Spotlight on Transpersonal Research Methods
As the only accredited institution in North America devoted to the study of Transpersonal Psychology, the curriculum in each program at the school consistently contains cutting-edge courses on this topic, including further development and training in transpersonal research methods. The following is a list of courses that have been offered in the past at ITP. Courses are offered based upon the interests of the current student body and faculty availability. Please consult the academic course schedule for each program of interest for classes offered at this time.
Transpersonal Theory and Research
The purposes of this course are to carry out a detailed study of selected theories and research in transpersonal psychology, and to apply critical thinking to these areas. Transpersonal psychology has particular challenges for doing research, as one can imagine. How can something be studied if it is in another realm of reality? (Or is the transpersonal another realm?) How can the spiritual be measured? How is transpersonal therapy to be assessed? A hot topic in scientific research now is whether spiritual experiences come from malfunctions of the brain. How do we judge this? Are past life memories real? Theory is equally difficult, with questions about hierarchies of development (Wilber), the existence of perinatal matrices (Grof), spiral development (Washburn), conflicting doctrines of spiritual reality, the question of evil, absolute and relative truth, and definitions of the transpersonal.
The course material will consist of articles from the transpersonal literature (and related areas) that present theories and critiques, and research reports covering various methods and topics. Some articles will be models of excellence, others will be horrible examples. The class will be highly interactive in reading these materials (individually and in teams) and taking them apart for better or worse. Critical thinking skills will be honed, which can be an empowering personal experience. A hopeful byproduct of the coursework is that students will have embodied knowledge to use in their Doctoral Qualifying Paper, and to help their dissertation research planning.
Integral Research Skills
In this course, students will learn to apply integral research skills (including: working with intentions, quieting and slowing, playing, focusing attention, auditory skills, visual skills, kinesthetic skills, proprioceptive skills, direct knowing and intuition, and accessing unconscious processes and materials) to research. Students are expected to evaluate their own means of integral knowing and apply them directly to research.
Specifically, students will learn to articulate clear and focused research questions applicable to both quantitative and qualitative research methods; apply the 10 integral research skills to the three phases of research (collecting data, analyzing data, and communicating findings); apply research questions to four possible application areas or contexts (individuals, small groups, organizations, and global community/ecology); and demonstrate an understanding of discernment, mindfulness, compassion, and appreciation of differences essential to conducting research in the field of transpersonal psychology.
