Private Residence Cases

​Paranormal Research of Private Residences
The San Diego Paranormal Research Society Model
 
Private residence paranormal research projects are not only rewarding but can function as an opportunity to educate families and home owners on ghost research and the supernatural.  One of the common threads that I am seeing in regards to “haunted house” investigations is evident in the fact that home owners or tenants seem to exhibit fear, anxiety and a lack of understanding of what makes ethereal energies go bump in the night – or day.  With this in mind, the goal for each project should not only encompass going into the site to collect personal experiences and/or compelling evidence of the supernatural.  What’s most important is to help clients comprehend their individual situation and thus, help to provide peace.  When I leave a client’s apartment or home, I want to make sure that I can help to assuage any unwanted emotions of terror or uneasiness.  It’s the greatest feeling when clients give you a hug and let you know that you helped them feel more comfortable in their beloved home.  It’s the greatest compliment that any researcher can get from a client.
 
The San Diego Paranormal Research Society (SDPRS) has been conducting private residence investigations since 2009 and has served home owners in many areas of San Diego County.  As with any project, protocols and standard operating procedures should be adopted as a way to ensure professionalism, functionality and seamlessness. Furthermore, in order to ensure an unbiased and controlled investigation, it is imperative that all team members follow these set guidelines.
 
There are some key differences between a historical site project versus a private residence investigation. For the most part, individual groups express an overall interest in researching a historical location; thus, they typically ask to conduct a private investigation at the property.  With the private homes, usually the client will contact the team of his or her choice and have that group come to the property to investigate its premises.  I find that most requests come from word-of-mouth, referrals from other reputable teams or via the team’s online website request form.  The website acts as a first form of contact and should give an overall impression of the group’s mission and philosophy regarding paranormal research.  For this reason, the San Diego Paranormal Research Society is not all about frilly graphics and flash intros; our main goal is to impart the professionalism, dedication and respect that we have for the field.  We have had many private residence clients tell us that they chose to contact us because of the authenticity of information on our website.
 
Confidentiality should be upheld at ALL times.  Occasionally, a noted historical landmark or private residence client will give written permission to the team to disclose some findings from the investigation.  However, regardless of the type, no team should EVER disclose anything about that case without the client’s written permission.  On the San Diego Paranormal Research Society’s standard permission form and liability waiver, there is an option for clients to check whether they want the team to disclose certain investigative data acquired from the research project.  Even if you are allowed to reveal certain data, never divulge pertinent information such as the clients’ names or specific identifying information about their house.   
 
Respect and reverence are vital to a successful investigation.  The San Diego Paranormal Research Society firmly believes that you will get back what you put out.  For this reason, we do not tolerate provoking or antagonizing an entity for the mere reason of gaining evidence.  I do not care what type of life a ghost or spirit had in mortal realm; it’s our policy to respect the energies we come into contact with.  Not only does this help ensure the physical, emotional and spiritual safety of each researcher, it assists in establishing a healthy rapport with the living and departed.  We are not talking about just respecting the location and its spiritual inhabitants, but also our clients and colleagues as well.  Remember the Golden Rule at all times.
 
It is also important that team members remain professional and objective during the entire investigation process, including the interview phase, preliminary stages and post-investigation evidence review process.  Thus, investigators should, in no way, commiserate with the client(s) or provide psychological therapy. A good rule of thumb is to always adhere to, and not deviate from, the team’s mission and objectives for each investigation.
 
Remember to always try and figure out a logical and natural explanation for the alleged anomalous phenomena.  It is important to go in to each research project with an open and objective mind.  If you cannot explain some type of activity, conduct experiments to try and make sense of what’s happening.  If, after you are done, you still cannot figure out the reason(s) for why something is occurring, leave it as “this is something that we cannot explain.”  I certainly cannot speak for other teams; however, the San Diego Paranormal Research Society is not out to prove the existence of spiritual phenomena.  We are here to better understand what constitutes life after death.
 
