We periodically receive "evidence" from other groups and individuals for review. We even look over hundreds more from websites and other locations and the one thing that I have noticed is the amount of groups and people that are quick to label something that does not meet its definition. Others are quick to assume the paranormal when there a multitude of other possibilities. Maybe we need to humble ourselves a bit more and sit back and re-evaluate the data that we collect and reword what it is that we are labeling.

Case in point would be EVP's. The term started being used more largely after the movie "White Noise", but the research behind it was being done for quite some time. Now the term EVP is used so synonymously with any unexplained noises captured, that the very definition of EVP is almost irrelevant anymore. People in this field have gone so far as to define a variety of classes for the types of EVPs that can be captured, forgetting, it seems, that the definition is electronic voices that are generated that resemble speech. I cannot even tell you how many times I have been asked to review an EVP that is far from any speech type sounds, but knockings, banging, creak, and other odd audio anomalies. Are these really considered EVP's or are they simply audio anomalies?

Read more: Are We Accurately Labeling Our Findings?

When it comes to making money, there is no job better than that of the psychic medium. I mean, you really don't even have to be psychic to call yourself one. All you simply have to do is place a disclaimer on your site that states "for entertainment purposes only", which apparently means that even if you are so wrong in your reading that it makes you look the fool, it was all for entertainment anyways, so who really cares, right? The problem is that most people who seek out a psychic are not seeking entertainment, but rather answers to highly emotional conflicts that they are currently facing in their lives. Many want to speak or hear from a loved one who has died, others are seeking answers to missing persons, while some will want help with decisions they face for multitudes of reasons. Where does entertainment play any factor in what psychics are doing in their readings? 

I have personally had the displeasure of watching so-called psychics get featured on television, giving them instant stardom and credibility, knowing full well that the editing process eliminated the majority of their wrong connections, making them seem 100% correct in their readings on the show. After the episodes aired, I would read comments from other people stating how great these people did, and how accurate they were, as I idly sat by and bit my tongue with disgust. These people were no more psychic than I was, but the editing process made them seem credible, so now they are out taking advantage of other people, the same as most psychics are doing.

Read more: Should Self-Proclaimed Psychics Be Required By Law To Prove Their Abilities?

PSIRO is still seeking official memberships for a branch office that is opening in the northeastern Kansas/Missouri areas that just recently became available. We are looking for individuals that meet our membership requirements and have a desire for research. PSIRO strives to better the paranormal field by offering and encouraging the advancement of scientific paranormal research and study, and we expect our members to share our goals and vision. The KS/MO branch office will be conducting several field research studies, so we will begin training for members as soon as possible.

Membership meetings for the KS/MO area are still tentative and interested candidates should fill out our membership application request form. If you have any questions pertaining to PSIRO and/or membership, please email us using our contact information.

I think that there has been some confusion or not a clear enough understanding of who and what the Paranormal Study and Investigative Research Organization (PSIRO) is about. When I created the organization, it was because after 4+ years of being in the paranormal field, I could not find a group or team that wanted to focus on the research aspect of the paranormal. To many groups, research is gathering historical data. Not to belittle historical data, but that alone does not correlate to any claimed phenomena, it is merely assumed, and the questions about what is being experienced remains unanswered. Many groups are quick to jump to conclusions, whether it be that demons are infesting a home or that Uncle Willy is back and wanting to communicate. I could not see myself following that path any longer as there were just too many things that did not make sense.

I set out to create a new organization, with new goals, and new ideas. The premise of PSIRO was to not only advance the research being done in the community, but to also openly discuss and scrutinize our own methods and practices while in the field and lab by sharing and networking with other like minded groups and individuals. It is basically the first step in a peer review process. We designed and implemented an evidence analysis section, not for the purpose of being the know-all-be-all when it comes to evidence, but rather to offer critical reviews and scrutiny over said data and evidence, as well as to allow the paranormal community to discuss and share their opinions openly about the evidence and data as well, including our analysis methodologies. The evidence analysis section is currently not about determining what is and is not paranormal,  but rather exploring and identifying needs for control, answering and even posing questions, and really just offering an open peer review. One of the few of its kind. 

Read more: What is PSIRO Really About?