The Scientific Method: Bringing Structure to Supernatural

Since then, seasoned investigators (and the PIMN team, of course) have leaned into structure, documentation, and skepticism to make paranormal data more than just ghost stories.

The scientific method is a process for asking questions, gathering data, and evaluating results without jumping to conclusions. It keeps biases in check and helps you build a repeatable, testable theory.

Here’s how it maps onto a paranormal investigation:

  Scientific Step  and Paranormal Application     

1. Ask a Question “Why does the EMF spike at this spot every night at 10 PM?”  
2. Do Background Research Review building history, wiring diagrams, previous investigations   
3. Form a Hypothesis “A hidden power line is causing the EMF spike”   
4. Test with Experiments Use baseline readings, cut power, test again   
5. Analyze the Data Compare spikes with environmental factors (e.g. HVAC cycling)   
6. Report & Repeat Share your findings, retest with a skeptic present    

The key: Never try to prove a haunting. Try to explain the anomaly. If every natural cause is ruled out and something remains, that’s where things get interesting.

Objective: Determine if an object in your home has unexplained phenomena associated with it.

What you need:

• An audio recorder
• A motion-triggered camera or phone on time-lapse
• Thermometer or EMF meter (optional)
• Logbook

Steps:

1. Choose one item you’ve always had a weird vibe about—a photo, antique, music box, etc.
2. Set up your devices overnight. Control the environment: close windows, note temperature, remove pets.
3. Ask two questions aloud before leaving the room. Let the recorder run for at least an hour.
4. Log any unusual sounds, video motion triggers, or changes in temperature/EMF.

Bonus: Repeat on multiple nights. An unexplained event once is curiosity; repeated events under controlled conditions is investigation.

• Document everything. If you didn’t log it, it didn’t happen.
• Baseline readings are non-negotiable. Know what “normal” feels like before declaring “paranormal.”
• Don’t investigate alone.  Not for fear of ghosts, but because peer review keeps our brains honest.
• Be ready to debunk yourself. If your hypothesis gets busted, that’s a win for the truth.

• Problem #1: Investigating to prove a belief. Bias will eat your results for lunch.
• Problem #2: Ignoring environmental variables. Drafty windows, old wiring, and even creaky floorboards can mimic phenomena.
• Problem #3: Lack of control setups. Without a neutral environment for comparison, your data won’t hold up.

“Don't fear the truth. Follow it.”
 

We’re here to explore with open minds and grounded methods because mystery is sacred, but credibility is our compass.

• Price, H. (1936). Confessions of a Ghost-Hunter.
• Rhine, J. B. (1934). Extrasensory Perception.
• Radford, B. (2010). Scientific Paranormal Investigation: How to Solve Unexplained Mysteries.
• Skeptical Inquirer. (Various issues). https://skepticalinquirer.org
• University of Edinburgh Koestler Parapsychology Unit. “Methods in Anomalistic Psychology.”