The San Diego Paranormal Research Society employs five stages to each investigation.  Typically, phase (1) occurs when the client contacts the team.  During this stage, the team will conduct its client interviews and commence supplemental research of the property (historical, geological, archeological, etc).  The team should have some sort of questionnaire for each prospective client to fill out.  Once the client completes it, the team’s case manager should set up a phone appointment to briefly go over the topics on the questionnaire.  The basis for the phone interview is to acquire an overview knowledge base of what’s occurring at the location.  A subsequent in-home client interview should then be conducted to delve more in detail as to what’s happening in the home. 
 
Another reason for the on-site interview is to check for continuity and consistency.  Questions to ask are, “Has the client provided me with consistent information on both the phone interview and during the in-home interview?  Or, are there discrepancies with each interview?  If there are discrepancies, it may be a sign that the client is making up information and not telling the truth.  Or, it can be innocent on their part, too. All witnesses should be interviewed separately as to avoid bias or power of suggestion.
 
The following points are important to remember for phase (1):

• One or two people interview the client(s).  If there is more than one client to be interviewed, all interviewees will be interviewed separately.
• Interviewers do NOT share information with the rest of the investigation team until investigation is completed, at which time the client’s experiences can be shared with the team to corroborate results obtained.  This is mainly done to avoid power of suggestion or bias.
• Each interviewer will complete a client interview report, which is basically a detailed summary of what the client disclosed in the interview.  The client interview report will be attached to the client interview questionnaire form, along with notes taken by the interviewer.  Each client interview write-up will be put into case file and be a part of the entire case report.
• Utilize the client interview questions, but ask other questions as necessary, depending on each case.
• Have an audio recorder handy to capture the entire interview.  This is helpful when interviewer writes a report on the client interview.  We do not want to inadvertently miss important details.
• Do NOT ask leading questions and go with the flow of the interview.
• Keep in mind the following:  “What, when, where, why and how,”  as well as the five human senses when asking questions
• Let the client talk and ramble if they need to.  You will have an audio recorder recording everything.
• Client needs to submit three pieces of information, which will be turned into case manager at preliminary investigation phase:

1. Client submits detailed notes of phenomena and experiences from the time they started through the initial interview/preliminary investigation.
2. Client submits detailed notes of phenomena from the interview/preliminary investigation through the investigation AND notes from the post-investigation time period.
3. Client draws up a location map highlighting hotspots of possible paranormal activity.

 
The second phase that the SDPRS team employs is the preliminary investigation and continued supplemental research process.  During this phase, team members will go to the investigation site and conduct baseline EMF, temperature, ionic energy readings, etc.  Additionally, the team will take photographs of each room; thus, if an anomaly occurs during the actual investigation, there will be baseline photographs for comparison.  Furthermore, the research group will examine the location for any possible safety issues and anything else that could potentially interfere with the project.  Supplemental research continues at this stage.
 
Aspects to keep in mind are as follows:
 

• The preliminary team does NOT share information gathered at the preliminary stage with the investigation team until after project is completed.  This is put into place to avoid power of suggestion and/or bias.
• Preliminary team divides up responsibilities.  For example, one person is responsible for EMF/temperature sweeps, another person responsible for baseline photography, another person responsible for additional client interviews, etc.
• Preliminary team goes on a walk-through with client, noting hotspots.  Someone should be responsible for taking notes from walk-through.  Have an audio recorder handy to record this entire process.
• Each member of preliminary team writes a summary report of their responsibilities during preliminary investigation.  For example, EMF/temperature readings, baseline photography, indicating what photos were taken and where photos were taken in location, and report any notes taken from walk through.
• Collect client’s three pieces of information (detailed notes and map from phase (1) ).

The preliminary report includes:

1. Client interview notes;
2. Map with clearly noted hotspots;
3. Client’s notes of phenomena and experiences;
4. Individual summaries of EMF, temperature, baseline photos and walk-through notes;
5. Notations of any oddities in the home or structural/electrical/plumbing issues;
6. Supplemental research:  geological, weather conditions, solar storms, moon phases, genealogy at the time of encounters as well as pertinent location history, etc.

