The following is excerpted from an unpublished doctoral thesis.

Title of Dissertation: A Preliminary Study of the Effects of
Transcendental Meditation on Selected Dimensions of Organization
Dynamics

Edward E. Morler, Doctor of Philosophy, 1973
(University of Maryland, College Park - ed.)

Dissertation directed by: Professor E. Robert Stephens

Abstract

Transcendental Meditation (TM) theory holds that the quality of an
individual's actions is directly related to the quality of his
thoughts.  TM proponents maintain that practice of the technique
allows the individual to attain subtler levels of thought, thereby
using a greater portion of his mental potential which in turn will
cause him to act with greater clarity, efficiency and creativity.

The problem of this study was to provide information and insights to
if and how the practice of TM affacts job-related attitudes and
behavior within an organizational context.  The study population was a
New England savings and loan association composed of approximately 80
employees in seven branches.  To obtain an overview of the
interactions involved, dimensions were selected from each of the three
major domains: 1) the psychological, 2) the attitudinal, and 3) the
behavioral.  The instruments chosen to measure each of these
dimensions were:  Within the psychological domain - 1) Rotter's I/E
Scale (Locus of Control), 2) Eysenck Personality Inventory
(Neuroticism and Extroversion), and 3) IPAT Anxiety Questionnaire
(Self Analysis Form).  Within the job-related attitudinal domain - 1)
Kahn's Job-Related Tension Index, 2) Minnesota Satisfaction
Questionnaire, 3) Patchen's Identification with the Work Organization,
4) Patchen's Job Motivation Index, 5) Pearlin's Alienation from Work
Scale.  Within the behavioral domain - 1) Supervisor Appraised
Performance, 2) Self-Appraised Performance, nad 3) Teller Balance
Sheet Errors.

Pretests were administered to the entire employee population.
Introductory TM lectures were provided.  No connection was made
between administration of instruments and the TM lectures.
Twenty-four individuals volunteered for TM and were initiated.  Ten
weeks after initiation TM subjects completed a questionnaire designed
to determine their degree of participation and reaction to the
technique.  Twelve weeks after initiation, posttests were adminstered
to all subjects.  Data from 21 TM subjects was utilized in the
analysis.  Data from 41 non-participating employees was used as the
control.  Both two and three levels were tested:  Two level - Group 1
= TM (N=21), Group 2 = Non-TM (N=41); three levels - Group 1 = TM
subjects who continued to practice the technique throughout the
treatment period (N=10), Group 2 = Non-TM (N=41), Group 3 = TM
subjects who discontinued technique during the treatment period
(N=11).  ANOVA on premeasures indicated no significant differences
between groups on the measures utilized for both two and three levels.
ANOVA on the unadjusted criterion scores, and ANCOVA using the
premeasures as the covariate, indicated no significant differences
between groups for either two or three levels on any of the variables
measured.  Inspection of the TM participation questionnaire indicated
that the majority of TM participants, including some of those who
stopped, felt that the practice did produce noticeable changes.  Most
frequently mentioned was a feeling of being more relaxed and having
greater ability to cope with stressful situations.

It was concluded that TM may not have the _immediate measurable_
effects on the psychological, attitudinal and behavioral dimensions
that much of the TM literature and many of its proponents imply, and
that some of the reported self-perceived changes may be due to placebo
effect.  These conclusions are regarded as tentative and are qualified
because of small sample size and the possible imprecision of the
instruments to detect subtle but possibly profound changes.  It is
suggested that TM research give priority to the problem of placebo
effect.  Specific areas for future TM research are suggested.