Psychological Research Methods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Psychological Research Methods - Essay Example The groups will be tested before and after the therapeutic period using a health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) questionnaire designed specifically for this inquiry. The scores of the two groups will be compared and analyzed to determine if, as expected, the experimental group demonstrates a statistically significant improvement in motor impulsivity behavior. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition affecting three to ten percent of school-age children, primarily boys, and up to five percent of adults (Wender, 2000, p. 4). Although there are differing opinions on how to specifically define the condition, as well as the appropriate methods for sorting it out from other associated behavioral disorders, most practitioners agree that if a certain set of behaviors (distraction, fidgeting, excessive talking, etc.) are present in sufficient quantity and severity, the diagnosis is correct (Atkinson & Hornby, 2002, pp. 46-47). The scope of this research will not be to determine the actual presence of ADHD; it will rely on the diagnosis of medical professionals to form the study group. This approach is in line with established protocols, where "regardless of the treatment approach, the diagnosis of ADHD and other co-morbidities first must be established through a standard medical evaluation" (Baumgaertel, 1999, p. 977). This research will, however, seek to test whether a specific alternative treatment (music therapy), when used in conjunction with traditional pharmacological therapy, can attenuate motor impulsivity. The focus of treatment for ADHD is to "decrease symptoms, enhance functionality, and improve well-being for the child and his or her close contacts" (Klassen, et al., 2004, p. 541). The primary methodology for accomplishing this control is the use of pharmacological agents, and it is common knowledge that drugs such as Ritalin are often employed to attenuate the symptoms. In response to a perceived over-prescribing of such medicines by doctors, there has been a rise in alternative therapies that seek to attenuate ADHD behavior through non-pharmacological means; the majority of which are designed to be used in conjunction with medication. For example, a recent study sought to determine if yoga could be used as an alternative method and, although no "strong support" was found, the authors nevertheless concluded that "yoga may have merit as a complementary treatment for boys with ADHD already stabilized on medication" (Jensen & Kenny, 2004, p. 205). It has been suggested that of all the alternative treatments proposed, music may have the best impact, particularly with situational performance in cognitive tasks (Baumgaertel, 1999, p. 980). Others, however, have found that "there is little in the music therapy literature about [treatment] for ADHD," but cite survey results that music therapists are employing a number of different methods in treating children with ADHD (Jackson, 2003, 302). One study has directly addressed the issue of music therapy on the level of motor impulsivity, with mixed results. While "no statistical difference was found between the impact of the contrasting approaches as

The Health Benefits of Transcendental Meditation Essay

The Health Benefits of Transcendental Meditation - Essay Example Because of its association with yoga and other Eastern philosophic belief systems and, later, with the New Age movements of alternative religious practices, meditation has often been dismissed in the West as something less than real. â€Å"Until recently the very word meditation tended to evoke raised eyebrows and thoughts about mysticism and hocus-pocus in many people. In part, that was because people did not understand that meditation is really about paying attention† (Kabat-Zin, 1990: 21). In particular, it is about paying attention to the moment as it is passing. This moves beyond the concept of living in the moment to being intimately aware of the moment even as it passes and becomes nothing more than memory. This transcendental explanation is easier defined than accomplished. The tendency of the mind is to take the opportunity of the ‘autopilot’ initiative to reflect upon the past or to make plans for the future. For those caught in desperate situations, thi s can lead to a destructive cycle of thinking that leaves little room for improvement while allowing them to miss out on the joys or triumphs of the present. One way in which people can help themselves break this cycle is through the process of meditation, which, it turns out, brings about some significant benefits including the benefit of clearer thinking, more enjoyed moments and an inner peace. It also offers numerous measurable physical benefits including reduced blood pressure, reduced stress, more restful sleep and lowered cholesterol. While there are many different forms of meditation, several of which require lengthy study, practice and training to accomplish, transcendental meditation was designed to be accessible to the layperson with a minimum of training for nearly instant benefit. Transcendental meditation can have numerous physical benefits as the result of the deep breathing and relaxation exercises that paradoxically bring