Sample Research Proposal: An Investigation on the Applicability of Focused Attention Meditation on Emotion Dysregulation (Depression or Anxiety)

Background

Medication basically refers to the practice wherein an individual trains his or her mind towards the realization of some benefits. It was argued, however, that meditation is in and of itself a goal since not all individuals can do it. Today, there are numerous sub-practices of meditation mostly targeted at promoting relaxation. Meditation induces a mode of consciousness, which is the same reason why some forms of meditation are clinically studied to know their value. Murphy et al. (1997) noted that there is a physiological change among yogis. There had been a reported change in brain waves while the yogis are meditating compared to those people who resort to ordinary forms of relaxation.

One of the most common styles of meditation is focused attention meditation. Lutz et al. (2008) said that focused attention meditation entails the voluntary focusing of attention on a particular object that is also chosen by the individual. The individual may also refocus when he or she becomes distracted by sensation or thought (Lee et al., 2012). Lutz et al. (2008) also said that highly experienced meditators may only need minimal effort in sustaining attentional focus and thus decrease stress in the process. Lutz et al. (2008) are among the studies that directly links focused attention meditation with reducing stress, highlighting the possibility of using such in dysregulating emotion including depression or anxiety.

The question now is: is it really possible to use focused attention meditation in dysregulation of depression or anxiety? Foster (2011) said that, with focused attention, any individual can be helped with concentrating and remaining calm even when negative emotional events are present. Depression and anxiety are two emotional disorders that are basically characterized by negative thought patterns. The problem is that there are no direct studies that link focused attention meditation with depression or anxiety, although there are a couple of studies that highlight the beneficial effects of meditation or meditative therapies in reducing depression or anxiety (Chen et al., 2012; Shapiro, 1992). Apart, there is a study about loving-kindness meditation that enhances recovery of people suffering from negative symptoms of schizophrenia (Johnson et al., 2009). Loving kindness meditation is the other meditation style apart from focused attention meditation.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis of this study is: there is a high possibility that focused attention meditation can be applied to regulating depression or anxiety. Mak et al. (2009) said that dysregulation of emotion is fundamentally associated with the individual’s inability of modulating intense emotions that may eventually precipitate affected disorders. The authors also noted that emotion regulation involves inhibiting or modulating the primary emotion so that contextually appropriate emotions and behaviors can be produced. This is actually the core of focused attention meditation wherein Wallace (2006) claimed that focused attention is the basis for practicing mindfulness. That is, while there are emotional factors in depression or anxiety, there are also emotional factors in focused attention meditation.

Methodology

This study could be made more in-depth using an interpretative epistemology. Interpretivism is the necessary research philosophy for this study because it allows for searching of the details of the situation particularly those that are suffering from depression or anxiety. Through an interpretative epistemology, the working reality behind may be understood.

There are two reasons for situating myself in this type of philosophy. Firstly, the research questions that I want to answer fit the interpretivist philosophy. I want to gain first-hand knowledge about the clinical applicability of focused attention meditation on dysregulating emotional disorders like depression and anxiety, and the resulting data analysis is expected to shed new light on focused attention meditation as a new clinical intervention. Second, I am interested in qualitatively conducting my research because I want to place myself in the position of viewing the role of meditation in clinical treatments. If ever the study proves that focused attention meditation has a clinical applicability, the interventions for depression or anxiety will be widened. The interventions will not be purely reliable on methodical aspects. Structured observation will also be conducted, and an observation log will be prepared. Structured observation refers to the process of observing

Structured observation will be also conducted and an observation log will be prepared. Structured observation refers to the process of observing behavior rather than asking questions about it and recording the observations to an observation or through a checklist that is prepared beforehand. Observation refers to the technique which involves direct observation of the behavior with the purpose of describing it. Since it is ‘structured,’ the observer would not have to observe everything and try to not influence the environment which is being observed. The purpose of carrying out a structured observation is to determine whether the individual sufferer will respond to focused attention meditation positively or negatively. Discussion

Discussion

For this study, the particular cases that will be chosen will be less important than the insight it can provide into a specific issue which is the clinical applicability of focused attention meditation. The focus will be just on focused attention meditation’s clinical applicability. However, the case, although it is of secondary interest, plays a supportive role and facilitates the understanding of important concepts such as how the depression or anxiety sufferers may benefit from the use of focused attention meditation as a new clinical intervention (Denzin and Lincol, 2005).

Sample Book Report: “What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20′

A book report on ‘What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20: A Crash Course in Making Your Way in the World’ by Tina Seelig

This book covers not just creativity and risk-taking, but it also tackles passion, drive and learning. What I like about this book is the author’s generosity in sharing provocative yet inspiring thoughts mostly on personal as well as business ethics. Personally, I strongly believe that young entrepreneurs today lack in this fundamental aspect. This is a painful truth. However, this is something I know is processual, which means students, including me, can learn this gradually.

The book affects me strongly that I had to rethink my priorities. The author emphasizes the need to know your own priorities. However, it is not enough that you know them. Rather, you have to regularly change your priorities. I thought of having a regular priorities auditing so that I can align what I want to achieve and when I want them to be achieved and how I want them to be achieved. In this way, I can create an easy roadmap to my success. Indeed, just like what Seelig said, how can you miss a fabulous opportunity? And no, she is not talking about dress rehearsals. It is about doing your best and doing it now. You can be good; there is no doubt about it. However, you can be great always, and it is a decision, an opportunity.

It’s an otherwise quick-read, but the learnings will stay with you. Learnings that you may carry anywhere you go, may it be revisiting your past or planning for your future. I find the passages on the stories very appealing especially for students like me who are dreaming of owning a business someday that I can be truly proud of. Actually, I am planning to put up my own boutique hotel in not-so-distant future, perhaps after completing my Business Entrepreneurship degree.

Of all the things that the book has thought me, the most outstanding would be the fact that problems are opportunities, and that the bigger the problem is, the bigger the opportunity. The only limit to what you can do is actually your reticence. Aside, it is not enough that you have the drive or the passion. What’s more important is you have the passion/or drive and the know-how to actually profit from it. The cliché that ‘do what you love and money will follow’ is no longer applicable today. There should be other people who will find your passion for being a solution to their problems.

Inspired and moved is how I felt after reading the book. So, it will not be a surprise if I am going to recommend this book to my fellow students. I believe that every student studying business-related courses should read the book. More so, the insights shared by the author are not really taught in schools. For instance, when it comes to empowerment, you need not wait for others to empower you. You have the sole responsibility of empowering yourself. You create this for yourself and in the end you will reap the rewards for doing it.