HBM Group's Code of Ethics

Haunted By Memories Research Team recognizes that any code or policy statement, no matter how detailed, would be unlikely to cover all eventualities. Consequently, the principles of good sense, trust, partnership, and integrity must prevail. The code, presented below, is therefore formulated in general terms. Indeed, it may be observed that the specifics of the code are obvious and consistent with established and expected practice in a research environment.
Haunted By Memories Research Team pledges, by the adoption of this code, to engage in the responsible practice of research, by adhering to and being accountable for the following principles and practices.

The Code of Ethics of Haunted By Memories Research (\"HBM\") was developed to provide members of the group with some broad ethical statements with which to guide their professional lives and to identify relevant considerations when ethical uncertainties arise. It also provides a means for individuals new to the profession to learn about the ethical principles and standards that should guide the work of paranormal researchers.

Although our members also serves with other paranormal groups, our primary service is to investigate the Exchange Building this achieved through our individual members. Hence this Code is directed to our members and not to outside paranormal groups, although basic tenets contained within the Code are also applicable to these outside groups and should be compatible with their own codes and values.

The persons who practice paranormal research (PR) are a diverse group from many different academic backgrounds and from many different professional experiences. Add to this diversity among PR practitioners the tremendous variation in the practice of PR as defined by different groups, and PR professionals would seem to have little common ground. It is precisely for these reasons that this Code of Ethics is important.

Many of the professions from which PR practitioners come have their own standards or codes for acceptable and even expected performance. This Code adds to those existing documents in recognition of the special and different demands inherent in the practice of paranormal research. In many institutions the paranormal researcher is viewed as the “guardian of truth” or the “conscience” of the group. This is an extra burden for paranormal researchers, and this Code provides some guidance to practitioners who bear that burden. Along with the other professional standards, this Code defines a normative expectation for paranormal researchers in their work. At the same time, the Code provides the foundation for paranormal research as a profession.

The application of this Code requires good judgment and common sense, and its use in any given case may depend upon the presence or absence of shared values, paranormal politics, the individuals involved, and the level of the potential threat posed by a specific ethical lapse. There is no licensure process within paranormal research, there is no court to determine guilt, and there are few absolutes. Thus the shades of gray highlighted in this Code need to be reviewed and applied carefully lest they be seen either as powerless or as all-powerful, neither of which is appropriate.

Although it provides standards, the Code does not provide a set of rules. HBM uses a separate Standard Operating Procedure (\"SOP\") for it\'s set of rules. Reasonable differences of opinion can and do exist with respect to interpretation, and specific application must take into account the context of a given behavior. A code of ethics cannot guarantee ethical behavior or resolve all disputes. Rather it merely sets forth standards to which professionals aspire and against which their actions can be judged (both by themselves and others). Ethical behavior should result from a personal commitment to engage in ethical practice and an attempt to act always in a manner that :censor:ures integrity. All members of HBM should pledge to maintain their own competence by continually evaluating their research for scientific accuracy, by conducting themselves in accord with the ethical standards expressed in this Code, and by remembering that their ultimate goal is to contribute positively to the field of paranormal research and education.

Finally, this Code is a living document that must change and be shaped as the practice of paranormal research continues to evolve and develop.

SECTION I - COMPETENCE

I (a) Claims of Competence. The paranormal researcher shall not, in job application, resume, or the ordinary conduct of affairs, claim or imply a degree of competency he/she does not possess.

I (b) Acceptance of Research Assignments. The paranormal researcher shall not accept research assignments requiring competencies he/she does not have and for which he/she cannot effectively rely upon the assistance of colleagues, unless the supervisor has been adequately apprised or unless he/she would acquire the necessary competence prior to doing the research. Paranormal researchers should use methodologies or techniques that are new to them only after appropriate study, training, consultation, and supervision from people who are competent in those methodologies or techniques.

I (c) Training of Subordinates. The paranormal researcher shall provide subordinates with opportunities for professional growth and development.

