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Awakening Intuition: a Delphi Study University of San Diego Digital USD Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1995 Awakening Intuition: A Delphi Study Verna Veronica Schmidt EdD University of San Diego Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations Part of the Leadership Studies Commons Digital USD Citation Schmidt, Verna Veronica EdD, "Awakening Intuition: A Delphi Study" (1995). Dissertations. 609. https://digital.sandiego.edu/dissertations/609 This Dissertation: Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Digital USD. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital USD. For more information, please contact [email protected]. AWAKENING INTUITION: A DELPHI STUDY by Verna Veronica Schmidt A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education University of San Diego 1995 Dissertation Committee Mary Scherr, Ph.D., Director Mary Jo Abascal-Hildebrand, Ed.D. Roger Frantz, Ph.D. A1 Merino, Ed.D. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. AWAKENING INTUITION: A DELPHI STUDY SCHMIDT, VERNA VERONICA. Ed.D. University of San Diego. 1995. pp.282 Director: Mary Scherr. Ph.D. This study was framed by three key questions: How is intuition characterized, how is intuition in adults best developed, and what influence might the development of intuition have on individuals, organizations, and society. The data for the study was collected using the Delphi method. The panel included twenty females and twenty-three males from three Canadian provinces and eighteen American states. Eighty-three percent of the panel had post secondary degrees in over twenty different disciplines. Twenty -three percent of the panel held doctorate level degrees. Thirty-one different occupations were represented. All forty-three participants who started the study completed all three rounds. Data was collected over three rounds of the Delphi and included both open ended questions and a Likert scale questionnaire. Findings were derived from both qualitative and simple quantitative analysis. In this study, intuition is characterized by existential themes of time, space, body, being, Being, and relation. Throughout the study, panelists drew a strong connection between intuition and the creative-spiritual dimension of human beings. The panel determined that it is more appropriate to speak in terms of awakening intuition than in terms of developing it. Even though panelists reached consensus on the idea that the full potential of intuition is inherent everyone, they also agreed that individuals could benefit from participation in practices designed to awaken and expand I intuitive capacity. Findings suggest that training programs should be developed around Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. three broad goals: 1. Exposing the beliefs, assumptions, values, and patterns of behaviour that prevent individuals from accessing the full inherent potential of their intuition. 2. Creating an environment in which it is safe to explore and to engage in activities that enhance intuition. 3. Providing a knowledge base. Specifics related to each of these goals are included in the study. While participants were careful to stress the fact that they did not see intuition and future trends in terms of a causal relationship, they did reach consensus on thirteen trends related to individuals, eleven related to changes in organizations and on fifteen societal items. Topics on which the panel reached consensus included creativity, peak experiences, physical and psychological well-being, relationships, problem-solving ability, shift in leadership, culture, structures, ethics, and productivity. They projected that initially there would be an increase in the appearance of chaos, but saw that trend as having a beneficent long term effect. Findings indicated that intuition is an essential factor in expanding consciousness, and panelists predicted that an evolutionary shift in consciousness could well be the outcome of the synergy released by the increasing numbers of adults attuning themselves to the creative-spiritual voice of their intuition. The study includes an extensive review of literature connected with intuition including western and non-western philosophy and psychology, brain and consciousness research, quantum physics, adult development, leadership, training programs, emerging spirituality, and alternative futures. The study concludes with an exploration of implications the training of intuition, for leadership, and with a broad agenda for future research related to intuition. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my father. Even though he is no longer here, he continues to be a source of inspiration and motivation. So long ago, he challenged me to believe, and now I do. i Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS SttioAVAfalt $#*• & «( titUUftlvH Mlltiout Auy tioufet 4off 0 *Uttllufi If» 'Utu'uu. Jerome Bruner The joy of a journey is enhanced by those who in some way or other travel with us. To all of you who have travelled this dissertation journey with me in spirit, I hold the thought for you that all your journeys will be filled with bountiful blessings of wisdom, love, and light. T o D tblA - * * 1 1 * $ t l * i jcUTUUty M /lti yOU ( m t u u A joyO U f ■foul W fto ltU tt. To •Im o u - you ooutluut to offa fatu M ilf, foul luffoit, AuJ. lu tlfft Ufouj. youo ytAut. To R a M a - y o u* tffa lu , "f'fuiit you* lutultlou." UtAtut uuy uuau Aa a . To *uy fuotitr A ui fuy fa u lty wHiout youo lufforf tit jououty fulffit M/tlla m 1 tuftj. Itfa t tit itf tlu A tlo U M/At 'ttA titi, To 7Uu~ yowi lovt, tu t utfttlA lly youoIa u $ U \ M/At tit fateoM u ou M /ilti II a I a u o U fulud. Aud tfltlX . To tuy tovlufr fatu dt U oi iofut- yout flouca t IJU Ahd U tttu t M/tot tlttll fA cfatf of/ lltf t *uui^y. T o t i t Ca Ua /I a u CcioKt pou f' toAVtlllufo fA/A «h tit fOUOUty M/lti tilo ta u {Alt* fth pltumua tJ a tl t u t Aud dltitAUet ZltAfftAt. To ltduo Seiool fyhttlot Aud tit falltntti ItA clttt fa-uoelAtlou, Aud tit ieiool ofi BdueAtlou, U5D- tlA u it y o u f a itlflu fa t o f a j . t i t M/Ay. To D*. Scitvt, Aud aII tuy couutultUi- tlA u i you f a eltAuufc tit fAti aU aJ. o^ tu t. To tit faAyrtiott ftoflt Milo fA/itltlfAttd lu. tilA ftu d y, yOUO idtAA M/Oit tit ffltudld pjjt 0 ^ ttl^ M/ltiout M /llti tit U lt ttetlou oh tit jowuuty could uotI m ittu cotuflxUd, T o tit AUfflt, to tit volet M/ltilu- M/ltiout you til4 fOMOUty iulfft UtVClI a M fa u U Once again, I am shown that I am blessed, for in my journey to this doctorate degree, I have been supported by truly extravagant beings. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION......................................................................................................................... i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................................................................................ii TABLES.................................................................................................................................. v APPENDICES........................................................................................................................ vi CHAPTER ONE...................................................................................................................... 1 STATEMENT OF THE ISSUE........................................................................................ 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 The Issue ...................................................................................................................... 6 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................... 10 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................11 Definition of Terms ......................................................................................................13 Assumptions and Limitations ...................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................... 18 REVIEW OF LITERATURE.......................................................................................... 18 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 18 Definitions and Descriptions ....................................................................................... 19 The Philosophical Traditions ...................................................................................... 22 Western Conceptions ............................................................................................23 Non-western Conceptions ....................................................................................29 Emergent Philosophical Issues ............................................................................. 32 The Psychology
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