About Reading Paranormal Society
What is the Reading Paranormal Society?
The Reading Paranormal Society is a group of paranormal investigators established in July 2009. The group was founded with one common goal in mind: to help those who have fallen victim to experiences of the paranormal kind so they can fully understand why and how these things occur. Our main objective is to debunk any claims of paranormal acitivity that we investigate. We do not walk into any residence, place of business, or any investigation site believing it is haunted. That decision is made after data analysis is completed.
The Reading Paranormal Society is a group of paranormal investigators established in July 2009. The group was founded with one common goal in mind: to help those who have fallen victim to experiences of the paranormal kind so they can fully understand why and how these things occur. Our main objective is to debunk any claims of paranormal acitivity that we investigate. We do not walk into any residence, place of business, or any investigation site believing it is haunted. That decision is made after data analysis is completed.
RPS Investigation Methods
The Reading Paranormal Society takes great pride in all its investigations, no matter how big or small. Our passion for investigating paranormal activity begins with the intial contact with our customer and doesn't falter even after all data is analyzed.
Generally, when a call is made to RPS, a time and date will be set up to complete an intial walkthrough/meet-and-greet with our client. RPS believes that client/investigator relationships are very important, and we take pride in being very personable and direct with our clients, much as so that we all would like to think we become personal friends throughout the whole investigation process. The inital walkthrough, usually completed by 2 or 3 investigators, is vital for a few reasons. The first reason is we get to see the investigation site and the people dealing with the activity occurring around them. Second, it gives the members of RPS a chance to calm the client down and let them know that someone is there for them in their time of need. Finally, the walkthrough allows members of RPS to be aware of certian aspects of the house to watch out for, for example appliances, power sources, or electrical lines that might be giving off high levels of EMF that might be harder to see at night while investigating. After the initial walkthrough is completed, a time and date is set up for the actual investigation to take place.
On the night of our investigation, RPS will come into the investigation site and complete a walkthrough with the whole crew, which will usually consist of six members. Six members currently is our comfort zone. On our group walkthrough, the members that have already toured the site on the initial meeting, will show everyone else the basics of the building, including any reported claims of paranormal activity. A few crew members will be snapping pictures, and someone will also be completing an initial EMF sweep, which will show any hot spots in any electrical currents running through the building. Currently, all of our EMF sweeps are being conducted with a MEL meter and a K2 EMF meter.
After our group walkthrough, the group will meet at its designated 'base camp', and from there split up into groups. We DO NOT commit the #1 cardinal sin when conducting a paranormal investigation: we DO NOT send an investigator into an area alone! Not only is it not safe, but having two eyewitnesses witnessing activity instead of one increases the chances of deeming something as being of the 'paranormal kind'. RPS generally works in groups of two with each group generally possessing a video camera, digital camera, voice recorder, and either a EMF meter or infrared thermometer.
******** Note--- Pictures of all of our equipment can be seen on our 'Equipment' page *********
Each group is allotted a certain amount of time in each area we investigate. Generally through our investigations, we have split into 3 groups of 2, with each group investigating etither separate floors or buildings on a site. Also, we generally investigate each spot for 45-60 minutes at a time and, take a short break, and then rotate, allowing us to hopefully investigate each spot numerous times through the night. Most importantly of all, if a group witnesses something strange or possibly 'paranormal', that group will not share with the rest of the team what they saw, felt, heard, etc. That group may give hints, like "Hey, check out the 2nd floor really good" or something in that spectrum; however, we will not completely give away what we witnessed. This will help later, especially in data analysis, when each group's stories collaborate and show some eerie similarities.
Generally, the whole investigation process lasts around 8-10 hours for our team from initial setups and walkthroughs to leaving the premises. After each team is done with their last allotted investigation period, the whole team meets back at base camp, does an overall equipment check to make sure we didn't lose anything throughout the night. Also, as we break down base camp, the groups get a little antsy and ask questions to others, like did so and so witness this and that.
The Reading Paranormal Society takes great pride in all its investigations, no matter how big or small. Our passion for investigating paranormal activity begins with the intial contact with our customer and doesn't falter even after all data is analyzed.
Generally, when a call is made to RPS, a time and date will be set up to complete an intial walkthrough/meet-and-greet with our client. RPS believes that client/investigator relationships are very important, and we take pride in being very personable and direct with our clients, much as so that we all would like to think we become personal friends throughout the whole investigation process. The inital walkthrough, usually completed by 2 or 3 investigators, is vital for a few reasons. The first reason is we get to see the investigation site and the people dealing with the activity occurring around them. Second, it gives the members of RPS a chance to calm the client down and let them know that someone is there for them in their time of need. Finally, the walkthrough allows members of RPS to be aware of certian aspects of the house to watch out for, for example appliances, power sources, or electrical lines that might be giving off high levels of EMF that might be harder to see at night while investigating. After the initial walkthrough is completed, a time and date is set up for the actual investigation to take place.
