Dan Harris Mindfulness Meditation

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Dan Harris in the video refreshes the traditional view of meditation as a rigid or religious ritual by advocating the three simple steps of practicing mindfulness meditation: “sit upright”, “feel your breath” and “return your attention to the breath”. (Harris, 2014) Its beneficial effects are revealed through Harris’s recount of personal experience of having better control of his emotions and impulses, embracing a positive mindset, as well as achieving self-esteem and a sense of fulfilment in life. Various case studies evidently support his message by demonstrating the wide applications of meditation in military training, performing and business firms. Empirical evidence from scientific studies and brain scans show that meditation can lower …show more content…

The brain scans evidently prove that meditation would cause “greater cortical thickness in the anterior regions of the brain”, hence Dan Harris’s claims. (Kang et al., 2012, p. 27)

ANOVA = Analysis of variance = a statistical model for comparing means.
Interaction = within the context of ANOVA, this is when the effect of an IV on a DV varies as a function of another IV (see ANOVA footnote 1 example).
Confounding [variable, element—p.778) = a confounding variable is an extraneous component within the experiment that correlates with both the independent and dependant variables and influences the interpretation of the relationship between the targeted variables studied. It also “compromises the internal validity of a study by making inferences about causality impossible” (Burton, Westen & Kowalski, 2014, p. 53)
Retrospective [measure—p.778] = a retrospective measure is a backward-looking process and involves post-program evaluations of the tasks performed. Instead of focusing on the outcomes, a retrospective measure is used to determine the key potential factors that lead to the observed …show more content…

nutrition class). The within-groups independent variable is time of testing (before training vs after training) and examining of TUTs (task-unrelated thoughts) . Dependent variable(s) (DV)
The dependent variables are the quality of performance in GRE and WMC and the amount of TUTs (task-unrelated thoughts), or in other words, the number of times of mind wandering.

An experimental design involves a random assignment of subject to different test groups which ensures the internal validity of the experiment. Whereas, a quasi-experimental design does not include any randomisation and the researchers have little control over the independent variables. Therefore it may compromise the certainty of the causal relationship between two variables studies.
An experimental design would best describe this study since the participants consented to be randomly assigned to either the mindfulness training class or the nutrition class. The random assignment ensures the internal validity of the study and eliminates “self-selection effects” (Mrazek, Franklin, Phillips, Baird & Schooler, 2013, p. 778). The participant were given impression that two programs have the equal potential to be effective in reducing mind wandering and improving task performance. Blind study minimises the placebo effect which would compromises the outcome

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