When did the paranormal investigation start?

Paranormal investigation began with Psychical Research in the mid 19th century. The first formal organization to engage in psychical research was the Society for Psychical Research based in London, England. Early SPR members included some of the brightest minds in England at the time. The early focus was on physical mediumship and seances in view of the prevailing interest in Spiritualism at the time. This was bolstered by the seemingly continuous involvement of the English in various wars all over the world during that century. The SPR also studied anecdotal stories from common people that seemed to suggest the survival of bodily death.

By the early 20th century the scientific discipline of Parapsychology had begun to replace Psychical Research. Parapsychology seeks to study exceptional experiences in controlled laboratory settings.

In the mid to late 20th century, ghost hunting became all the rage. While ghost hunting had taken place in earlier times, this newer form began trying to integrate mediumship with rudamentary field studies. Over time, technology began to replace human experiences in ghost hunting.

This all culminated with television programs that followed the adventures of ghost hunters. And from those sprang a sub-culture of aspiring ghost hunters. The problem is that this new generation of ghost hunters is generally untrained and unaware of the research from Psychical Research and Parapsychology.