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Field Independence, Transcendental Meditation, and Achievement in College Art: A Reexamination

Lee Fergusson

Perceptual and Motor Skills December 1, 1993 DOI: 10.2466/pms.1993.77.3f.1104 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Observational study Peer reviewed
Sample size 106
Population Undergraduate art students from four universities
Intervention Transcendental Meditation
Measures Group Embedded Figures Test
Topics Meditation
Key findings Group Embedded Figures Test scores correlated positively with grade point average (.32), artistic ability (.27), and self-perceived artistic competence relative to peers (.21). The 12 students who practiced Transcendental Meditation tended to score higher on field independence (mean 13.7) than nonmeditating students (means 10.4, 10.5, and 12.8), and the authors suggest experiments may be useful.

Abstract

This study confirmed that scores on the Group Embedded Figures Test of 106 undergraduate art students from four universities were positively correlated .32 with grade point average, .27 with artistic ability, and .21 with how students perceived their own artistic competence in relation to peers. The 12 art students who practiced Transcendental Meditation tended to score higher on the test of field independence ( Ms = 13.7 vs 10.4, 10.5, and 12.8) than the nonmeditating students ( ns = 22, 38, and 34). Data suggest experiments may be useful.