Evidence Collection & Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CPI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Evidence Collection & Analysis flashcards as text
When photographing potential paranormal light anomalies, which environmental factor most commonly produces false orb images?
Answer: Dust particles, moisture, or insects near the lens
Dust, moisture droplets, and insects reflect flash light and appear as orbs, making them the most common source of false-positive orb photos.
An investigator captures a 'mist' on camera during an outdoor nighttime investigation. What is the most important variable to rule out first?
Answer: The investigator's breath in cold air
Breath vapor in cold outdoor air is the most common mundane explanation for photographic mist anomalies.
Which data logging method provides the most objective record of environmental changes during an investigation?
Answer: Continuous automated sensor logging with timestamped data
Automated sensor logs produce objective, timestamped data free from human memory bias or selective reporting.
What is 'matrixing' (pareidolia) in the context of paranormal photo analysis?
Answer: The brain's tendency to see familiar patterns, like faces, in random visual noise
Matrixing (pareidolia) describes the human brain finding meaningful patterns—especially faces—in random or ambiguous images.
Why is chain of custody important when handling paranormal evidence files?
Answer: It ensures the evidence has not been altered or tampered with after collection
Maintaining chain of custody documents who handled evidence and when, protecting its integrity and credibility.
A team member reports seeing a shadow figure in their peripheral vision. How should this be classified in the investigation report?
Answer: Subjective personal experience (SPE), not physical evidence
Personal sightings without corroborating physical evidence are classified as subjective personal experiences and carry less evidentiary weight.
When should an investigator label and time-stamp an audio file recorded during an investigation?
Answer: Immediately after recording, before any review or playback
Immediate labeling and time-stamping preserves accuracy and prevents files from being confused or attributed to the wrong location or time.