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Mayer, G. (2013). A sample phenomenology of the ghost hunting scene in the USA and in Germany. In O. Jenzen & S. R. Munt (Eds.), The Ashgate research companion to paranormal cultures (pp. 363–376). Ashgate.

Over the past few years, Ghost Hunting Groups (GHGs) were founded, particularly in the United States, which have committed themselves to the investigation of haunted sites. This article will focus on the analysis of this movement and its remarkable development, which results from three major factors: (1) the presence of ghost-hunting-related themes in the media, such as on television and in movies, (2) the popularization of the internet and the possibilities that emerge in the area of information access, general exchange and networking, as well as (3) easy availability and manageability of high-tech equipment along with the simplification of data processing due to data digitalization. First, this article will dimensionalize the field of GHGs according to various criteria. Subsequently, an attempt is made to reconstruct the emergence of the movement. Next, the most important methodological approaches (equipment, procedures) will be outlined. And finally, the main part of the text will focus on the situation in the United States. It is based on self-portrayals of the GHGs on their webpages, the analysis of the Ghost Hunters TV series that plays an important role in the emergence of the movement and is closely linked to the GHG The Atlantic Paranomal Society (TAPS), as well as on the few scientific studies that exist on the movement. In a second step, the paper will look at GHGs in Germany, which adopt the American model on the one hand, but in many cases use a different culture-dependent framing, on the other. The article concludes by highlighting problems this form of non-professional research pose to scientific anomalistics.

Mayer, G., Schellinger, U., & Schetsche, M. (2013). Diesseits des Gespenstermythos - Phänomenologie und Analyse geisterhafter Erscheinungen. Nebulosa - Zeitschrift Für Sichtbarkeit Und Sozialität, 3, 12–26.

Mayer, G., & Garms, M. (2012). Resonance between birth charts of friends: The development of a new astrological research tool on the basis of an investigation into astrological synastry. Journal of Scientific Exploration, 26(4), 825–853. https://www.journalofscientificexploration.org/index.php/jse/article/view/389

Abstract-In traditional astrological frameworks of interpretation, resonances between positions of astrological planets in the birth charts of friends (called "candidates" and their "partners") are assumed to play a decisive role. In the study presented here, this general claim is investigated at diff erent levels of sophistication. For this purpose, fi ve main hypotheses are formulated, all of which are diff erent versions of the general assumption that there are more resonances between birth charts of friends than can be expected randomly. The material on which the study is based is taken from a questionnaire concerning the dates of birth of candidates to whom the questionnaire was distributed, as well as those of their partners. Having gained interesting results with partially supporting evidence, but also with elements that did not support the hypotheses, the experiment was repeated with a second sample. It failed to replicate the results of the fi rst experiment.

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Mayer, G., & Schetsche, M. (2012). Die Beobachtung anomalistischer Phänomene in Lebenswelt und Labor. In W. Ambach (Ed.), Experimentelle Psychophysiologie in Grenzgebieten (pp. 273–292). Ergon.

Mayer, G., & Schmied-Knittel, I. (2012). UFO-Alarm! UFOs, Massenmedien und soziale Stigmatisierung. In H.-W. Peiniger, D. Ammon, T. A. Günter, C. Czech, N. G. Cincinnati, & P. Kauert (Eds.), UFO-Forschung und Wissenchaft. Beiträge zur übergreifenden GEP-Fachtagung 2.-3. Mai 2009, Hösbach bei Aschaffenburg (pp. 25–38).

Mayer, G. (2012). Die Figur des Schamanen: Zur Attraktivität des Schamanismus in modernen Gesellschaften. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen. (pp. 107–132). Logos.

Mayer, G. (2012). Ghost Hunting als Freizeitbeschäftigung: Über die gegenwärtige Welle von Spukuntersuchungen durch Geisterjägergruppen. Grenzgebiete Der Wissenschaft, 61(3), 195–221.

Mayer, G. (2012). Magier des 21. Jahrhunderts: Ein Versuch der Dimensionierung der Persönlichkeit des Magiers. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen. (pp. 133–165). Logos.

Mayer, G. (2012). Über Grenzen schreiben: Presseberichterstattung zu Themen aus dem Bereich der Anomalistik und der Grenzgebiete der Psychologie. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen. (pp. 261–295). Logos.

Mayer, G., & Gründer, R. (2012). Coming Home or Drifting Away: Wege zur Übernahme heterodoxer Glaubensvorstellungen und alternativer religiöser Weltanschauungen. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen. (pp. 198–221). Logos.

Schetsche, M., Gründer, R., Mayer, G., & Schmied-Knittel, I. (2012). Der Maximal Fremde: Überlegungen zu einer transhumanen Handlungstheorie. In M. Schetsche & K. Krebber (Eds.), Grenzpatrouillen: Sozialwissenschaftliche Forschung zu außergewöhnlichen Erfahrungen und Phänomenen. (pp. 27–50). Logos Verlag.

Mayer, G., & Anton, A. (2011, October 30). “Think you have a Poltergeist? Or is it the pipes?” Ghost Hunting Groups in den USA und in Deutschland. Telepolis. http://www.heise.de/tp/artikel/35/35783/1.html

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Mayer, G. (2011). “...aus dem Land, wo Wunder alltäglich sind...” Parapsychologische Forschung in Brasilien. Zeitschrift Für Anomalistik, 11(1+2+3), 197–209. https://www.anomalistik.de/images/pdf/zfa/zfa2011_123_197_mayer.pdf