I (d) Professional Continuing Education. The paranormal researcher has the responsibility to develop his/her own professional skills, knowledge, and performance and to keep abreast of changes in the field.

SECTION II - PRACTICE

II (a) Objectivity.

i) Unbiased Attitude. The paranormal researcher shall approach all research assignments with an unbiased attitude and strive to gather evidence fairly and accurately.

ii) Conflicts of Interest. The paranormal researcher should be particularly sensitive to avoid personal conflicts of interest when performing services.

II (b) Use of Accepted Technical Standards. The paranormal researcher shall conduct all tasks in accordance with accepted technical standards. Reference the SOP.

II (c) Initial Discussions. Before an research assignment is begun, the paranormal researcher shall clarify with the client and/or property owner(s) the purposes, expectations, strategies, and limitations of the research.

i) Special care shall be taken to recommend research techniques and designs that are appropriate to the purposes of the project.

ii) Special care shall be taken to advise the client and/or property owner(s), both at the design phase and, should the occasion arise, at any time during the execution of the project, if there is reason to believe that the strategy under consideration is likely to fail or to yield substantially unreliable results.

II (d) Identification of Responsibility. The paranormal researcher shall accept responsibility for the competent execution of all research :censor:ignments which he/she, or a subordinate, undertakes, and shall display individual and/or group authorship, as appropriate, on all such reports.

II (e) Quality of Secondary Data. The paranormal researcher shall exercise reasonable care to ensure the accuracy of data gathered by other individuals, groups, offices, or agencies on which he/she relies, and shall document the sources and quality of such data.

II (f) Reports. The paranormal researcher shall ensure that all reports of projects are complete; are clearly written in language understandable to decision-makers; fully distinguish among assumptions, speculations, findings, and judgments; employ appropriate statistics and graphics; adequately describe the limitations of the project, of the analytical method, and of the findings; and follow scholarly norms in the attribution of ideas, methods, and expression and in the sources of data.

II (g) Documentation. The paranormal researcher shall document the sources of information and the process of analysis in each task in sufficient detail to enable a technically qualified colleague to understand what was done and to verify that the work meets all appropriate standards and expectations.

SECTION III - CONFIDENTIALITY

III (a) Atmosphere of Confidentiality. The paranormal researcher shall establish clear guidelines about confidentiality issues within the paranormal research group.

III (b) Storage and Security. The paranormal researcher shall organize, store, maintain, analyze, transfer and/or dispose of data under his/her control in such a manner as to reasonably prevent loss, unauthorized access, or divulgence of confidential information.

III (c) Release of Confidential Information. The paranormal researcher shall permit no release of information about individual persons that has been guaranteed as confidential, to any person inside or outside the group except in those circumstances in which not to do so would result in clear danger to the subject of the confidential material or to others; or unless directed by competent authority in conformity with a decree of a court of law.

III (d) Special Standards for Data Collection.

i) Balancing Privacy Risks Against Benefits. The paranormal researcher shall, at the design stage of any project, thoroughly explore the degree of invasion of privacy and the risks of breach of confidentiality that are involved in the project, weigh them against potential benefits, and make there from a recommendation as to whether the project should be executed, and under what conditions.

ii) Developing Specific Guidelines. Where appropriate, the paranormal researcher shall adopt a written description of any specific steps beyond the regular guidelines within the paranormal research office that are necessary during a specific :censor:ignment to ensure the protection of aspects of privacy and confidentiality that may be at specific risk.

iii) Disclosure of Rights. The paranormal researcher shall ensure that all subjects are informed of their right of refusal and of the degree of confidentiality with which the material that they provide will be handled, including where appropriate, the implications of any freedom of information statute. Any limits to confidentiality should be made clear.

iv) Appraisal of Implications. The paranormal researcher shall apprise group authorities of the implications and potentially binding obligations of any promise to respondents regarding confidentiality and shall obtain consent from such authorities where necessary.

SECTION IV - RELATIONSHIPS TO THE COMMUNITY

IV (a) Equal Treatment. The paranormal researcher shall treat each member of their group with equal access and opportunity regarding membership, services, and other activities of his/her group, without regard to race, creed, gender, national origin, disability or other accidental quality; and in analysis, demeanor, and expression shall be alert to the sensitivities of groups and individuals.

