To What Extent Is Paranormal Research A Science?

Through the years, people have debated and argued trying to prove whether or not paranormal research is a science. Many people believe that paranormal research is an actual science. But, Lakatos (1973) once said, “A statement may be pseudoscientific even if it is eminently 'plausible' and everybody believes in it.” Even if people believe it to be true, it may still be false. Science is also suppose to help people construct an understand the world. Paranormal research is not a science because researchers misuse science to promote their own beliefs. Michael Ruse (1982) once said, “In order for something to be a science, it has to be progressive toward mankind, make successful predictions, be falsifiable, and have natural laws to guide the

But the evidence that paranormal researchers use today is not valid. For example, the EVP’s as mentioned above could be other environmental factors. Photography is another form of evidence that researchers try to use to prove their theory. Investigators will take pictures of rooms that are “haunted”, and look for orbs. These orbs are thought out to be spirits or ghosts presenting themselves in this manner. Radford says that photographic evidence of “orbs” can not be considered evidence because of factors such as dust, glare, fog,

A prime example of that will be from the tv, ghost hunters. They will hear something that they would consider paranormal and try to relate it to something in the past as evidence. That is wrong. They should investigate where the source of the sound originated from, rather than using irrelevant facts from the past as their “evidence.” Evidence needed to prove that ghosts exist has to be testable, falsifiable theories, free from bias, and follow the laws of science. Paranormal researches tend to make assumptions when researching or closed minded; however, scientists must research with a skeptic mind. Sometimes belief can get in the way of science. Researchers and scientists want to believe in ghost; they will jump to conclusions and believe in any evidence. Scientists must have an open mind to the fact that ghosts may not exist. If that is the case, then they can research without any bias beliefs. So if paranormal research was an accepted theory, then paradigms would change. Albert Einstein’s theory of energy would be proven correct. His theory is that energy can not be created nor destroyed. Investigators think that is a person dies, their energy will be leftover energy and result in the phenomena that people would