On the night of our investigation, RPS will come into the investigation site and complete a walkthrough with the whole crew, which will usually consist of six members. Six members currently is our comfort zone. On our group walkthrough, the members that have already toured the site on the initial meeting, will show everyone else the basics of the building, including any reported claims of paranormal activity. A few crew members will be snapping pictures, and someone will also be completing an initial EMF sweep, which will show any hot spots in any electrical currents running through the building. Currently, all of our EMF sweeps are being conducted with a MEL meter and a K2 EMF meter.
After our group walkthrough, the group will meet at its designated 'base camp', and from there split up into groups. We DO NOT commit the #1 cardinal sin when conducting a paranormal investigation: we DO NOT send an investigator into an area alone! Not only is it not safe, but having two eyewitnesses witnessing activity instead of one increases the chances of deeming something as being of the 'paranormal kind'. RPS generally works in groups of two with each group generally possessing a video camera, digital camera, voice recorder, and either a EMF meter or infrared thermometer.
******** Note--- Pictures of all of our equipment can be seen on our 'Equipment' page *********
Each group is allotted a certain amount of time in each area we investigate. Generally through our investigations, we have split into 3 groups of 2, with each group investigating etither separate floors or buildings on a site. Also, we generally investigate each spot for 45-60 minutes at a time and, take a short break, and then rotate, allowing us to hopefully investigate each spot numerous times through the night. Most importantly of all, if a group witnesses something strange or possibly 'paranormal', that group will not share with the rest of the team what they saw, felt, heard, etc. That group may give hints, like "Hey, check out the 2nd floor really good" or something in that spectrum; however, we will not completely give away what we witnessed. This will help later, especially in data analysis, when each group's stories collaborate and show some eerie similarities.
Generally, the whole investigation process lasts around 8-10 hours for our team from initial setups and walkthroughs to leaving the premises. After each team is done with their last allotted investigation period, the whole team meets back at base camp, does an overall equipment check to make sure we didn't lose anything throughout the night. Also, as we break down base camp, the groups get a little antsy and ask questions to others, like did so and so witness this and that.
Data Analysis: The Most Important Job of Every Serious Ghost Hunter
If people foreign to the field of paranormal investigating believe that 8-10 hour investigations are too long, they will be even more shocked on how long the analyzation of data from that investigation can take. The complete effort of painstakingly going through every second of data is quite a feat. Members of RPS usually take their own equipment's data home to analyze: for instance, whoever owns a digital camcorder takes it home and checks it out, and so on and so forth. The only exception runs with our digital recorders: some members of the group are better at interpreting that data than others, so that equipment gets passed onto someone else.
Even though data analysis is initially done on a personal level, RPS only deems something may be paranormal after the whole group has reviewed the data and unanimously agree on what was seen or heard, and no member has the knowledge or ability to be able to debunk the data. RPS takes pride in painstakingly researching all of this footage, and finding those few nuggets of gold: a disembodied voice in a EVP session, video footage of some of our equipment turning on and off almost on command, and one day, hopefully, a full body apparition.
Data analysis on completion of our findings usually takes in the range of 2 to 3 weeks until we are absolutely positive of everything we experienced the night of the investigation. The data cannot be rushed through. It takes patience and diligence to listen or watch intently to every second. Rushing through your data not only disgraces the field of ghost hunting, but also hurts the client who came and asked you for help because you can't provide them with the whole truth of what is really happening at the investigation site.
Even though data analysis is initially done on a personal level, RPS only deems something may be paranormal after the whole group has reviewed the data and unanimously agree on what was seen or heard, and no member has the knowledge or ability to be able to debunk the data. RPS takes pride in painstakingly researching all of this footage, and finding those few nuggets of gold: a disembodied voice in a EVP session, video footage of some of our equipment turning on and off almost on command, and one day, hopefully, a full body apparition.
Data analysis on completion of our findings usually takes in the range of 2 to 3 weeks until we are absolutely positive of everything we experienced the night of the investigation. The data cannot be rushed through. It takes patience and diligence to listen or watch intently to every second. Rushing through your data not only disgraces the field of ghost hunting, but also hurts the client who came and asked you for help because you can't provide them with the whole truth of what is really happening at the investigation site.
The Reveal- The Client Waits with Anticipation
The reveal is a fun day for all paranormal investigators. Not only does the day temporarily allow you to finish a case and move on the next; however, the reactions made by the clients when your investigation actually turns something up is priceless.
