Data Logging & Environmental Baseline Flashcards

When multiple investigators use separate handheld EMF meters in the same area simultaneously, what data logging problem can arise?

Answer: The devices themselves emit EMF that can cross-contaminate each other's readings

Electronic devices including EMF meters emit their own electromagnetic fields, which can cause artificially elevated readings in adjacent meters when used in close proximity.

An investigator wants to establish a vibration baseline to distinguish structural settling from anomalous events. Which device is best suited for this?

Answer: Accelerometer or geophone data logger

Accelerometers and geophones measure physical vibration and motion, enabling investigators to log and compare ambient structural vibration levels against potential anomalous disturbances.

What does a 'trigger object log' record in the context of environmental data logging?

Answer: The position, state, and any movement of a stationary object placed as a controlled variable to detect physical disturbances

Trigger objects are deliberately placed items whose position is documented at baseline; any subsequent displacement is logged as a potential physical anomaly.

A paranormal investigator notes that ion counter readings spiked during the same intervals when investigators were walking nearby. What is the most likely explanation?

Answer: Human movement and synthetic clothing generate static electricity, temporarily elevating ion counts

Friction from footsteps, synthetic fabrics, and skin movement can generate localized electrostatic charges that elevate ion detector readings independently of any paranormal cause.

Why should investigators log the make, model, and calibration date of each instrument used during an investigation?

Answer: Instrument specifications and calibration history affect the validity and reproducibility of collected data

Documenting instrument specifications and calibration status allows other researchers to assess data reliability and replicate the investigation with comparable equipment.

What is the purpose of recording 'investigator-induced events' (e.g., knocks, coughs, footsteps) in a real-time investigation log?

Answer: To allow analysts to distinguish known human-caused environmental disturbances from unexplained anomalies during data review

Real-time event logging of investigator actions creates a narrative timeline that analysts use to separate deliberate human disturbances from anomalies with no identified cause.

Which statistical approach is most appropriate for identifying whether an EMF anomaly during an investigation is significantly different from the baseline?

Answer: Calculating the mean and standard deviation of baseline readings and flagging values exceeding two or three standard deviations

Using mean ± 2–3 standard deviations establishes a statistically grounded anomaly threshold, distinguishing genuine outliers from normal environmental variation.