Phase (3) is the actual investigation stage.  Each investigator should be physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.  Prior to the investigation, the team should meet to discuss individual responsibilities during the investigation.  It is important that each individual is on the same page as this will aid in cohesion and continuity of the project. The investigation permission form and liability waiver should be signed by both client and team founder prior to any setting up of equipment.  Some teams choose to have the client be involved in the investigation, especially if activity seems to center on a particular individual.

• Investigation team will be divided into teams of two or three people.
• Each individual team will sweep all areas to be investigated at location and do so, on a rotating basis.  Each individual team will not share information with other members until after all sweeps are finished.
• After sweeps are finished, entire team gathers to discuss findings, which will determine what areas are best for EVP, ITC, spirit photography, videography, investigation experiments, etc.
• Once equipment is set up, individual teams will continue with investigation and rotate areas to be investigated.

Phase (4) is the evidence review and analysis stage.  Typically, SDPRS investigators have about three to four weeks to complete this process.  Each researcher should be trained on the various aspects of evidence review. Points to remember are:

• All evidence needs to be reviewed in its entirety
• Use programs for analysis when necessary.  For example, audio programs (Audacity, Adobe Audition), photography (Photoscape, Photoshop), Video (Need4Video, Movie Pro Magix), etc.
• Make clips of any anomalies and/or interesting pieces (audio, photo, video, ITC).
• Make one copy for case file and another copy for client
• Make an EVIDENCE SUMMARY SHEET for all captured evidence, listing its title, cue times and synopsis of what occurred.  Clients can use this sheet as a guide when reviewing the team’s captured evidence.  This sheet should be attached to the complete case report.
• The team should meet after each person has reviewed data.  During this meeting, members discuss the investigation results, including intuitive impressions, historical significance and captured data.  The group will discuss what evidence needs to be turned into the client.

The final phase concerns case reports, any additional interviews and recommendations for the client.  The team will meet with the client(s) to go over the results of the investigation and offer any suggestions on what needs to happen next, if any.  Each researcher needs to keep in mind that they act as advocates for their clients.  Their purpose is to educate and help alleviate any concerns that clients may have.  Occasionally, the investigative team will employ the use of consultants or specialists, such as spiritual advisors, psychics, clergy members, etc. 
For this phase, be sure that investigators adhere to the following:

• Each investigator needs to complete a thorough case write-up and make sure that each category on the case write-up guideline form is addressed.
• Any notes taken during investigation need to also be placed in the case write-up.
• The following categories need to be covered:

1. name, date,  location, time, weather conditions, geomagnetic / solar storm information
2. other investigators present
3. investigators partnered with
4. equipment used
5. experiments conducted, noting what equipment was used for experiment
6. investigation results—include start and end times and equipment times

• audio (EVP and ITC)
• photography (digital, 35mm, Polaroid, IR)
• videography (static camera, IR/DVR system, flip camera)
• experimental equipment (PX, Ovilus, Ovilus X for example)
• EMF
• Temperature
• other specialized equipment

1. Intuitive impressions—noting any corroboration with equipment and experiments
2. Suggestions and recommendations

It is important to be sensitive to and empathic towards clients as many of them are uncomfortable with what’s occurring at their home.  When a home owner consults a team to come out to his or her home, we must remember that this client is entrusting us with many responsibilities.  As researchers, we must remain professional, objective and respectful at all times.  Some of my best moments as a paranormal researcher occurred when clients have thanked the team for the investigative work we conducted.  It’s an amazing feeling to help clients feel more comfortable in their home.  It’s that intrinsic reward that keeps me striving to be the best researcher I can be. As paranormal researchers, we should support not only our clients and spiritual energies but the field at large.
 
By,
Nicole Strickland