Ghost-Hunting Mistakes Science and Pseudoscience in Ghost Investigations

SI New Nov Dec pages_SI new design masters 9/24/10 2:29 PM Page 44 Ghost-Hunting Mistakes Science and Pseudoscience in Ghost Investigations There are thousands of amateur ghost hunters around the world whose techniques are modeled after hit cable television shows such as Ghost Hunters, which claim to use good science. But a close examination of typical ghost-hunting methods reveals them to be mostly pseudoscience. BENJAMIN RADFORD illions of people are interested in ghosts. One 2005 and “We approach ghost hunting from a scientific point of view” (Hawes and Gallup poll found that 37 percent of Amer icans be- Wilson 2007, 270). Mlieve in haunted houses, and even more believe in Yet in their 2007 book Ghost Hunt- ing: True Stories of Unex plained Phenom- ghosts. The “reality” TV show Ghost Hunters has been a huge ena from The Atlantic Paranormal hit for the Syfy channel, lasting six seasons so far and in- Society, Hawes allots a grand total of spiring other shows. The show’s ghost-hunting methods four paragraphs (within 273 pages) to a chapter titled “The Scientific Ap- have been adopted by thousands of amateur ghost investi- proach.” He doesn’t have much to say gators across the country and around the world. about science or scientific methods, and in fact it’s the shortest chapter in the book. Hawes is wrong in his belief that Just about every ghost-hunting understandings. It can be very easy to he and his T.A.P.S. crew are using good group calls itself “skeptical” or “scien- accidentally create or misinterpret evi- scientific investigative methods. After tific.” Many investigators believe they dence: Is that flash of light on the wall watching episodes of Ghost Hunters and are being scientific if they use electro- a flashlight reflection—or a ghost? Are other similar programs, it quickly be- magnetic field (EMF) detectors or in- the faint sounds recorded in an empty comes clear to anyone with a back- frared cameras—or if they don’t use house spirit voices—or a neighbor’s ground in science that the methods psychics or dowsing rods. But the best radio? It’s not always clear, and investi- used are both illogical and unscientific.1 way to know whether an investigator or gators must be careful to weed out the Some of the T.A.P.S. crew’s methods group is scientific is to examine meth- red herrings and focus on the verified are slightly better than those of earlier ods and results. Does the investigator information. groups (for example, Hawes and Wilson use the pseudoscientific methods de- The most famous ghost hunters in were among the first ghost hunters to scribed here? What is the group’s track the world, Jason Hawes and Grant dismiss the “orbs of light are ghosts” the- record of solved cases? Does an inves- Wilson (co-founders of The Atlantic ory), but they are not much more scien- tigation end with inconclusive and am- Paranormal Society—T.A.P.S.—and tific. The Ghost Hunters lacked good biguous results or a solved mystery? stars of Ghost Hunters), agree that using science to begin with, and their methods Ghost investigations can be decep- science is the best way to approach in- have not become any more scientific (or tively tricky endeavors. Very ordinary vestigations. They have always claimed any more effective) since they began. events can be—and indeed have to use good scientific methods and in- What follows is a short survey of the been—mistaken for extraordinary ones, vestigative procedures, for example most common logical and methodolog- and the main challenge for any ghost writing that “T.A.P.S. uses scientific ical mistakes being made by the investigator is separating the facts from methods to determine whether or not T.A.P.S. team and other groups that a jumble of myths, mistakes, and mis- someone’s home might be haunted,” carry out ghost investigations.2 44 Volume 34 Issue 6 | Skeptical Inquirer SI New Nov Dec pages_SI new design masters 9/24/10 2:29 PM Page 45 1. Assuming that no specialized Another common error is over-in- voice. These types of reports are very knowledge or expertise is needed terpreting supposedly anomalous phe- common and cannot be accepted at face to effectively investigate ghosts. nomena. Ghost reports are filled with value. One of the most common assumptions phrases like “one investigator heard a 3. Considering subjective feelings among ghost investigators is that in the young girl singing softly” or “the shadow and emotions as evidence of paranormal field “there are no experts.” of an old man appeared in the hallway.” ghostly encounters. If there are no experts, then of course How, exactly, does the ghost hunter anyone can effectively investigate know for a fact it was a young girl’s voice Ghost hunters often report descriptions ghosts. Almost all ghost hunters are or an old man’s shadow? I know adult of personal feelings and experiences like amateur, part-time