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

Abstract: 

A limited number of studies exist on the effects of age and ethnicity, as well as gender and education, on the use of meditation and mindfulness to strengthen critical thinking.  The purpose of this quantitative causal comparative design study will be to investigate what are the effects of age, ethnicity, gender, and education on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness. The implications for positive change will be a new framework for critical thinking that empowers students to use meditation and mindfulness as a tool to increase critical thinking and facilitate the learning process.

Extended Abstract: 

A limited number of studies exist on the effects of age and ethnicity, as well as gender and education, on the use of meditation and mindfulness to strengthen critical thinking.  The purpose of this quantitative causal comparative design study will be to investigate what are the effects of age, ethnicity, gender, and education on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness. The research questions that will be asked are the following. What will be the significant statistical difference based on the effect of age on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness? What will be the significant statistical difference based on the effect of ethnicity on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness? What will be the significant statistical difference based on the effect of gender on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness? What will be the significant statistical difference based on the effect of education on improvement of critical thinking skills as a result of using meditation and mindfulness?  The implications for positive change will be a new framework for critical thinking that empowers students to use meditation and mindfulness as a tool to increase critical thinking and facilitate the learning process. The findings revealed that there is a significant statisical difference with these use of meditation, mindfulness, and critical thinking in an online learning environment.

Conference Track: 
Pedagogical Innovation
Session Type: 
Research Highlights and Trends in Innovation
Intended Audience: 
Faculty
Students
Training Professionals