Mixed Methodology Approaches to Exploring Spiritual Transformation

Authors

Lewis Mehl-Madrona, Union Insititute & UniversityFollow
Barbara Mainguy, Coyote Institute for Studies in Change and TransformationFollow
Michael Pickren Valenti, Argosy UniversityFollow

Abstract

Research suggests that spiritual transformation, a change in the way a person considers the sacred, can change medical outcome (Pargament, 2006) Psychometric studies have failed to identify specific factors, but qualitative reports detail an experience that can be reliably shown to have an impact. We report on the development of a rubric for quantifying levels of spiritual transformation. Narrative analysis techniques were used to quantify levels of spiritual transformation from participants’ life stories, experience with traditional healers, and subsequent medical status. A quantification rubric was developed and 111 assistants rated the stories after a three - hour training session. Inter - observer reliability was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.97, p < 0.001). Findings suggest it is possible to develop reliable coding scenarios that independent raters can follow to use in research to quantifiably assess spiritual transformation.

Keywords

Spirituality, Medical Outcome, Narrative, Narrative Analysis, Traditional Healer, Mixed - Methodology

Publication Date

1-21-2013

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1563

Recommended APA Citation

Mehl-Madrona, L., Mainguy, B., & Valenti, M. P. (2013). Mixed Methodology Approaches to Exploring Spiritual Transformation. The Qualitative Report, 18(3), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2013.1563