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- THE HYNEK RATING SYSTEM
- -----------------------
- At the bottom of each UFO Sighting Report in the CUFON database you will see
- a rating in the form S#/P#. This represents ParaNet's initial Hynek Rating of
- the value of the case. It is not to be confused with the Classification, whic
- h is simply a representation of the type of case being dealt with. ParaNet ha
- s devised what we call "the Hynek Scale" or "the Hynek Rating System"
- in hopes of creating a standard by which to judge UFO reports. The system is
- explained below.
-
- S: Strangeness
- The "Strangeness" factor of a case description shall be rated
- from 1 to 5 as follows: .
-
- 1 - Explained or Explainable
- 2 - Probably Explainable, with more data
- 3 - Possibly Explainable, but with elements of strangeness
- 4 - Strange; Does not conform with known principles
- 5 - Highly Strange; Definitely indicative of intelligent guidance
- .
- Examples:
- S1 - Aircraft, meteor, etc.
- S2 - Experimental aircraft; planet or star
- S3 - Slow, low flying objects in formation
- S4 - BOL (Ball of Light Phenomena); physical traces
- S5 - Close Encounters, Abductions, etc.
-
- P: Probability The "Probability" factor of a case relates to the credibility,
- number and separation of witnesses and/or the soundness of evidence
- gathered. It shall be rated from 1 to 5 as follows: .
-
- 1 - Not Credible or Sound
- 2 - Unreliable; Smacks of Hoax
- 3 - Somewhat credible or indeterminate
- 4 - Credible; Sound
- 5 - Highly Credible, leaving almost no doubt
-
- Examples:
- P1 - Known Hoaxer or UFO "Flake"; Hoax Photo
- P2 - Repeat Witness; Conflicting Testimony
- P3 - Standard, first-time witness; slight radiation reading
- P4 - Multiple witnesses; pilot; clear photo
- P5 - National Figure; Multiple independent witnesses; videotape
-
- The composite Hynek Rating of a case shall consist of the combined S & P
- factors, stated as Sn/Pn, e.g. S3/P5; except that cases with an S factor of
- 1 shall simply be stated as S1.
-
-
- Examples using recent or famous cases:
-
- S1 - Wickenburg, AZ, July 10 (explanation:Mars)
- S5/P1 - Billy Meier
- S2/P5 - X-shaped UFO, Petaluma, CA May 28
- S4/P5 - Brazilian "Ping Pong Balls"
- S5/P4 - Betty & Barney Hill
- S4/P4 - Lubbock Lights
- S5/P5 - MedEvac Helicopter ("Coyne" Case)
- S3/P2 - Delphos
- S4/P2 - Anything published in SAUCER SMEAR
-
- I believe this rating system will be a useful tool to investigators who wish
- to narrow their focus to the most promising cases. It is not my intention
- that any one group "stake a claim" to this system; rather, I'd like to see
- several groups or investigators rate cases according to their own view,
- merely using this system as a standard. . The rating of a particular case
- may, indeed perhaps should, change from time to time as new evidence is
- gathered.
-
- Your comments are welcome.
-
- Jim Speiser