At the beginning of the reveal, we like introduce ourselves again, just because it has been a few weeks since the client has seen or heard from us, except for the call or visit to set up the time and place of the reveal. RPS generally follows the same guidelines with a reveal as we do with one of our group meetings. Ahead of time, all interest points whether they be on a recorder, camcorder, or camera are earmarked to make the whole reveal trimmed down and streamlined. RPS does not give the client hints to what we have heard or seen on the footage; we let the client decide on their own, and we compare notes with them. If a client looks a little disturbed about what is going on in their building, our main job is to help them feel comfortable that there is nothing there that wants to harm them. However, if our findings would reveal that there is something that could be deemed 'evil' at the site, RPS would do its best to help on the situation, even if that would resort to looking to another paranormal group for help or finding someone that cleanses houses or places of business if so desired by the client. The most important thing to do when finishing up the reveal, RPS believes, is to once again thank your client for the opportunity to investigate their property. Not only does a well-planned reveal help your client understand what is happening on their property, it can also open some doors to investigations later down the road. Also, word of mouth spreads fast around town, and showing your professional side during a reveal, as well as through the investigation, can attract other local clients when that first client speaks highly of a job well done to everyone he or she knows.
At the beginning of the reveal, we like introduce ourselves again, just because it has been a few weeks since the client has seen or heard from us, except for the call or visit to set up the time and place of the reveal. RPS generally follows the same guidelines with a reveal as we do with one of our group meetings. Ahead of time, all interest points whether they be on a recorder, camcorder, or camera are earmarked to make the whole reveal trimmed down and streamlined. RPS does not give the client hints to what we have heard or seen on the footage; we let the client decide on their own, and we compare notes with them. If a client looks a little disturbed about what is going on in their building, our main job is to help them feel comfortable that there is nothing there that wants to harm them. However, if our findings would reveal that there is something that could be deemed 'evil' at the site, RPS would do its best to help on the situation, even if that would resort to looking to another paranormal group for help or finding someone that cleanses houses or places of business if so desired by the client. The most important thing to do when finishing up the reveal, RPS believes, is to once again thank your client for the opportunity to investigate their property. Not only does a well-planned reveal help your client understand what is happening on their property, it can also open some doors to investigations later down the road. Also, word of mouth spreads fast around town, and showing your professional side during a reveal, as well as through the investigation, can attract other local clients when that first client speaks highly of a job well done to everyone he or she knows.
The Equipment Used by RPS
*** Triplex 4 channel DVR system with 4 infrared cameras
*** Extech i5 - FLIR Division- Thermal Imaging Camera
*** MEL Meter- EMF Detector and Thermometer Combo
*** Olympus and RCA Digital Voice Recorders
*** KII EMF Meter
*** Green 30 milliWatt Laser Grid w/ tripod
*** A Vast Array of Digital Cameras
*** Sony Camcorder with Nightshot Capabilities (attached to the
camcorder is a 8-LED infrared extender to enhance night vision viewing)
*** 96-LED infrared illuminator box strategically placed within a location to enhance our cameras' night vision capabilities
*** All the other essentials- flashlights, extra batteries, and a first aid kit
*** Extech i5 - FLIR Division- Thermal Imaging Camera
*** MEL Meter- EMF Detector and Thermometer Combo
*** Olympus and RCA Digital Voice Recorders
*** KII EMF Meter
*** Green 30 milliWatt Laser Grid w/ tripod
*** A Vast Array of Digital Cameras
*** Sony Camcorder with Nightshot Capabilities (attached to the
camcorder is a 8-LED infrared extender to enhance night vision viewing)
*** 96-LED infrared illuminator box strategically placed within a location to enhance our cameras' night vision capabilities
*** All the other essentials- flashlights, extra batteries, and a first aid kit
Group-to-Client Follow-ups
There are some groups out there that complete an investigation with a client and then never speak to them again. RPS prides itself on following up with their clients on a regular basis to ensure that if activity has started to increase at a site that we are only a phone call, e-mail, or personal meeting away from quelling their concerns. Developing this personal friend status with a client is very important. If a friend of yours had problems, you would do the best you could to help them out if at all possible. Most paranormal groups today think that their reputation solely rests on the amount and quality of the evidence that they have captured. Sure, this is an important part of the sanctity and growth of every group; however, being easy going, but yet serious, and personable with your clients is almost just as important as all mentioned above. It's Business 101: would you rather do business with someone who is unpleasant and a hassle to communicate with our do you want to do business with someone who is cares about your concerns and would do anything to help you out?