Everyone has access to the gear that ghost hunters use, and you can pick up a lot of ideas on how to investigate by just watching TV shows. So, yes you can investigate your own haunting. But is it a good idea?
For openers, you are biased. You can’t help it. You are either biased toward your theory of what is happening or away from what you dread. It is hard for you to be impartial because you have a stake in what is going on and your emotions are invested. For these reasons, even though SPI investigators are highly experienced and capable, they have not investigated their own hauntings.
SPI staffs vigils with multiple investigators to not only do more in less time but to cross-check each other and counter biases. The collection of SPI member owned equipment is more extensive in terms of types and numbers than what individuals can usually afford. SPI has also developed proprietary custom software and hardware.
Many of the techniques you see used on many TV shows are bad, flawed, or even full of risk. Most TV shows do things for entertainment value, shock, and bravado. Their approach does not yield data that is helpful in analyzing a situation and diagnosing what is happening. SPI’s approach is proven to be productive in capturing a sufficient quantity and quality of data that supports analysis.
SPI investigators acquire knowledge through participation in numerous cases of different types and by following protocols that the group has developed and refined through years of collective experience, testing, and refinement. These protocols go beyond what is needed to investigate. Protocol coverage includes analysis, correlation of data, hypothesis testing, diagnosis, development of a recommended response, and prognosis.
Many TV shows do not follow a sound process to reach conclusions. They simply jump to the nearest conclusion, usually a wild and fantastic one with a strong awe factor. A small number of shows do have a good process, but they don’t show it for lack of time or because it looks dull and boring.
All of this suggests that the knowledge that you may have acquired from watching TV shows is likely deficient and unsuitable. Worse, you may not know what you don’t know.
So no, we do not recommend that you investigate your own situation.
