Hemi-Sync® Journal 2008-1&2 (Winter/Spring)

Report of Findings: Phase I of a Study on the Effects of Long-Term Participation in The Monroe Institute Programs Cam Danielson MESA Research Group June 20, 2008 Introduction The Monroe Institute (TMI), through its patented sound technology, has demonstrated changes in focused states of consciousness for thousands of individuals over the last 30 years. While ongoing research at the Institute on the nature of different states of consciousness is yielding rich insights into human development, a continuing challenge for the leadership of TMI is to understand how repeated exposure to Hemi- Sync® technology in controlled workshop environments affects the quality of individual lives. Does it have any bearing on the degree of self-efficacy, life satisfaction, job satisfaction, and career performance? In other words, does repeated exposure to TMI programs increase the capacity of the participants to deal with the demands of their lives in terms of doing meaningful work, developing and supporting mutually rewarding relationships, and in acquiring skills and attitudes that provoke continual growth and development? A second challenge for the long-term benefit of the Institute is to attract participation in graduate level programs. While the workshops are well structured and the experience of participants during these workshops well documented, the percentage of individuals involved with TMI over 3 or more years remains fairly low. The current data suggests there is a 30 month window from the time individuals first hear of TMI to the time their interest in the Institute wanes. In that time individuals will often participate in 1-3 programs. After that time, participation dwindles significantly. Why is that? Clearly, the benefits of additional programs, once individuals have satisfied some intrinsic need that brought them to the Institute to begin with, are not well understood nor promoted as part of the Institute’s mission. 2 To address these challenges, a study was proposed to look at the long-term effects of participation in TMI programs. An online survey was developed on the following dimensions: • Demographics (6 items) – gender, age, education, income, race • Psychographics (19 items) – job status & transition, family status & transition, number of programs attended, personal objectives for attendance, support or resistance to attendance from family members and/or friends, continuing contact with TMI alumni and facilitators, memorable moments from the program(s), etc. • Program Effects (37 items) – decision making effectiveness, outlook on life, interaction with others, job & career satisfaction, stress management, alignment of actions with personal values, work-life balance, ongoing personal development, etc. • Keirsey-Bates Temperament Sorter (optional – 70 items) – assessing personality characteristics The study looked at 2 groups of individuals: • Those who have attended only the Gateway Program (the entry level program) • Those who have attended 3 or more programs The online survey was distributed to each group via a letter of invitation from the President of TMI. The response was over 700 for both populations. However this number was further reduced in the statistical analysis when controlling for variables relevant to the goals of the study due to incomplete survey responses. The population for this study was taken from the TMI database, which was automated in 2000. Participants were all found in the automated version which means they had taken at least one program since 2000. Those with attendance at 3 or more programs included programs dating back to the late 1970s. Organization of the Findings Given the number of responses and the number and types of questions in the survey, there is a wealth of data that has not been fully mined. The principle objective in 3 this report is to address the primary question of long-term effects both statistically and qualitatively. The findings are divided into 4 sections: • Section 1 - Comparison of responses for selected items within the demographic and psychographics section and the results of an independent analysis of the data • Section 2 - Keirsey-Bates Temperament Sorter (KBTS) results compared with a national norm base and the results of an independent analysis of the data • Section 3 – Factor and regression analysis of the program effects data controlled for the variables identified in the demographic and KBTS results together with a comparison of responses for selected items • Section 4 - Qualitative review of comments to an open-ended item describing the most memorable experience at TMI and concluding comments To jump to the punch line, there is statistically significant evidence suggesting clear differences in terms of self-efficacy and life satisfaction between the Gateway Only and the Multiple Program groups. This is further corroborated by a comparison of comments from respondents about their experiences at TMI where the quality and frequency of references to life changes are significantly different for those having attended 3 or more programs. One qualification regarding the data; for those in the group designated Multiple Program respondents, the assumption that 3 programs is the cut-off for the majority of respondents is not accurate. In fact, based on those who did respond to the question of how many programs they have attended, more than 75% had attended “4 or more programs.” That is significant in terms of program effects, however, it is difficult to determine what, if any, difference is a result of having attending 3 or 4 or even how many respondents had attended more than 4 programs. This is an area for future research. Section 1 – Demographic & Psychographics Analysis Given that the database only includes participants who have attended a TMI program since the year 2000 there are no Gateway Only participants