The Interview: An Essential Paranormal Tool
Thursday March 6, 2008 8:31 AM
Paranormal investigators need a good toolkit of physical tools. But they also need more. Beyond the technology, before the all-night vigils, and long before any results are determined, skilled investigators must first interview those involved.
All paranormal investigations need thorough research and effective conversations with the people reporting the phenomena. This essential first step separates the true paranormal experiences from instances of mental disturbance, family problems, and other issues that can cloud judgment. How can you lead a useful interview, and determine if there is cause for a full investigation?
Ask open-ended questions. Too often interviewers can lead the interviewee, indicating through their tone and question structure what the "right" answer will be.
Monitor the body language of people being interviewed. Does the person meet your eye contact? Do they have difficulty staying still? Watch these visual cues for signs of distress or deception.
Take a cue from police interviewers. A recent study indicated that police who asked witnesses and suspects to tell their stories in reverse order could more easily detect lies, problems or gaps in information.
A good interview progresses like a conversation. But in the hands of a skilled interviewer, the interview reveals the truth, and indicates whether something paranormal might truly be happening. For more on interviewing technique, learn about the tactics used by police investigators, journalists, job interviewers and more.
