scholarly journals Evidence Synthesis Indicates Contentless Experiences in Meditation are Neither Truly Contentless Nor Identical

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Woods ◽  
Jennifer Windt ◽  
Olivia Carter
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Mental Content ◽  
Academic Work ◽  
Mental Images ◽  
Pure Consciousness ◽  
Academic Literature

Contentless experience involves an absence of mental content such as thoughts, perceptions, and mental images. In academic work it has been traditionally treated as including states like those aimed for in Shamatha, Transcendental, and Stillness Meditation. We have used evidence synthesis to select and review 135 expert texts from within the three traditions. In this paper we identify the features of contentless experience referred to in the expert texts and determine whether the experiences are the same or different across the practices with respect to each feature. We identify 65 features reported or implied in one or more practices, with most being reported or implied in all three. While there are broad similarities in the experiences across the traditions, we find that there are differences with respect to four features and possibly many others. The main difference identified is that Shamatha involves substantially greater attentional stability and vividness. Another key finding is that numerous forms of content are present in the experiences, including wakefulness, naturalness, calm, bliss/joy, and freedom. The findings indicate that meditation experiences described as contentless in the academic literature can in fact involve considerable variation, and that in many and perhaps most cases these experiences are not truly contentless. This challenges traditional understandings in academic research that in these so-called contentless experiences all content is absent, and that the experiences are therefore an identical state of pure consciousness or consciousness itself. Implications for neuroscientific and clinical studies and for basic understandings of the practices are discussed.

scholarly journals The Path to Contentless Experience in Meditation: An Evidence Synthesis Based on Expert Texts

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toby Woods ◽  
Jennifer Windt ◽  
Olivia Carter
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Mental Content ◽  
Mind Wandering ◽  
Pure Consciousness ◽  
Research And Practice ◽  
Goal State ◽  
Meditation Technique ◽  
Key Dimensions

In contentless experience (sometimes termed pure consciousness) there is an absence of mental content such as thoughts, perceptions, and mental images. The path to contentless experience in meditation can be taken to comprise the meditation technique, and the experiences (“interim-states”) on the way to the contentless “goal-state/s”. Shamatha, Transcendental, and Stillness Meditation are each said to access contentless experience, but the path to that experience in each practice is not yet well understood from a scientific perspective. We have employed evidence synthesis to select and review 135 expert texts from those traditions. In this paper we describe the techniques and interim-states based on the expert texts and compare them across the practices on key dimensions. Superficially, Shamatha and Transcendental Meditation appear very different to Stillness Meditation in that they require bringing awareness to a meditation object. The more detailed and systematic approach taken in this paper indicates that posturally Shamatha is closer to Stillness Meditation, and that on several other dimensions Shamatha is quite different to both other practices. In particular, Shamatha involves greater measures to cultivate attentional stability and vividness on an object, greater focusing, less tolerance of mind-wandering, more monitoring, and more deliberate doing/control. Achieving contentless experience in Shamatha is much slower, more difficult, and less frequent. The findings have important implications for consciousness, neuroscientific, and clinical research and practice.

scholarly journals THE CURRENT STANDING AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN ETHIOPIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 3-15
Author(s):  
Karan Khurana ◽  
Matteo Saraceno
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Economic Progress ◽  
Depth Analysis ◽  
Arts And Culture ◽  
New Business ◽  
Art And Culture ◽  
Cultural Governance

This research article explores the current state of affairs of arts and culture sector in Ethiopia. An in-depth analysis of various dimensions of art and culture highlights where the country is presently lacking in governance and socio-economic progress in the sector. A qualitative research was carried out to collect primary data. 52 respondents were chosen to be interviewed from Bahir Dar University by the method of quota sampling and the results were analyzed. Secondary data was also analyzed through academic literature from universities in Ethiopia, reports from government and development organizations. Survey results and existing academic literature have guided to single out major hindrances to this sector. In this research it can be confirmed, that the arts and culture sector needs a major intervention in terms of governance and marketing. This research gives out a very structural strategy, based on cultural governance, cultural economics and strategies of new business development as it pillars to support the prosperity of this sector in Ethiopia. The existing academic research provides data on different arts and culture and problems which are specific to a particular region of the country. Whereas this article goes a step further in enforcing the ordinance of cultural governance to the responsible government bodies both locally and nationally and simultaneously highlights how economic progress can be achieved through this sector. Cultural governance as a directive has never been implemented in transition economies and this article will serve as a directive for the future. This article shall be very beneficial for further research in this sector and structuring the work of government bodies, stake holders and the people involved in the sector within Ethiopia.

