The Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Functioning
This study investigates the relationship between sleep quality and cognitive functioning in adults. Previous research suggests that inadequate sleep negatively impacts various cognitive abilities, including attention, memory, and problem-solving. This study aims to quantify the relationship between self-reported sleep quality and performance on cognitive tasks, thereby enhancing our understanding of how sleep influences brain function.
Group 1
Your response to the question should be provided in six parts: A, B, C, D, E, and F. Write the response to each part of the question in complete sentences. Use appropriate psychological terminology in your response.
Participants The study involved 100 adults aged 18 to 65, recruited from a local community through advertisements. Participants were screened for neurological conditions and psychiatric disorders that could confound results. Demographic information, including age, gender, and educational background, was collected to control for potential confounding variables.
Methodology Participants completed a series of self-report questionnaires to assess sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Following this, they underwent cognitive testing that included tasks assessing attention (Stroop Test), memory (Word List Recall), and problem-solving (Raven's Progressive Matrices). Correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between PSQI scores (higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality) and cognitive performance.
Graph: A scatter plot displays the relationship between PSQI scores and performance on the Word List Recall task (measured by the number of words recalled).
PSQI Score (Higher = Poorer Sleep Quality) Words Recalled (Mean) 5 9 10 7 15 5 20 3 Note: The scatter plot shows a negative correlation, indicating that as PSQI scores increase, the number of words recalled decreases.
Results The analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between sleep quality (PSQI scores) and cognitive performance (r = -0.78, p < .001). Participants with higher PSQI scores demonstrated significantly poorer performance on memory tasks, specifically the Word List Recall (M = 5 for PSQI scores of 20 compared to M = 9 for PSQI scores of 5). The results suggest that poorer sleep quality is associated with decreased cognitive functioning.
Discussion These findings support the hypothesis that sleep quality is inversely related to cognitive functioning. The negative correlation observed indicates that individuals with poorer sleep quality tend to recall fewer words, highlighting the critical role of adequate sleep in memory performance. This study contributes to a growing body of literature emphasizing the importance of sleep for optimal brain function. Future research could explore causal relationships and interventions aimed at improving sleep quality to enhance cognitive abilities.
Question 1a
Identify the research method used in the study.
Question 1b
State the operational definition of cognition.
Question 1c
Describe the meaning of the differences in the scores between sleep quality and cognitive performance.
Question 1d
Identify at least one ethical guideline applied by the researchers.
Question 1e
Explain the extent to which the research findings may or may not be generalizable using specific and relevant evidence from the study.
Question 1f
Explain how at least one of the research findings supports or refutes the researcher’s hypothesis that subjects would conform to incorrect answers given unanimously by a group, even when the subject knew the answer was incorrect.
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