Agent

• An agent in paranormal research is usually a person who unknowingly causes poltergeist activity (poltergeist activity seems to be between the categories of ghost and psi (the term applied to unusual abilities of human origin such as ESP/psychokinesis/etc.. and investigating "exceptional human experiences" such as out of body and apparitional experiences).

Anomaly

• An irregular or unusual event which does not fit a standard rule or law. An anomaly is something which cannot be explained by currently accepted scientific theories. Anything weird, abnormal, strange, odd, or difficult to classify is considered an anomaly.

Artefact

• In parapsychology, this is false evidence of paranormal phenomena, due to some extraneous normal influence.

Apparition

• Spirit energy that is usually seen in the form of the entity that has passed. Some psychics and mediums see them on a regular basis. Catching an apparition on film is what every ghost hunter aspires to do. They show up in a transparent human form and usually wear the clothing of their period. Also note that people have been known to see animal apparitions also.

Authentication

• The verification of facts and details surrounding an occurrence of paranormal phenomenon. This can be independent statements from witnesses, written documentation, or other corroborative evidence supporting the report made by the subject concerning their experience and the events to which was apparently related.

Case Study

• An in-depth investigation of an individual subject.

Collective Apparition

• This is when more than one person sees a phenomenon at the same time & location. Collective apparitions are good in proving that what was seen was really there, and wasn't just the person's mind playing tricks on them, since more than one person saw it.

Cryptomnesia

• Knowledge (acquired in normal ways) that may be revealed without the person remembering its source. Such memories may falsely appear to be paranormal revelations.

Dematerialize

• To suddenly disappear. Example: an object or spirit.

Doppelganger

• A spirit of a living person outside of the physical body.

Ectoplasm

• A semi-fluid substance exuded by a physical medium from which materializations may form. Ecto is also what we call the Smokey mist like substance we capture on film that we believe to be spirit energy. To avoid false evidence it's important for you and other people to not be smoking during an investigation. If you must smoke, make a place away from the investigation for everyone to smoke at. Also watch out for your breath on cold days, fog, etc.. If you are sure none of the elements above are present and you don't see any mist with the naked eye, yet it shows up on film, you may have something.

Electromagnetic Field Detector

• Also called a gauss or magnetometer, these let you know the Electro Magnetic Field readings in an area. The presence of spirit has been known to often produce/disturb electromagnetic energy in the area. Lots of things throw off EMF's though (Lamps, TV's, etc..) so scout around the area of the investigation first and get to know where these things are. If you start getting fluctuations in EMF readings in an area with no other explanation for them.. Tell someone to start taking photos/video/EVP/etc.. You may get interesting results.

Electronic Voice Phenomenon

• This is the capturing of spirit voices on recorders. Try setting up a recorder during investigations (Regular hand held audio tape recorders or digital recorders work fine. If using a audio tape recorder, an external mic is best so you don't pick up the sounds of the gears and such turning of the recorder). When playing the recording back you may hear sounds or voices that weren't heard at the time of the investigation. Try asking questions and pausing also.. you may get answers.

False Awakening

• When a person believes he or she has woken up, but actually is still dreaming.

Incubus

• A spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.

Parapsychology

• Literally beyond psychology. The study of apparent new means of communication, or interaction, between organisms and their environment (commonly referred to as psi, or psychic ability), beyond those presently understood by the scientific community.

Poltergeist

• A general term applied to a variety of site-, or sometimes person-, specific physical phenomena. These can include temperature variations, anomalous sounds, and movement of physical objects. The word 'poltergeist' literally means 'noisy spirit' and was coined back when such phenomena were thought to be due to the presence of some sort of mischievous entity. Currently, poltergeist phenomena are usually considered to be related either to unusual physical conditions at the affected site, or to be related to psychokinesis. Anecdotal reports suggest that many poltergeist focus on an individual under some form of emotional stress.