Methodological Issues in Meditation Research
July 12, 2017 DOI: 10.4324/9780203785881-10 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key points | Argues that meditation research needs a clear theoretical rationale linking the meditation practice to the chosen outcome measures and accurate reporting of procedures. Proposes that when meditation is conceptualized as an altered state of consciousness, different methods—such as having the subject also act as experimenter—may be needed, though this raises concerns about experimenter bias and reactive effects. |
Abstract
Meditation, if it is to be considered an empirically effective clinical strategy, needs to be subjected to the same scientific scrutiny as any other psychotherapeutic strategy. One of the primary weaknesses in meditation studies thus far has been the lack of a clear theoretical rationale linking the independent variable and the selection of the dependent variable. Careful consideration should be given to the nature of the independent variable. It is crucial that experimenters report accurately all procedures used. When meditation is conceptualized as an altered state of consciousness, a different research methodology may be necessary. As C. Tart has pointed out, there is a need for detailed mapping of internal states of consciousness. However, since these internal states are subjective phenomena, it may be quite helpful if the subject is also the experimenter. This raises several methodological problems, including experimenter bias and reactive effects of observation.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness: A proposed operational definition. | 2004 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mechanisms of mindfulness | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective | 2011 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness | 2012 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |