Holzel Et Al (Evaluation, Issues And Debates, Ethics, Application)

Question 1

Name the strengths of the research

Answer 1

1. High reliability and standardisation
2. High internal validity and objective scientific, quantitative data

Question 2

Name the weaknesses of the study

Answer 2

• The limitations of self report measures (and social desirability bias)
• Lack of correlation between changes in grey matter and time spent on HW and FFMQ score changes
• Biased sample and generalisabilty

Question 3

Stength: The study was high in realibility which means the research was high in credibility and accuracy. (Evidence)

Answer 3

1. Contents of the MBSR programme was standardised. (Task replication)
2. The FFMQ was a standardised test. It came with established scoreing criteria. (minimises subjective interpretations)
3. The correlation between the 8 questionss about “acting with awareness’ was 0.87 (establishes realibility and consistency)

Question 4

Strength: 2. The study was high in internal validity as it utilised objective scientific and quantitative data (examples)

Answer 4

1. Use of MRI (use of neuroimaging techniques) to measure DV. MRI= Reliable method for invetigating brain structure/ was able to show the experimental group increased volume in grey matter in the ROI/ other regions in 4 location. (Objective measure unaffected by demand characteristics/ researcher bias)
   2.(minimises risks of researchers miscalculating and drawing incorrect conclusions)

mention WHY the measure was used

Question 5

1. The administration of the FFMQ (a self-report) before and after the course, could have posed as methodological weakness as self-report measures have may weaknesses that may have not been accounted for thus confounding results and lowering the internal validity of the research (question wherher the improvemnts in postive thoughts came from mindfulness is valid)
   (reliance on self report measures to access psychological varibles related to mindfulness)

Answer 5

1. the participants may have given socially desirable answers to the personal questions such as “I criticize myself for having irrational or inappropriate emotions (inaunthic emotions, responses, ebhaviours)
2. Likert Scale/ Closed questions (may have not had the choice that trully reflected the ppts reponses
3. Subjective interpretations of their own expereinces.

Question 6

. One major weakness of the study is the absence of any correlation between increases in grey matter in the brain area examined and either the amount of mindfulness homework or changes in the FFMQ score

Answer 6

1. Suggests the minutes spent in mindfulness practice did not directly cause brain changes
2. Researchrs suggessted the effect was mediated by the MBSR programme
3. As there was no comparison group accessing another treatment, the validity of the conclusions could be questioned. (unclear is mindfulness led to these changes in grey matter volume)
4. If a person, feels they are doing something to improve their wellbeing may be enough to cause changes in brain stucture.

Question 7

Nature definition

Answer 7

The characteristics we are born with or develop out of the natural maturation process

Question 8

Nature explanation

Answer 8

• The study suggests that certain brain regions exhibit morphological differences between experienced meditators VS non-meditators
• These findings imply potential genetic/ innate predispositional factors may influence a persons propensity to benifit from mindfulness mediation

There may be potential genetic/ predispositional factors that influence

Question 9

Nurture definition

Answer 9

The characteristics we develop as a result of learning

Question 10

Nurture explanation

Answer 10

• The study provides evidence that enviromental factprs like the particpation in the programme can induce structural changes in the brain
• This supports the idea mindfulness meditation is a learned practice that can shape neural architecture over time

Question 11

Situational definition

Answer 11

• Behaviours that are influenced by factors in the external enviroment

Question 12

Situational explanation

Answer 12

• The study found that mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional (brain) grey matter density.
• This suggest enagining in mindfulness practice (a situational factor) can have a measurable impact on brain structure.

Question 13

Individual definition

Answer 13

Behaviours that are influenced by factors WITHIN the individual

Question 14

Individual explanations

Answer 14

• Not all ppts had the same amount of grey matter increases.
• Factors like genetics, personality traits, baseline brain structure, prior expeirences may all influence how individuals respons to mindfulness practice.

Question 15

Another weakness concerns the characteristics of the study sample specfically the limited representativness of the study.

Answer 15

• The ppts were predominatley healthy/ without seruiys psychiatric/ neurological disorders/ could not generalised to individuals with neurodivergencies (a group who would have beinfited from the research most)
• Experimental sample was small (16pptts) all from the massacheuttes area