Method

Procedure

1.    We will contact a minimum of fifteen people to be test subjects to give ourselves a wide enough sample space. We are looking for people who have varied sleep times between their weekdays and weekends.

2.    We will confirm the length of their sleep by receiving sleep logs: 7-day long records of the time they wake up and go to sleep.

3.    Then, we will prepare two tests (appendix a, b), testing each subject on one on the weekend, and one on the weekday.

4.    Our test will be a list of words, to be recalled in the morning, chosen amongst a list of false words. Each subject will receive an e-mailed document containing the test, and instructions to only open it just before going to sleep.

5.    In the morning, as soon as they wake up, the subjects are to open the second electronic document as the instructions explain, and complete the quiz.

6.    From the data received, we will compare the difference in amount of sleep to difference in responses on the tests to extract our results.

Notes

1.    The test subjects are to take the test on the given night with absolutely no variation to their regular schedule. (That is, since there are many possible variables that can affect the experiment’s outcomes, we will instruct our subjects to keep their evening routines constant. Also, there are factors that can affect sleep so we will provide information on them to our subjects) 

2.    The contents are to be read only once.

3.    They must hand in the unrevised answer sheet as soon as it is completed.

4.    They will repeat the process with both tests on weekdays and weekends.

5.    Please note: Holidays count as weekends.

Materials

1.    Weekday test (appendix a).

2.    Weekday answer sheet.

3.    Weekend test (appendix b).

4.    Weekend answer sheet.