Investigation Techniques & Equipment Usage 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 Investigation Techniques & Equipment Usage flashcards as text
What is the correct procedure when an investigator believes they have personally experienced a paranormal event during a case?
Answer: Document it privately and disclose it only after the investigation to avoid influencing others
Personal experiences should be documented but disclosed after the investigation to prevent bias and suggestion from affecting other team members' perceptions.
A thermal imaging camera detects temperature differences. Which natural cause can mimic a 'thermal anomaly' and must be ruled out?
Answer: Radiant heat from pipes, HVAC vents, or sunlight through windows
Thermal anomalies are commonly caused by radiant heat from infrastructure or sunlight, and these must be identified and excluded before attributing a reading to paranormal causes.
In EVP classification systems, what does a Class A EVP designation indicate?
Answer: The EVP is clear and intelligible without the need for audio enhancement
Class A EVPs are the highest quality, clearly audible and understandable without enhancement, making them the most evidentially compelling category.
What is a 'control experiment' in paranormal investigation, and why is it important?
Answer: A repeatable test under normal conditions used to establish a baseline for comparison
Control experiments establish normal parameters so investigators can meaningfully compare them against potentially anomalous results observed during active investigation.
Which type of microphone is generally preferred for EVP recording due to its ability to capture sound from all directions equally?
Answer: Omnidirectional microphone
Omnidirectional microphones capture sound from 360 degrees, making them ideal for EVP work where the source direction of a potential voice is unknown.
A 'Faraday cage' is sometimes used during paranormal investigations for what purpose?
Answer: Shielding equipment or a space from external electromagnetic interference
A Faraday cage blocks external electromagnetic fields, allowing investigators to test whether EMF anomalies originate internally rather than from outside radio or electrical sources.
What is the investigative significance of reviewing security or surveillance footage already installed at a reported haunted location?
Answer: It may capture pre-investigation activity without observer effect or contamination
Pre-existing surveillance footage captures the location without investigator presence, eliminating observer contamination and potentially documenting claimed phenomena under normal conditions.