Creating Effective Rural Policies: Rural Lenses and Their Effectiveness

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Helps
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Regional Policy ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Relative Lack ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Working Paper ◽  
Canadian Provinces ◽  
The Government

As part of an international trend in regional policy development towards “mainstreaming” rural issues, multiple national and regional governments have created policy lenses designed to ensure that legislation is formed with the needs of rural areas taken into account. Despite a relative lack of academic research on the effectiveness of rural lenses, the idea has been imported to multiple jurisdictions, including several Canadian provinces. This presentation will offer a comparative overview of rural lenses in jurisdictions in Europe and North America in order to achieve a better understanding of their commonalities and divergences in methods, circumstances, and effectiveness. The presentation will make use of a review of the government and academic literature conducted for an upcoming working paper by Louis Helps and Dr. Ryan Gibson. This research is the foundation of a larger project that will seek to understand the feasibility of implementing rural lenses at the provincial level in Canada.

scholarly journals The Only (Other) Poll That Matters? Exit Polls and Election Night Forecasts in BBC General Election Results Broadcasts, 1955–2017

2020 ◽  
pp. 003232172090632
Author(s):  
Stuart Wilks-Heeg ◽  
Peter Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
General Election ◽  
The Political ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Political Consequences ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Political Narratives ◽  
Election Results ◽  
Over Time

This article examines the role of results forecasts and exit polls in BBC general election night broadcasts from 1955 to 2017. Despite the substantial role played by academics in results programmes, in devising forecasts and analysing results as they emerge, academic literature on election night broadcasts is scant. This article charts the development of election night forecasting over time and its implications for the structure and content of election night broadcasts. It draws on a unique new data set of verbatim transcripts of the first hour of every BBC election night broadcast from 1955–2017 to quantify the attention paid to forecasts and exit polls and assess how they frame discussion of the likely outcome and its potential political consequences. The article concludes that the function of election night broadcasts as ‘the first draft of psephology’ merits closer attention for both the political narratives and the academic research agendas they generate.

Knowledge-Based Strategies and Systems

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meir Russ ◽  
J. Greg Jones ◽  
Jeannette K Jones
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Knowledge Based Systems ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
New Research

Knowledge management strategies and implementation of knowledge-based systems have gained importance over the last decade. However, many organizations are not able to develop “winning” knowledge-based strategies and others waste signifi- cant monies when the knowledge-based systems they invest in fail to produce the desired results. To address the challenges faced by these organizations, a recently developed framework for strategic dilemmas was proposed by Russ, Jones, and Fineman (2006) to aid in the development of knowledge-based (KB) strategies. The framework (C3EEP) identifies six dilemmas that organizations should balance when considering their knowledge management and business strategies. Examples of such dilemmas include the balance between concealment (secrecy) vs. transparency, complementary vs. destroying, and the balance between exploitation and exploration. The framework compliments the six stages in the life cycle of KB systems (KBS) as identified by the academic literature that discusses the development and implementation of KBS from the information systems (IS) perspective (e.g., Lytras, Pouloudi, & Poulymenakou, 2002; Nissen, Kamel, & Sengupta, 2000). This interaction/ linkage between KB strategies and systems is crucial for the success of both. Academic research supports the complex relationship between the two. However, there is no conclusive formula for managing this relationship to achieve success. The purpose of this study will be to identify crossovers between the two streams (strategy and systems) of research by using a systematic literature review. For example, is the academic literature focusing mostly on the learning aspect (late stage in the life cycle) of the exploration strategy while largely ignoring the discussion about attracting the appropriate knowledge (early stage in the life cycle) for this kind of strategy? Or does the academic literature focus on populating a KBS with appropriate complementary knowledge while largely ignoring the dynamics of the transfer of destroying knowledge (learning aspect)? The authors hope to accomplish three goals in this study: (1) to continue the validation of the two (C3EEP and KBS life cycle) frameworks; (2) to identify new research opportunities; and (3) to focus managerial attention on areas of importance in KB strategies and systems that lack depth of academic discussion.

