Spirituality Scale Ceiling Effects and Near-Death Experiences: An Exploratory Study (open access)

Spirituality Scale Ceiling Effects and Near-Death Experiences: An Exploratory Study

Abstract: A common theme noted among near-death experiencers (NDErs) is the affirmation of increased spirituality after their near-death experiences (NDEs). This study focused on the question of whether the Human Spirituality Scale (HSS), a commonly used spirituality measure, would exhibit a ceiling effect among NDErs. Thirty-seven participants from eight countries participated in the online study. HSS scores were compared with NDE Scale (Greyson, 1990) scores and demographic information. Results revealed no ceiling effect but revealed a positive correlation between the HSS and the NDE Scale. Additionally, exploratory post-hoc analysis was conducted on participant subgroups, comparing males and females and participants from India and the United States. Finally, preliminary findings regarding four NDErs self-identified as atheist/agnostic are described.
Date: Winter 2011
Creator: Rominger, Ryan A.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reflections of Near-Death Experiences and Deathbed Visions: A Study of Nursing Faculty's Perceptions (open access)

Reflections of Near-Death Experiences and Deathbed Visions: A Study of Nursing Faculty's Perceptions

Abstract: Nursing faculty across the United States were surveyed about their knowledge, attitudes, and perspectives of near-death experiences (NDEs) and deathbed visions (DBVs) through web-based administration of the Near-Death Phenomena Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire (Thornburg, 1988). Of the approximately 550 responses, 13% of respondents indicated that they personally had experiences an NDE, 48% that they have cared for a patient reporting an NDE, and 46% that they have cared for a patient reporting a DBV. Item-level ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the two attitude components of the survey, revealing a complex set of relationships between attitudes, experience, and other individual-level characteristics. The results underscore the importance of ongoing research into near-death phenomena and inclusion of NDEs and DBVs as content areas in nursing curriculum.
Date: Winter 2013
Creator: Moore, Linda & Pate, Christopher L.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
The Omega Project: An Empirical Study of the NDE-Prone Personality (open access)

The Omega Project: An Empirical Study of the NDE-Prone Personality

Article discussing a questionnaire given to near-death experiencers (NDErs) and persons interested in NDEs, assessing the role of psychological factors in influencing susceptibility to NDEs and to measure aftereffects stemming from such events.
Date: Summer 1990
Creator: Ring, Kenneth & Rosing, Christopher J.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 12, Number 1, Fall 1993 (open access)

Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 12, Number 1, Fall 1993

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena.
Date: Autumn 1993
Creator: Greyson, Bruce
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 12, Number 2, Winter 1993 (open access)

Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 12, Number 2, Winter 1993

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena.
Date: Winter 1993
Creator: Greyson, Bruce
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 8, Number 3, Spring 1990 (open access)

Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 8, Number 3, Spring 1990

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena.
Date: Spring 1990
Creator: Greyson, Bruce
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Does N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Adequately Explain Near-Death Experiences? (open access)

Does N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT) Adequately Explain Near-Death Experiences?

Abstract: Some NDE researchers have suggested that because some users of psychedelic drugs have experiences purportedly similar to near-death experiences (NDEs), neural receptors and neurotransmitters affected by a particular drug may underlie out-of-body experiences and NDEs. One of the most recent psychedelic candidates that allegedly causes NDE-like experiences is N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a natural substance that the body produces in small amounts. If DMT experiences are phenomenologically similar to NDEs, then it is possible that the human body in extremis may produce larger amounts of DMT that reach psychedelic experience-causing levels in the blood. In this paper, I explore the issue of whether DMT might play a causal role in the production of NDEs. The first section summarizes basic information of about NDEs, focusing on their phenomenological aspects. The second section classifies theories of NDEs to place the DMT theory in some context of the history of the debate over the cause of NDEs. The following section discusses DMT's chemical composition, physical effects, and psychological effects. The final section explores whether NDE and DMT experiences have a sufficient degree of phenomenological similarity to justify a causal role for DMT in the production of NDEs and concludes that such similarity is lacking.
Date: Autumn 2012
Creator: Potts, Michael
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reincarnation Beliefs Among Near-Death Experiencers (open access)

Reincarnation Beliefs Among Near-Death Experiencers

Study designed to examine the factors underlying an increase in belief in reincarnation following near-death experiences, using a questionnaire to compare the tendency toward belief in reincarnation among NDErs, individuals merely interested in NDEs, and a non-experiencer, non-interest control group.
Date: Autumn 1993
Creator: Wells, Amber D.
Object Type: Article
System: The UNT Digital Library
Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 20, Number 4, Summer 2002 (open access)

Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 20, Number 4, Summer 2002

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena. Table of contents for each issue in volume 20 on page 287.
Date: Summer 2002
Creator: Greyson, Bruce
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 8, Number 4, Summer 1990 (open access)

Journal of Near-Death Studies, Volume 8, Number 4, Summer 1990

Quarterly journal publishing papers related to near-death experiences, including research reports; theoretical or conceptual statements; expressions of a scientific, philosophic, religious, or historical perspective on the study of near-death experiences; cross-cultural studies; individual case histories; and personal accounts of experiences or related phenomena. Table of contents for each issue of volume 8 are included on page 267.
Date: Summer 1990
Creator: Greyson, Bruce
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library