Scientifical Americans : the culture of amateur paranormal researchers /
Sharon A. Hill.
- Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland and Company, Incorporated, Publishers, (c)2017.
- 1 online resource.
Includes bibliographies and index.
Popular paranormality vs. skepticism -- The amateur research and investigation group (ARIG) -- Paranormal in popular culture -- Ghost hunters and paranormal investigators -- Seeking monsters: Bigfoot and other Cryptids -- UFO spotters -- 21st-century ARIG -- Science and the public -- Science and the paranormal -- ARIG portrayal of science to the public -- Methods and evidence -- Inquiry and investigation -- Pseudoscience -- Beyond the veil -- Ghost hunting guidebooks.
"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"--