Intuition in the context of revelation: a biofunctional approach

Research on intuition is known for its numerous conceptualizations of intuition construct proposed by various theoretical camps for more than a century. In addition to this absence of a consensus over the definition, almost none of the many instruments developed over the years have been successful in measuring intuition especially in light of the findings of recent interdisciplinary research regarding crucial aspects of intuitive behavior. This is mainly because processes underlying intuitive decisions elude conscious awareness and therefore, remain unidentifiable. This elusiveness has in turn resulted in theories basing their objective measurement efforts on what intuition is not rather than what it is. This dissertation is an attempt to address this theoretical/conceptual problem by conducting three studies . The first two are replication studies of two well-cited instruments, the waterloo gestalt closure task (WGCT) and the rational-experiential inventory (REI). Aside from popularity, the mainstream theoretical framework on which they are based – dual-system theories of mind – was pivotal in their selection for replication. In the third theoretical study, attempts were made to address the issues revealed by the two empirical studies by analyzing the nature of responses and the overall factor structure of subjects’ data collected by both measures. The results revealed that the wholetheme spiral of biofunctional understanding presents itself to be a fit model for the data, explaining a significant proportion of variation especially when it comes to subjects’ intuitive performance on both WGCT and REI. At the end, implications offered by the biofunctional theory of intuitive understanding as a unifying and comprehensive theoretical framework for research on intuition are discussed, particularly as it relates to the discipline of educational psychology. Key Words: Intuition, Disembodied information processing, Waterloo gestalt closure task, Dual-process theories, Rational-experiential inventory, Conceptual understanding, Biofunctional understanding, Knowing-by-revelation, Understanding-by-reflection, Intuitive understanding, Iran-Nejad's wholetheme spiral of biofunctional understanding, Biofunctional model of intuition.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Alabama Libraries

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Bordbar, Fareed

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Iran-Nejad, Asghar

Contributors dc:contributor

• Houser, Rick
• Kuntz, Aaron M.
• Posner, Michael I.
• Roskos-Ewoldsen, Beverly
• Tomek, Sara

• Educational psychology
• Psychology
• Education

Statement dc:rights

• All rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US, English

Dc Identifier Other

u0015_0000001_0002993
Bordbar_alatus_0004D_13489

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ir.ua.edu:123456789/3678