hobbyists, and they women who can convincingly mimic the “I felt a heavy, sad presence and wanted come from all walks of life. On Ghost soft singing of a young girl or cast a to cry,” or “I felt like something didn’t Hunters, two ordinary guys who work shadow that might look exactly like an want me there,” and so on (see, for exam- as plumbers during the day are touted old man’s. It is of course possible that the ple, Avakian 2010). They may also de- as experts on ghost investigations, al- sound and shadow are of a young girl scribe in detail how they got goose though none of the team members has and an old man, respectively, but an in- bumps upon entering a room or grew any background or training in science, vestigator must be careful not to go be- panicked at some unseen presence, as- investigation, forensics, or any other yond the established facts and assume suming they were reacting to a hidden field that might help solve mysteries. that his interpretation is the correct ghost. Why it’s a mistake: Why it’s a mistake: Paranormal inves- one. After you have made a specific, de- Subjective experi- tigation requires no certificate; anyone clarative statement like “a young girl ences are essentially stories and anec- can do it with no training, knowledge, singing softly,” you have locked yourself dotes. There’s nothing wrong with or expertise whatsoever. Whether they into that interpretation without keep- personal experiences, but by themselves are effective or not—actually able to ing an open mind about other interpre- they are not proof or evidence of any- solve mysteries—is another matter en- tations. Unless someone verifies the thing. Most people who report such ex- tirely. Effec tively investigating claims source of a sound, it is logically impos- periences are sincere in their belief that and solving mysteries does require some sible to identify with any certainty who a ghost caused their panic, but that be- experience and expertise—specifically or what created that sound. An adult, lief does not necessarily make it true. in investigation, logic, critical thinking, an animal, a breeze whistling through The problem, of course, is that there is psychology, science, forensics, and other an unseen passage, or something else not necessarily any connection between areas. altogether might sound like a child’s a real danger or a ghostly presence and 2. Failing to consider alternative explanations for anomalous or “unexplained” phenomena. Ghost hunters often over-interpret evidence and fail to adequately consider alternative explanations, assuming for example that “orbs” are ghosts, EVPs (electronic voice phenomena) are ghost voices, and so on. Why it’s a mistake: The designation of “unexplained” or paranormal must be accepted only when all other normal, natural explanations have been ruled out through careful analysis. The expla- nation that orbs are flash reflections of dust, insects, mist, etc., has been widely discussed for years (see Radford 2007, Nickell 1994). Many ghost hunters who accept the scientific, skeptical ex- planation for orbs continue to record EVPs as ghost voices despite the fact that scientific evidence of the validity of EVPs is as poor as it is for orbs. Skeptical Inquirer | November/ December 2 010 4 5 SI New Nov Dec pages_SI new design masters 9/24/10 2:29 PM Page 46 how a person feels. The power of sugges- Sampling errors a sensitive thermometer would be useful. tion can be very strong, and a suggestible In my book Scientific Paranormal Inves- If ghosts were known to emit ions, then ghost hunter can easily convince her- tigation, I explain why a ghost stakeout a device that measures such ions would self—and others—that something weird or overnight investigation is a bad idea. be useful. is going on in a dark and creepy house. But there’s another, less obvious, basic The problem is that there is no body of 4. Using improper and unscientific scientific mistake made by many ghost research showing that anything these de- investigation methods. hunters. Usually ghost hunters will vices measure has anything to do with begin their stakeout by taking readings ghosts. Until someone can reliably demon - Ghost hunters often misuse scientific with their high-tech equipment. Even strate that ghosts have certain measurable equipment and ignore good scientific though a thorough investigation into characteristics, devices that measure those research methods. A few typical exam- specific claims or phenomena (such as a characteristics are irrelevant. ples of this type of error follow. door opening on its own or a strange Ineffectively using recording devices Investigating with the lights off noise) can be conducted in a matter of hours, a complete investigation into a EMF detectors, ion counters, and other Nearly every ghost-themed TV show has haunted location can’t be done in a few gear have no use in ghost investigations.

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