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Murdoch University Digital Theses Program
Psychic phenomena: Meditation perception, actuality - an Australian study
| Author Information |
Thesis Files |
| Last Name |
Nattress
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| Other Names |
Emma
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| Title |
Mrs
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| E-mail |
clogherau@yahoo.com.au
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| Division |
Arts & Education
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| School |
Social Sciences and Humanities
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| Degree Program |
Master of Philosophy
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| Thesis Document Information |
| Thesis Type |
Masters Thesis
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| Title
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Psychic phenomena: Meditation perception, actuality - an Australian study
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| Date |
2007
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| Abstract
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This thesis presents the findings of an investigation into contemporary psychic phenomena as reported by Australian students. It asks the question: ˇĄdo people experience psychic phenomena?ˇ¦
The study is an empirical one of reported psychic phenomena. It uses a questionnaire which involves the matching of perceptions of specific psychic phenomena, rather than an examination of psychic phenomena as such. The questionnaire is based on a medical diagnostic model. Its findings are benchmarked against a previous study and compared with other empirical studies.
A comparison of the study's findings with those of more directly religious investigations undertaken overseas in countries with a longer monotheistic religious history than Australia:
provides insight into the Australian attitude, generally recognised as being secular, towards psychic and or spiritual experiences;
indicates that meditation is not necessarily a prerequisite for experience of psychic and or spiritual phenomena; and
argues that commonalities between specific experiences, reported not only within the Australian secular survey but also as reported in the predominantly religious overseas studies, demonstrate that the scientific requirement of repeatability has been met, thus providing ground to believe in the actuality of the reported experiences.
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| Committee Information
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| Supervisor |
Dr Nancy Ault
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| Email |
N.Ault@murdoch.edu.au
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