EVP: Field Test Parameters Part 2

Experimental Groups

Control Group (CONT): This is the group where our variables (below) cannot affect the recorders.

• One recorder will have the microphone disabled; an audio cable will be plugged into the microphone jack.
• The recorder will be placed in a Faraday cage to prevent EMR.
• Here we have no sound waves and no EMR.
• Results here would imply that neither sound nor EMR affect the development of EVPs.

Variable groups are the groups that contain the things that we change for the experiment:

• Variable One (VAR 1): This is the condition where just sound waves can affect recorder.
• One recorder will have its microphone unaltered.
• It will be placed in the Faraday cage.
• Here we have sound waves and no EMR.
• Results here imply EVPs are created by sound and not EMR.
• Variable Two (VAR 2): This is the condition where just EMR can affect the recorder.
• One recorder will have the microphone disabled; an audio cable will be plugged into the microphone jack.
• The recorder will be set in the general area of the Faraday cage and not in it.
• Here we have EMR waves and no sound.
• Results here imply EVPs are created by EMR and not sound.
• Variable Three (VAR 3): This is the condition in which most EVPs are collected.
• The recorder will remain unaltered.
• The recorder will be set in the general area of the Faraday cage and not in it.

Which one will have EVPs? I am excited to see what kind of results we receive.

Constants are the factors which remain the same for each repeated trial for all levels of the independent variable.

• Model of recorder.
• Set of EVP questions.
• The settings on each recorder. Our Olympus Recorders were all set at:
• Mic Sensitivity: Conference
• Rec Mode: ST XQ (highest on this model)
• Low Cut Filter: Off
• VCVA: Off
• Noise Cancel: Off
• Noise Filter: Off
• The location. Various locations will be used, however all sites have paranormal investigators claiming to have captured EVPs. Sites that do not have a history of producing EVPs will not be used.

Next time I’ll cover our experimental procedures.

I’m having flash backs to middle school science class. Are you?

EVP: Field Test Experimental Parameters Part 1

From my middle school days, I remember the phrase “K.I.S.S.”, not the heavy metal glam band, but the warning to “Keep it Simple Stupid”. To that end, I am making this experiment as simple as possible. Before we go any farther, let’s get this out in the open.... We are not experimenting to prove if spirit voices can be caught on recording devices. Before we can fully tackle this assumption, we need to isolate how the EVPs are formed. Once we know the origin of EVPs we may be able to trace it back to the source. Got it? Good. Now let’s get on with the experiment. Here goes the experimental parameters for Field Test of EVP Origin. Independent variables or the factors that are purposely changed by the experimenter:

• Sound
• Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR) level

Dependent Variable or factor that responds to the changes in the independent variable; it is measured, counted, or observed objectively:

• EVP

Hypotheses are predictions about the outcome of the experiment:

·         Hypothesis 1:  If electromagnetic radiation (EMR) is taken out the equation and an EVP is captured the EVP was not created due to the effects of EMR.

·         Hypothesis 2:  If sound is taken out the equation is taken out the equation and an EVP is captured the EVP was not created due to the effects of sound.

  Materials used:

• Four identical digital recorders each with a microphone jack.
  • We are using Olympus WS-500Ms.
  • For you sound engineers who care about such things Olympus USA states the Olympus WS-500Ms recorders contain compressor microphones.

Two Audio Cables to fit the microphone jack of your recorder.

• We used two (1) foot, 1/8” stereo male to stereo male cables.

One Faraday Cage.

• We are using the Science First (Sciencefirst.com), Faraday Cage SKU 615-3095, designed to block low level EMR.

Varied locations where paranormal investigators claim to have captured EVPs.

Fixed set of EVP questions.

A stop watch or other device for timing the questions.

A meter or meters to measure barometer, temperature and humidity levels

That’s enough for one day. We will continue with the parameters next time.

EVP: Coming Together!

First a big thank you to my friend, Kathy, for my new little Blonde on IR© mascot.  She’s awesome!

 

 

Oh, I am excited that the EVP experiment is coming together. I should have it up and running in two weeks. I am waiting for my new Faraday cage (the old one is too beat up to ensure reliable results) and the last recorder to arrive.  The next step is a dry run to test the experimental procedures and work out any obstacles.

 

In the mean time I am brainstorming the next project. I have an inkling of an idea how to test paranormal photography. It will be several months before I can afford to pull this idea together.

 

It is my hope that others will copy the experiment and see if they can replicate our results. If so we will be one step closer to tackling the assumption that spirit voices can be captured on audio.

 

I would love to hear from anyone else conducting experiments. What are you doing? How are you doing it? What are the results?