator is measured by patience, discipline, respect and a willingness to consider every possible explanation.

Remaining quiet protects potential EVP evidence. Respecting the location, other investigators and their equipment protects the integrity of the investigation.

Approaching any possible spirit or entity calmly, rather than attempting to provoke or bait it, creates a safer and more credible environment for everyone involved.

Paranormal investigations should be enjoyable, and there is always room for humour and light-heartedness. However, it must never come at the expense of the people connected with the location, those investigating alongside us or whatever may be present.

Ultimately, we enter these places as guests. We should conduct ourselves accordingly: quietly, responsibly, respectfully and with an open but questioning mind. Enjoy!

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Dr Iain Lightfoot