Introduction to Scientific Research on Lifespring

Since 1982, Lifespring has sponsored ongoing scientific research to monitor and measure the effects and effectiveness of its courses. We have sought to have our courses rigorously examined by preeminent researchers in the scientific community.

The findings of three major studies tell us that:

One year after Lifespring, participants show statistically significant improvements in such areas as self-confidence, self-esteem, lowered job stress, heightened sense of control in life, and a more positive and pleasurable range of events and experiences in their lives.

There is no evidence of psychiatric harm from Lifespring courses.

A large majority of participants found the Lifespring trainings to be one of the most valuable experiences they had ever had.

"To our knowledge, the research on Lifespring constitutes the most extensive body of scientific inquiry on any experiential program available today."                        - John P. Hanley President Lifespring, Inc.

Lee Ross, Ph.D. of Stanford University, released the findings of his research on the Lifespring trainings.

What follows is his prefatory note to that report.

PREFATORY NOTE:
The first three studies reported here probed the reactions and evaluations of individuals who completed Lifespring's Basic and Advanced Courses over a three-year period. At Lifespring's request, I designed and administered questionnaires that gave students ample opportunity to air grievances as well as offer praise and to share disappointments and doubts as well as enthusiasm and satisfaction. In short, our instruments were such that their results could have provided ammunition for skeptics and critics who would have been pleased to see evidence of dissatisfaction, disillusionment, and other negative responses.

Page 2