Guidance Notes for Investigators of Spontaneous Cases

Guidance Notes for Investigators of Spontaneous Cases sets out a practical method for examining reports of apparitions, hauntings, poltergeists and related experiences. Steven T. Parsons begins with the aims of an investigation: establishing what has been reported, considering natural explanations and fraud, and assessing what evidence remains.

The guidance covers ethical work with witnesses, including vulnerable people, alongside interviewing, background research, planning and on-site enquiries. It also addresses record keeping, equipment, vigils, data assessment, drawing conclusions and compiling a report. The emphasis is on disciplined investigation rather than assumptions, with attention to the circumstances in which spontaneous cases occur and the difference between a witness account, an interpretation and a substantiated finding.