Hi pinky pie, if your looking for more scientific proof with methods such as pen and paper and candles without the need for electronic equipment, then with candles its a tricky one. there has to be no draught coming through and all exits sealed, and stood far away o you know its no anyones breath. If its pen and paper, perhaps you could draw around a trigger object and leave it in sealed room to see if it moves or not. or maybe leave the pen in a planchette on paper untouched to see if it moved. for more tips onn ghost hunting, try prestige paranormal
http://www.prestigeparanormalevents.co.uk as they have useful tips on the subject.
You would not need a protection prayer as such, only if you are doing a hand held sceance or the ouija. Some people dont use it at all, but its there for peace of mind and doing a protection bubble stops spirit getting too close thats passed away from something traumatic that would affect you ie if someone was stabbed in the stomach, then it would stop the conditions of thier passing being affected on you when they are close by. I would say if your going on a ghost hunt, and using these items, to have a camera filming it whilst you are not there, or to use electronic equipment ie emf meters laser thermometers etc. As a sceptic myself, what cant speak, cant lie so its always handy to have items that can detect paranormal activity and have it documented in some way