prior to that year in 4 the database. It isn’t the same story for respondents who have attended Multiple Programs. While they have had to attend a program since 2000 to be in the database, many have program experience dating much earlier which would be one reason why there is a higher percentage in the 56-60 and 61-70 age bracket. Age Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Program Respondents Only Respondents 21 – 25 0 3.07 26 – 30 1.92 3.83 31 – 35 4.21 4.98 36- 40 5.75 9.2 41-45 7.66 10.34 46-50 16.48 16.09 51-55 23.37 23.75 56-60 19.92 15.71 61-70 15.71 9.96 70+ 4.98 3.07 A characteristic of the Multiple Program respondents is their higher degree of curiosity and desire for self-knowledge. This is evident in their reasons for attending TMI illustrated in the table below. From among the list of choices, respondents were instructed to indicate all that applied to them. The two choices that clearly indicated a difference between the 2 groups were “curiosity” and “understanding myself better” (together with “learn new skills” which was marginally higher). “My reasons for attending Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway TMI were”: Program Respondents Only Respondents Curiosity 65.48 56.2 Understanding myself better 63.1 53.3 Solve a problem or issue in my life 16.07 17.94 5 Rejuvenation and renewal 27.68 26.91 Recommendation from another 22.62 26.91 Learn new skills 51.79 47.23 Part of a professional development plan 7.14 5.01 Part of a personal development plan 41.67 39.31 Other 24.4 21.11 Further to the point of distinction between the 2 populations, it is not surprising to see a higher percentage of Multiple Program respondents have advanced degrees. The 12% difference for Masters, Doctoral, and Professional degrees is statistically significant. Education Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Program Respondents Only Respondents Less than high school 0 0.77 High School/ GED 3.08 6.51 Some College 13.85 14.18 2 – Year Degree (Associates) 6.15 9.58 Bachelor Degree 28.85 31.03 Masters Degree 25.38 23.37 Doctoral Degree 13.08 7.28 Professional Degree (MD, JD) 9.62 7.28 With a slightly higher proportion of respondents in the 56 – 70 age range and a higher proportion of advanced and professional degree holders it is also no surprise to find a higher percentage of Multiple Program respondents earning $70,000 +. The 12.6% difference is statistically significant. Income Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Program Respondents Only Respondents 6 < $30,000 15.33 21.46 $30K – 49,999 14.18 20.31 $50K – 69,999 17.24 17.62 $70K – 99,999 24.9 18.39 $100K – 149,999 11.88 12.26 $150K – 199,999 6.9 3.83 $200K - $300,000 3.83 2.68 More than $300,000 5.75 3.45 Once again, given the higher percentage of respondents in the 61-70 and 71+ age categories it is no surprise to find that a statistically significantly higher percentage of Multiple Program respondents are retired. Nonetheless, the percentage still in the workforce is quite comparable between the 2 groups. Of interest is the statistically significant high unemployment rate in the Gateway Only respondents. A contributing factor could be the higher percentage of younger people in this group. To speculate, a higher percentage of participants could have been students and in the absence of such a category chose to indicate that they were unemployed. This is an area for further research in the future. Employment Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Program Respondents Only Respondents Unemployed 1.57 11.24 Self-Employed 47.45 44.57 Employed 35.29 34.88 Retired 15.69 9.3 One final focus of analysis is the civil status of the participants. Given the high percentage of respondents who are married the difference between the two groups is not statistically significant. However, given the smaller percentage of respondents who are 7 single the difference between the two groups is statistically significant. The same is marginally true for the percentage of respondents who are widowed. However, there is not a statistically significant difference between the total percentage of respondents who are separated, divorced, or widowed. Nonetheless, Multiple Program respondents have a statistically significant larger percentage that have been separated, divorced or widowed 6 years or longer (see the second table below). Civil Status Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Program Respondents Only Respondents Single 17.05 21.24 Married 54.65 51.74 Separated 3.1 4.25 Divorced 20.93 20.46 Widowed 4.26 2.32 If Separated, Percentage of Multiple Percentage of Gateway Divorced, or Program Respondents Only Respondents Widowed, for How Long? < 1 Year 2.56 4.57 1–2 Years 3.59 4.11 3-5 Years 7.18 12.79 6-10 Years 13.33 10.5 > 10 years 30.26 24.2 The few key differences noted above were also verified by an independent statistical analysis of all responses: Characteristic Difference Gender N.S. Age S younger Employment S more unemployed M more retired Education M more educated Individual M higher 8 Income Partner Income N.S. Marital status S significantly more single M marginally more widowed Time married / N.S. cohabitating Time divorced / M more years divorced or widowed separated Race S has more Hispanics Key: S = Single Program Sample; M = Multiple Program Sample; N.S. = no significant difference With these differences noted, some general comments can be made about the target audience for TMI from a combined profile of both groups. Individuals who come to TMI are as likely to be a man as a woman, they are slightly more likely to be married as single/separated/divorced/widowed, slightly more than 65% will be between the ages of 41 and 60 (with the largest single percentage between the ages of 51 & 55), 69% will hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, 79.5% will be employed (with 35% self-employed),