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 The Importance of Correlating Data, Why it is important to correlate data readings (3 Replies, Read 736 times)
Brettjb
# September 27, 2009, 6:27 am
Group: Captain Awesome
Post Group: Working Member
Posts: 179
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Many of you have had the experience.. Perhaps you felt that drop in temperature, or even saw it on your thermometer?  Another time, you have seen and heard your EMF meter squeal, leaving you breathless. 

They are wonderful experiences, certainly.  But how valuable is the data collected from these readings?

How can you be certain that the temperature drop was not due to a well-placed cold gust of wind?  How can you be certain that the EMF reading was paranormal in nature, not caused by something man-made nearby (see Alison's notes regarding the K2 meter).

How can you more efficiently distinguish a paranormal event from something mundane?

1. Collect Data

Do you collect data?  Do you collect it accurately?  First, if we are exposed to certain events, it means little to recount it verbally at the end of the investigation.  Do you have video of the temperature reading dropping?  Do you have proof of the EMF anomaly you witnessed with your swanky EMF meter?

Whilst we cannot all afford to go and purchase the latest data-logging tools, we CAN record the events.  I recently picked up two gumstick sized digital video recorders purely for the purpose of recording instrument displays.  Each cost me approximately $25 after shipping.

Make the efforts to record the data the best way you can.  It may be a little burdensome, but if you do get results and have the proof, you will be glad you took the time.

2. Correlation of Data

Now you are collecting data, we can get back to the purpose of this post!

I could show you video of the thermometer showing a huge drop in temperature, and you will say "That's great Brett, I'm really happy for you!".  Same goes for EMF readings...

But if I can provide proof of TWO or more separate results at one time, what does this mean?  It means we have substantially more data that leans towards a possible paranormal event.

example

On an investigation, let's say that I get an interesting result on my EMF meter.  At the same time this is recorded, I also collect data proving that it coincided with a dramatic temperature drop which lasts for two minutes... Then later I find I also have an EVP on my audio recorder!

WOW!!!  What do I have here?

Something more valuable than any type of evidence alone.  Something that can be substantiated.  Something with a much lesser chance of mistake...

Summary

As you can see, capturing and correlating data of different types has a very high value.  It takes more effort, and is more difficult to gain.  That could be because natural events do slip in and give us otherwise false results.

I encourage you to make these efforts.  Improvise!  Use a cheap digital recorder and small light to record the different displays at the same time.  Keep the instruments together to collect various sets of data at the same time and location.

Please post your thoughts, and results.  I'd be keen to hear ideas you may have on improvising, recording, and furthering this concept.  It's your chance to not only possibly capture valuable evidence, but be part of the evolution of paranormal investigation.

Push the boundaries!
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The Importance of Correlating Data
Warren
# October 8, 2009, 3:04 am | Post: 1
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Post Group: Working Member
Posts: 158
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Excellent, and I thank you for taking the time to share some experience with some of us 'less experienced'.

I would like to take it one step further if I can? Imagine we've collected and correlated our data the best way we know how, here's some questions :-

What data do we keep and what is discarded? We already have hours and hours of  audio with nothing much of interest stored on the PC, do we keep the whole session or just the interesting sections? And if we film it, then there's a lot more data to think about.

If we can get our heads around the last problem, how do we archive the data and organise it for easy  (and accurate) retrieval? We managed to put a database together, designed to store session details plus any results with corresponding audio positions etc. However the information entered into the database has to point somewhere, so then we need a system for file hierarchy where the information matches what has been logged.

Imagine doing all this hard work only to loose all or some of the precious data due to hardware failure, now we need a method for disaster recovery, and the questions go on.

I think collecting the data may actually be the easier part of researching the paranormal, once it starts to build up it becomes a real task to organise, store and keep track of. Any advice or opinions with regards to this subject are more than welcomed by me, I think it needs to be discussed and thrashed out for anyone interested.

Thank's one more time Brett.

Warren
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The Importance of Correlating Data
spils
# October 8, 2009, 4:48 am | Post: 2
Group: P.F.I. Member
Post Group: Working Newbie
Posts: 74
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Ive been thinking about this a fair bit over the last couple of weeks and found some great software that you can enter your data into!!

-----------------------
PFI Bait
"A Luring Substance"
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The Importance of Correlating Data
Warren
# October 8, 2009, 6:15 am | Post: 3
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Posts: 158
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Quote From : spils October 8, 2009, 4:48 am
Ive been thinking about this a fair bit over the last couple of weeks and found some great software that you can enter your data into!!


That's the ticket Spils. As stated, we managed to create a database that records all the details we want to save. I just checked our files and there's almost 13GB of material in there already and from that would roughly contain a dozen interesting EVP clips plus the same amount of interesting photos.

We haven't done a great deal of work yet and want to ramp things up, but I feel we need to make a decision as to what is kept and what if anything is discarded before we go much further.
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