What is it about?
Can we measure whether a regular contemplative practice - such as mindfulness, meditation, or contemplative prayer - increases a person’s ability to make wise decisions? We created and validated a new assessment tool called the “Centering for Wisdom Assessment.” In this study we describe the theoretical background and results of 5 studies showing how contemplative practice supports wise decision making in daily life.
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Why is it important?
The Centering for Wisdom Assessment is the first-ever survey designed to measure the impact of contemplative practice on the ability to exercise wise decision-making. It can be very helpful for leaders, educators, spiritual directors, counselors, or coaches intereted in harnessing the practical benefits of contemplative practice where skills of wise decision-making are highly valuable.
Perspectives
I first ceated the initial version of the Centering for Wisdom Assessment for my undergraduate students more than 5 years ago. Working with Dr. Bock, we’ve been able to refine the CWA and gather data that helps us to verify that the assessment truly does measure the impact of contemplation on practical wisdom. We’re excited to use it with leaders in a variety of context (business, education, spiritual formation, coaching, etc.) and to continue with more in-depth studies in the future!
Thomas Bushlack
Aquinas Institute Of Theology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Validating the “Centering for Wisdom Assessment”: Assessing the Role of Contemplative Practices in the Cultivation of Practical Wisdom, Journal of Psychology and Theology, April 2018, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/0091647118764956.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Earlier blog post describing the CWA
A brief description of the CWA in plain language
Mid-point update on improvements to CWA
A blog description describing some of the updates and improvements to the CWA
CWA paper presented at the Fifth Annual Jubilee Centre for Character, Virtue, and Ethics (Oxford Univ)
This is an earlier version of the paper presented at the Fifth Annual Jubilee Centre Conference on Character, Virtue, and Ethics, at Oriel College, Oxford, UK (Jan. 2017).
Contributors
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