IV (b) Development of Personal Codes of Ethics. The paranormal researcher should develop and promulgate a code of ethics specific to the mission and tasks of the paranormal research group and should strive to cooperate with fellow outside groups in the institution in developing an profession-wide code of ethics governing activities in common. The paranormal researcher should take reasonable steps to ensure that his/her members are aware of ethical obligations as set forth in the HBM Code of Ethics and of the implications of those obligations for research practice.

IV (c) Custody and Archiving. The paranormal researcher shall apply all reasonable means to prevent irrevocable loss of data and documentation during its immediately useful life; and, being aware of the role of data as paranormal historic resource, shall act as an advocate for its documentation and systematic permanent archiving.

IV (d) Assessment of Paranormal Research. The paranormal researcher shall develop and implement regular assessment tools for the evaluation of paranormal research services. Reference the SOP.

IV (e) Paranormal Confidentiality. The paranormal researcher shall maintain in strict confidence and security all information in his/her possession about the group or any of its constituent parts which by paranormal policy is considered to be confidential, and shall pursue from Section III of this Code all processes for that purpose as are appropriate.

IV (f) Integrity of Reports. The paranormal researcher shall make efforts to anticipate and prevent misunderstandings and misuse of reports within the group by careful presentation and documentation in original reports, and by diligent follow-up contact with users of those reports. If an paranormal research report has been altered, intentionally or inadvertently, to the degree that its meaning has been substantially distorted, the paranormal researcher shall make reasonable attempts to correct such distortions and/or to insist that paranormal research authorship be removed from the product.

IV (g) External Reporting. The paranormal researcher has an obligation to the broader community to submit and/or report accurate data and professionally responsible interpretive material when requested by legitimate authority, including client, property owner(s), federal, state, and other governmental agencies and accrediting bodies. With respect to private inquiries, such as those from guidebook editors, journalists, or private individuals, the paranormal researcher, should he/she respond, is bound by the same standards of accuracy, confidentiality, and professionally responsible interpretation.

SECTION V - RELATIONSHIPS TO THE CRAFT

V (a) Research Responsibilities.

i) The paranormal researcher shall seek opportunities to contribute to and participate in research on issues directly related to the craft and in other professional activities, and shall encourage and support other colleagues in such endeavors.

ii) Acknowledging Credit. Paranormal researchers should take responsibility and credit, including authorship credit, only for work they have actually performed and to which they have contributed. They should honestly acknowledge the work of and the contributions made by others.

V (b) Integrity of the Profession. The paranormal researcher should work toward the maintenance and promotion of high standards of practice.

i) Paranormal researchers should uphold and advance the values, ethics, knowledge, and mission of the profession. They should protect, enhance, and improve the integrity of the profession through appropriate study and research, active discussion, and responsible criticism of the profession.

ii) Paranormal researchers should contribute to the knowledge base and share with colleagues their knowledge related to practice, research, and ethics. They should seek to contribute to the profession’s literature and to share their knowledge at professional meetings and conferences.

V (c) False Accusations. Paranormal researchers shall take care not to falsely demean the reputation or unjustly or unfairly criticize the work of other paranormal researchers.

V (d) Incompetence of Colleagues. Paranormal researchers who have direct knowledge of a colleague’s incompetence should consult with that colleague when feasible and :censor:ist the colleague in taking remedial action.

V (e) Unethical Conduct of Colleagues.

i) The paranormal researcher shall take appropriate measures to discourage, prevent, identify, and correct unethical conduct of colleagues when their behavior is unwittingly or deliberately in violation of this code or of good general practice in paranormal research.

ii) Paranormal researchers who believe that a colleague has acted unethically should seek resolution by discussing their concerns with the colleague when feasible and when such a discussion is likely to be productive.

Adopted by HBM 07/06/06
Adopted on 02/13/05
Revision on 06/02/06