How to properly investigate poltergeist activity - a step-by-step guide

Following a few questions on the forum about poltergeist investigations, thought I'd share a methodology that's worked well for me over about 15 years of investigations. This is based on actual cases, not just theory, so hopefully it's useful.

Step 1: Initial interview and documentation Before you even visit the location, speak to the person reporting the activity in detail. Get dates, times, witnesses, any pattern to the activity. Is it always the same time of day? Does it happen more frequently on certain days? Poltergeists (real or psychological) often follow patterns. Document everything even if it seems irrelevant.

Step 2: Rule out the mundane This is crucial. Check for: structural movement, air pressure changes, animals in the walls, gas leaks, electromagnetic interference from appliances. I once investigated a 'poltergeist' that was caused by an old microwave creating standing electromagnetic waves. The client was embarrassed but relieved.

Step 3: Environmental monitoring Set up EMF detectors, thermometers, and pressure monitors throughout the property. Position them where activity has been reported. Record baseline readings when nothing's happening so you know what's normal for that location.

Step 4: Audio and video monitoring Set up sensitive microphones and cameras to capture evidence without observer influence. Position at least two cameras if possible so you can cross-reference. DVR with at least 48-hour recording capacity is ideal.

Step 5: The observation period This is where patience matters. Most poltergeist activity happens randomly or when specific people are present. Sit quietly, observe, take notes. Don't try to provoke activity - that's theatre, not investigation. If activity occurs, note the exact time, environmental readings, any witnesses who were present.

Step 6: Analysis After 2-3 investigation sessions, review all your footage and data. Look for correlations. Did temperature changes precede objects moving? Did EMF spikes coincide with sounds? Did the activity only occur in specific rooms?

Important bit: In my experience, about 70% of poltergeist cases turn out to have mundane explanations. That's not a failure - it's exactly what should happen. Investigating properly isn't about proving ghosts exist, it's about understanding what's actually going on.

Happy to answer specific questions about methodology.

This is solid guidance. The 'rule out the mundane' step is the one most amateurs skip because it's boring, but it's the most important. I've been investigating for about 8 years and I'd honestly say 65-70% of my cases also turned out to be explainable. But that remaining 30% where nothing fits? That's where the actual interesting work happens.

One thing I'd add: document your witnesses carefully. Sometimes poltergeist activity correlates very specifically with one person's presence, which opens up whole different investigative angles.

The microwave example is brilliant because it shows exactly why proper investigation matters. The client in that case probably would've believed their house was haunted forever if you'd just said 'yeah, definitely a ghost, good luck with that'.

Don't try to provoke activity - that's theatre, not investigation

Question: when you say poltergeists sometimes correlate with specific people being present - what's the mechanism there? Are we talking psychological phenomena, or something else? I've heard theories about adolescent telekinesis but that seems... unlikely.

Brilliant breakdown. I'm saving this. I've got a potential case in rural Somerset that might benefit from this exact methodology. The clients are convinced it's poltergeist activity but I want to investigate properly before deciding anything. Your step-by-step approach is exactly what I needed.