CPI Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CPI facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which quality assurance method is most commonly applied in evp classification & analysis to verify that CPI professional standards are being met? → Structured audits, peer reviews, and performance metrics aligned with industry benchmarks
2. What does a thermal imaging camera detect to produce its images? → Infrared radiation emitted by objects
3. What does the term 'debunking' mean in the context of paranormal investigation methodology? → Systematically ruling out natural explanations for reported phenomena
4. An investigator wants to establish a vibration baseline to distinguish structural settling from anomalous events. Which device is best suited for this? → Accelerometer or geophone data logger
5. Which famous magician and escape artist dedicated significant effort to debunking fraudulent Spiritualist mediums in the early 20th century? → Harry Houdini
6. Which theory proposes that places associated with paranormal activity may sit on intersecting ley lines that create unusual energetic conditions? → Ley Line Theory
7. Which camera palette setting is most commonly used in paranormal investigations because it offers the highest contrast for spotting temperature anomalies? → Iron (Ironbow)
8. When reviewing photographic evidence, what is the most common explanation for circular translucent shapes (orbs) captured in photos? → Dust particles, moisture droplets, or insects caught in the camera's flash or light source
9. What is the primary reason investigators should use multiple overlapping audio recorders in the same area? → To corroborate EVP findings and rule out recorder-specific artifacts
10. Why do investigators sometimes use a Mel Meter in preference to a standard K-II during an investigation? → The Mel Meter simultaneously displays EMF and ambient temperature on a single unit
11. A Class B EVP requires what additional step before it can be evaluated by a review panel? → Amplification or noise reduction to be intelligible to multiple listeners
12. What does 'duty of care' require from a paranormal investigation team leader? → Taking reasonable steps to protect team members from foreseeable harm
13. Which philosopher is most associated with early systematic documentation of apparition cases in the 19th century through the Society for Psychical Research? → Frederic Myers
14. A paranormal investigator notices a bright white human-shaped thermal outline on a wall. The most likely mundane explanation is: → Residual body heat from a person who recently leaned against the wall
15. The 'Stone Tape Theory' proposes that paranormal phenomena are caused by: → Emotional events being recorded into building materials and replayed
16. Why is it important to stay calm during an investigation? → To keep control and professionalism
17. Which of the following is considered a Class A EVP? → A clear, distinct voice easily heard and understood without enhancement
18. What is the core idea behind residual hauntings? → An event repeats like a recording
19. What is the advantage of using night vision cameras during investigations? → They offer visual data in darkness
20. Which audio editing practice is considered unethical and inadmissible under standard paranormal investigation evidence protocols? → Adding reverb or echo effects to enhance perceived voice quality
21. What is a common skeptical explanation for paranormal experiences? → Misinterpretation of normal stimuli
22. When conducting a baseline EMF sweep of a location, what is the primary purpose? → To establish normal electromagnetic readings before the investigation begins
23. A 'control recording' made outside the active investigation area is used primarily to: → Establish a baseline of environmental sounds to distinguish from anomalous audio
24. Which software feature is most valuable when reviewing multi-channel environmental data logs after an investigation? → Overlaid time-synchronized graphs that display multiple sensor channels simultaneously
25. When investigating an abandoned building, what is the FIRST safety check a team should perform before entering? → Assess structural integrity of floors, ceilings, and staircases
26. What is pareidolia, and how does it affect evidence analysis? → A visual illusion causing misinterpretation
27. In paranormal investigation, a 'cold spot' captured on thermal imaging is most accurately described as: → An area of lower thermal radiation compared to the surroundings
28. What EMF reading range is commonly cited in paranormal research as potentially significant for haunt phenomena? → 2-7 milligauss
29. Which phenomenon causes digital video to show brief rectangular blocks or frozen frames, and could be misinterpreted as a paranormal event? → Codec compression artifacts (macroblocking)
30. What is the primary reason investigators should allow thermal cameras to acclimate before use? → To allow the internal sensor to stabilize to ambient temperature