05/10/2026
The Paranormal Researchers team have used the Estes method of communication during some investigations. The method is one of the more structured techniques used by paranormal investigators when attempting spirit communication. The method was developed in 2016, at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, by investigators Karl Pfeiffer, Connor Randall, and Michelle Tate. It was named after the town of Estes Park.
The basic idea of this technique is to separate the person asking the questions from the person listening to the spirit box.
One investigator (the receiver) wears noise-cancelling headphones connected to a spirit box, along with a blindfold. Their goal is to completely isolate themselves from what's happening in the room.
Another investigator (the questioner) asks questions of any possible spirit aloud. The most important part is the receiver cannot hear the questions. Instead, they simply repeat whatever words, names or short phrases they believe they're hearing through the spirit box in real time.
This creates an interesting test. If the Questioner asks a specific question and the Receiver, who has no idea what was asked, suddenly produces a relevant word or phrase, the team can document the interaction and review the recording afterward.
The goal isn't to turn every random sound into a potential message. During review investigators typically look for:
• Clear, distinct words or names
• Short, recognizable phrases
• Apparent direct answers
• Responses that seem relevant to the question
• Responses that occur without the Receiver knowing what was asked
One of the main reasons investigators use the method is to try to reduce confirmation bias. In a conventional spirit-box session, the person listening already knows the question being asked. That knowledge can potentially influence how ambiguous sounds are interpreted. However with the Estes Method, the Receiver doesn't have that huge clue as to what the response might be. With not hearing the question they have no context and must rely solely on the audio coming through the headphones. The sensory isolation can also create a very focused listening environment, while the entire session can be recorded and reviewed by the rest of the team afterward.
Of course, the method doesn't automatically prove that a response came from a spirit. Environmental noise, radio interference, expectation, bias, coincidence and human perception all need to be considered.
We are still trialling this controlled experimental method of possible spirit communication, however we have had some responses which could indicate that the isolated investigator receiver is answering a question from investigator questioner however we require more experiments before a conclusion can be reached.
We look forward to using this method at our next investigation.