scholarly journals Audit Quality: Insights from the Academic Literature

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 385-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Robert Knechel ◽  
Gopal V. Krishnan ◽  
Mikhail Pevzner ◽  
Lori B. Shefchik ◽  
Uma K. Velury
Keyword(s):  
Audit Quality ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Public ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Public Company

SUMMARY This study presents a review of academic research on audit quality. We begin with a review of existing definitions of audit quality and describe general frameworks for establishing audit quality. Next, we summarize research on indicators of audit quality such as inputs, process, and outcomes. Finally, we offer some suggestions for future research. The study should be useful to academics interested in audit quality as well as to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and other regulators.

scholarly journals The consequences of disclosing key audit matters (KAMs): A review of the academic literature

2019 ◽  
Vol 93 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gold ◽  
Melina Heilmann
Keyword(s):  
Market Reaction ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Investor Behavior ◽  
Professional Judgment ◽  
Auditor Liability ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Current Period ◽  
Client Management ◽  
Auditor Reporting

Recent years have witnessed a change in the auditor reporting model. One of these developments is the auditor’s issuance of so-called Key Audit Matters in the auditor’s report, where they disclose “those matters that, in the auditor’s professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements of the current period”. In this paper, we review the emerging body of academic research which examines the effects of KAM disclosures in the auditor’s report. We investigate research that has examined the effect of KAM disclosures on (1) investor behavior and market reaction, (2) auditor responses, (3) auditor liability, and (4) client management responses. The objective of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing literature and to summarize the preliminary findings and implications of 22 studies.

scholarly journals Academics at play: Why the “publication game” is more than a metaphor

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 414-430 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Butler ◽  
Sverre Spoelstra
Keyword(s):  
Academic Research ◽  
Academic Work ◽  
The Other ◽  
Career Goals ◽  
Game Playing ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Critical Management ◽  
The University ◽  
Meaningful Research

It is increasingly common to describe academic research as a “publication game,” a metaphor that connotes instrumental strategies for publishing in highly rated journals. However, we suggest that the use of this metaphor is problematic. In particular, the metaphor allows scholars to make a convenient, but ultimately misleading, distinction between figurative game-playing on one hand (i.e. pursuing external career goals through instrumental publishing) and proper research on the other hand (i.e. producing intrinsically meaningful research). In other words, the “publication game” implies that while academic researchers may behave just like players, they are not really playing a game. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, we show that this metaphor prevents us, ironically, from fully grasping the lusory attitude, or play-mentality, that characterizes academic work among critical management researchers. Ultimately, we seek to stimulate reflection about how our choice of metaphor can have performative effects in the university and influence our behavior in unforeseen and potentially undesirable ways.

scholarly journals The circular economy, natural capital and resilience in tourism and hospitality

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 2544-2563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Jones ◽  
Martin George Wynn
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Hospitality Industry ◽  
Natural Capital ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Development Planning ◽  
Theoretical Understanding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Academic Literature ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality Industry ◽  
Tourism And Hospitality

Purpose This paper aims to review some of the academic literature on the circular economy, natural capital and resilience by tourism and hospitality scholars and to examine how a number of companies and industry bodies within the tourism and hospitality industry have used these concepts in their business operations and development plans. Design/methodology/approach The paper outlines the importance of sustainability to the tourism and hospitality industry and provides definitions of the concepts of the circular economy, natural capital and resilience. The paper reviews some of the academic literature on these concepts, explores how a number of companies and industry bodies within the tourism and hospitality industry have used them in their business and planning operations and identifies a number of future directions for academic research and managerial contributions. Findings The concepts illuminate a range of sustainability challenges and opportunities, and some companies use these concepts in their sustainability strategies and development planning. The current depth of theoretical understanding does not lend itself to management strategies, but one fruitful avenue is to explore how information systems can be better deployed to support these concepts and sustainability management in general. Originality/value The paper provides an accessible exploratory review of how academics and companies are focussing on the concepts of the circular economy, natural capital and resilience in the tourism and hospitality industry. As such, it will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners interested in the hospitality industry.

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