ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE & THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

Editor’s Note: Dr. Matthew A. Johnson is one of the most credible people in the Bigfoot world. In July 1, 2000, Dr. Johnson had a "Class A" Bigfoot encounter with his family while hiking near the Oregon Caves. After his life changing sighting, he went to the public and described one of the most intense encounters ever. You can join him on Facebook at Team Squatchin USA.

While in the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program at George Fox University, I had a “Statistics and Research” professor, Dr McBride, who made the following statement in class: “Good research proves to be true that which everyone already knew to be true. In other words, good research springs forth from anecdotal evidence. Never dismiss anecdotal evidence as being irrelevant data. If you do, you remove the very foundation of the Scientific Method – Human observation and the curiosity to learn more about what has been observed.” Very wise words for all scientists to ponder.

EXAMPLE 1:

In 1928, Dr Alexander Fleming noticed a Petri dish containing Staphylococcus plate culture he mistakenly left open, was contaminated by blue-green mould, which formed a visible growth. There was a halo of inhibited bacterial growth around the mould. Fleming concluded the mould released a substance that repressed the growth and lysing the bacteria. He grew a pure culture and discovered it was a Penicillium mould, now known to be Penicillium notatum. This accident and subsequent observation led to research and the eventual development of medication that has saved countless lives ever since.

EXAMPLE 2:

While a prisoner of war, Dr John Cade, observed that other very moody prisoners who were forced to work in Japanese salt mines ended up experiencing stabilized moods. He took his observations with him back to Australia after WWII and proceeded with research that led to the discovery of Lithium and the treatment of Bipolar Disorders in 1948.

EXAMPLE 3:

For thousands of years, the onion has been used by many cultures from all around the world to combat illnesses. Some cultures boil onions and have sick people drink the broth. In 1919, a physician was making his rounds trying to help farmers in his community who were battling an outbreak of the flu. He noticed that one family he was visiting who were all healthy. The farmer’s wife shared that she had placed sliced onions in all of the rooms in their home. This information was shared with other families in their community and many people became healthy again. This led to research which concluded that the sulfuric acid in onions is what helps to fight the various airborne pathogens. The World Health Organization has recognized the Onion as helping to reduce the flu and other lung related illnesses.

I could go on and on and on about how anecdotal evidence has been used as a springboard by the scientific method to achieve great scientific breakthroughs. Once again, in the words of my wise Statistic and Research professor, Dr McBride, “Good research proves to be true that which everyone already knew to be true.” Please keep in mind that the three examples above provided science the opportunity to study non-intelligent, available, and cooperative test subjects (i.e., Mould, Salt, and Onions).

HOW CAN THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD BE SUCCESSFULLY USED TO STUDY AN INTELLIGENT, ELUSIVE, UNCOOPERATIVE SENTIENT BEING/TEST SUBJECT?

Well, first we begin with anecdotal information – the springboard that leads to research. For thousands of years, people all over the world have reported sightings and interactions with Bigfoot-like creatures (i.e., Sasquatch, Yeren, Yowie, Yeti, etc.). Visual descriptions have been recorded, tracks have been casted, hair samples have been obtained, prints have been lifted off of car windows, sounds and vocalizations have been recorded, etc. There is a plethora of anecdotal evidence and witness testimony out there. Yet, to this very day, the utilization of the Scientific Method has failed to prove the existence of the Bigfoot species. Why?

Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that Bigfoot-like beings are intelligent, elusive, and uncooperative. The Bigfoot-like beings all over the world are not like Mould, Salt, or Onions. They appear to be sentient beings with a culture and agenda of their own. Also, the difficulty with obtaining a successful scientific outcome may also lie in the exclusion of other significant anecdotal data by some members in Bigfootdom. Significant anecdotal observations experienced by many witnesses, researchers, and habituators such as Cloaking, Mind Speak, Zapping, Orbs, etc. In other words, it’s not just an issue of trying to successfully apply the Scientific Method to an intelligent, elusive, and uncooperative sentient being, it’s also an issue of how can you begin to understand something if you’re not willing to admit or accept everything about who they are?

I would argue, for now, we cannot successfully utilize the Scientific Method with an intelligent, elusive, uncooperative, sentient being. Instead, we need to meet with them on their terms. We need to get to know them slowly, patiently, and respectfully in their own timing and way. Through closer and repeated contacts, we will have the opportunity to glean the information/data necessary to better understand who they really are. Once will achieve this level of interaction, then the need and/or desire to pull out the microscopes, test tubes, syringes, etc. will probably vanish.

Meaning, how many of you try to utilize the Scientific Method to verify the existence of your family members, friends, and next door neighbors? It’s obvious that your family, friends, and neighbors exist. You don’t have to prove that they exist. You would offend them if you tried to do so (i.e., Collect hair samples, blood samples, etc.). They wouldn’t cooperate with you if you tried to prove that they existed through the Scientific Method. They would probably say, “Hello! Open up your eyes and ears! Don’t you see me and hear me? You already know I exist! Quit treating me like this! Let’s just sit down and visit over a meal.”

In the end, I’m kind of thinking it’s the same way for other intelligent sentient beings such as the Bigfoot/Forest People. They don’t want to be lab rats. They don’t want to be a Scientific Experiment. They don’t want to be proven. Instead, I think they just want to be respected and left alone. There are some of them who are interested in Humans and don’t mind fostering eventual friendships with us. However, it’s always on their terms and in their own time. The Scientific Method will never prove the existence of the Bigfoot/Forest People. However, we most certainly can learn how to exist with the Bigfoot/Forest People. The Scientific Method will never successfully work with an intelligent, elusive, and uncooperative sentient being. Only trust and friendship, forged over time, will be fruitful in the end.

In conclusion, I ask you to seriously contemplate the following question: “Do you want to keep chasing around an intelligent, elusive, and uncooperative sentient being through the woods who will never give you the conclusive scientific data that you’re looking for, or would you rather simply sit down and get to know them when they’re good and ready to get to know you?” For me, I would rather EXIST with Bigfoot than prove that Bigfoot EXISTS. You will never have it both ways. Please choose wisely.
Big Hairy Hugs!

Dr Matthew A Johnson
(Owner of the “Team Squatchin USA” Facebook Group)