Scientifical Americans: The Culture of Amateur Paranormal Researchers

Front Cover
McFarland, Nov 28, 2017 - Science - 254 pages

In the 21st century, reality television and the Internet have fed public interest in ghosts, UFOs, cryptozoology and other unusual phenomena. By 2010, roughly 2000 amateur research and investigation groups formed in the U.S.--ghost hunters, Bigfoot chasers and UFO researchers, using an array of (supposedly) scientific equipment and methods to prove the existence of the paranormal.

American culture's honorific regard for science, coupled with the public's unfamiliarity with scientific methods, created a niche for self-styled paranormal experts to achieve national renown without scientific training or credentials. The author provides a comprehensive examination of the ideas, missions and methods promoted by these passionate amateurs.

 

Contents

Preface
1
Popular Paranormality vs Skepticism
5
1 Amateur Research and Investigation Groups ARIGs
13
2 The Paranormal in Popular Culture
27
3 Ghost Hunters and Paranormal Investigators
45
Bigfoot and Other Cryptids
56
5 UFO Spotters
69
6 Twentyfirst Century ARIGs
81
9 ARIG Portrayal of Science to the Public
132
10 Methods and Evidence
156
11 Inquiry and Investigation
180
12 Pseudoscience
187
Beyond the Veil
201
Ghost Hunting Guidebooks
221
Chapter Notes
231
References
235

7 Science and the Public
100
8 Science and the Paranormal
119

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About the author (2017)

Sharon A. Hill is a geologist, writer and researcher of topics related to science, society, and the paranormal. She lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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