Meditation, Mindfulness, and Critical Thinking: Individual Characteristics in Online Higher Education.

Abstract

Limited research has been conducted on the relationship between age, ethnicity and gender and the use of meditation to strengthen critical thinking. The purpose of this research study will be to investigate the relationship of age, gender and ethnicity to the use of meditation to improve critical thinking. As a quantitative study the researchers sought to quantify the strength of relationships across these variables while making predictive judgments about the potential value of mindfulness approaches on learning. Participants in this study were members of a purposive sample of twenty-two ( 22) students attending a Holistic Healing Arts school in the western part of the United States. The dependent variable being considered is the improvement of critical thinking. The independent variables discussed in this study are factors related to age, ethnicity, gender and the use of mindfulness methods. The critical thinking skills were measured by the California Critical Thinking Skills Test-Numeracy (CCTST-N) validated/reliable online instrument. The Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) was used to measure mindfulness.

The Compatibility of Mindfulness and Critical Thinking among EFL Learners

“…The following issues were mentioned by the participants who indicated low mindfulness: a) Walking without attention to their surroundings b) Doing automatic actions without awareness c) Snacking without being aware of what they are eating d) Listening to something and doing something else at the same time Considering such personal behaviors, although the participants' results on the critical thinking test were higher, no significant correlation was revealed. The findings of this study are congruent with the findings of Holl et al (2017), who reported that the relationship between mindfulness and critical thinking is not significant. Brendel (2015) also reported that the relationship between these two variables is insignificant.…”

“…Mindfulness is often described as a contemplative practice that allows one to develop concentration, to deepen understanding and insight, and to cultivate awareness and compassion (Haynes, Irvine, & Bridges, 2013 as cited in Holl, Dooley, Fedock, Ferebee, & Bailey, 2017). Eastern and Western traditions are considered to provide a foundation for the definition of mindfulness.…”

Investigating the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between autonomy supportive environmental and critical thinking in students

“…Also, based on the paths of the structural equation model, mindfulness could be a significant predictor of critical thinking. This finding is also consistent with past findings (Escobalage, 2018;Holland et al, 2017;Noone and Hogan, 2016). Noone (2016) showed that mindfulness can positively and significantly predict critical thinking.…”

Dynamics of the Sphere Model of Consciousness: Silence, Space, and Self

“…More specifically, in the quantitative items, participants were asked to indicate their level of involvement on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all involved" (0) to "extremely involved" (4). Participants were also asked to think critically about how the technique had worked for them (Noone et al, 2016;Holland et al, 2017).…”

“…The SMC-MPQ was constructed to empirically examine the SMC ( Paoletti, 2002a , b , 2008 ; Paoletti and Ben-Soussan, 2019 ). It examines level of awareness of specific inner states and the ability to think critically about them, specifically in terms of the ability to analyze and evaluate evidence and arguments without bias from experience and prior knowledge ( Noone et al, 2016 ; Holland et al, 2017 ).…”