|
 Interviewing Techniques
Before any location is investigated, it is best to interview
the owners of the property or witnesses of the events. The
answers that are given usually will help explain the
haunting or paranormal event. It is quite possible to
determine exactly who the ghost is by the information given.
Below is a list of questions that can be asked to any
interviewee in any paranormal situation. These questions are
taken from Monsters: An Investigator’s Guide to Magical
Beings by John Michael Greer.
Click here to view the questions in a
printer friendly version.
Interview Questions
What is the name, age, gender, and occupation of the witness
being interviewed?
What was the date, time, and location of the encounter?
Where was the witness and what was he or she doing at the
time the encounter started?
What was the emotional state of the witness immediately
before the encounter?
Was the witness using any sort of medication, drugs, or
alcohol at the time of the encounter? Does he or she have
any vision or hearing problems, or any medical conditions
that might be relevant to the experience?
How did the encounter begin?
What did the monster/ghost look like?
What did the monster/ghost do during the time when the
witness observed it?
Did the monster/ghost seem to have any particular personality or
show any emotions?
Did the monster/ghost seem to notice or interact with the witness
in any way? If so, how?
Did any sounds, visual effects, odors, or changes in
temperature seem to be associated with the encounter?
When and how did the witness first realize that the
encounter involved something unusual?
What did the witness do during the time that the
monster/ghost was visible?
Did anything else unusual happen immediately before, during,
or immediately after the encounter?
Where other people present, and did they seem to perceive
anything?
If there were other witnesses, what did they do immediately
before, during, and immediately after the time when the
monster/ghost was present?
Were any animals present during the encounter, and if so,
how did they react?
How did the encounter come to an end?
Did the monster/ghost leave any physical traces behind?
Before this encounter, had the witness ever experienced,
heard, or read about an entity anything like this?
Does the witness know about any other unusual events in the
area that occurred before the encounter? When did he or she
learn about them?
Has the witness ever experienced any other unusual or
unexplained phenonomena?
Does the witness consider himself or herself psychic?
Does the witness know of anyone performing magical rituals,
holding séances, using an Ouija Board, or engaging in any
other sort of occult practice in the area?
Did the witness do any of these things (items above) before
the encounter?
Finally, what does the witness think he or she saw?
|
