Consciousness-Based Education - Maharishi University of ...

consciousness-based education and governmentother diagnostic tests suggested normality), confirming the statisticaladequacy of this regression model.LISREL Analysis. In order to assess the influences of the Maharishi Effecton the multivariate system of the quality of life variables, the methodof analysis of covariance structures was employed (e.g., Jöreskog &Srböm, 1979; Long 1983), using the LISREL VI program (Jöreskog &Srböm, 1986). The covariance structure model combines the approachesof factor analysis and structural equation causal modeling to assess theimpact of independent variables on a set of latent variables underlyinga group of observed variables. The term “covariance structure model”derives from the fact that the covariance matrix of the dependent andindependent variables is modeled in this methodology.The first model considered was that of a single general model factorunderlying all 11 dependent variables, with an influence of the independentvariable (Maharishi Effect Index) upon that factor. There wasa significant positive effect of the independent variable upon the qualityof life factor, (t = 3.42, p < .005) 4 , and the coefficient of determinationfor the structural equation was .96. However, the single-factor measurementmodel must be assumed to be fundamentally wrong, since anegative coefficient of determination for the factor model was calculatedby the program (Joreskog & Sorbom, 1986, p. 1.36). The overallfit of the model to the data was not adequate (X 2 (54) = 94.5, p = .0005).In order to find a more adequate factor model, a two-factor modelwas posited in which the first factor consisted of each of the variablesthat had loaded substantially on the general factor noted earlier, and thesecond factor consisted of the other variables. The automatic modificationprocedure of LISREL was used to allow a variable to load on theother factor as well if that would significantly improve the fit of themeasurement model. Although this approach to the factor equation isexploratory rather than confirmatory, this was felt to be justified sincethe primary hypothesis being tested concerned the structural equationpart of the model (the effect of the independent variable) rather thanthe measurement model. Two of the variables from the initial generalfactor also loaded on the other factor due to the automatic modificationprocedure. The first factor, which is referred to as the general factorsince it was derived from the initial single-factor model, consisted of554