Jon,+Jason

Mon 28 Feb: Post project plans on wiki
 * Based on the Skype conversations, groups will post their research question, research plan, tentative hypothesis, literature reviews, & potential research flaws/problems to the appropriate place on http://kduncan.phoenix.wikispaces.net/ . (UHSers will need to request wiki membership.)**
 * In the tentative (and later, the final) hypothesis, cite the source(s) used if the hypothesis is based on prior research.
 * Explain WHY your group came up with the tentative hypothesis.**
 * Be as thorough as possible on your group’s potential research flaws/problems
 * Responsibility for posting to the wiki: Mr. Duncan’s students

1. Research Question: Sleeping Patterns of both Illinois students and Korean students (limited to our high schools)
Research Plan: Internet (anonymous survey) such as www.surveymonkey.com (we can discuss the questions below). Stratified random sampling (pick X number of random students from each grade level)

Hypothesis: Students in University High School have a better chance of getting more sleep (defined by 7+ hours *) than KIS students
Literature reviews:

Jason: http://sleep-apnea-explained.com/differences.html http://www.parentingscience.com/sleep-requirements.html

Literature Review

Experts are not sure how much sleep is required for children and adults. The average number (7 for adults and 10 for children) are based on how much time the average individual spends in bed (even while awake). Sleep charts also do not tell us how sleep time varies across cultures, or how sleep times have changed throughout the ages. There is no optimal number of sleep hours recommended for people, yet experts know that this number is based on an individual's genetic makeup.

It is clear that sleep patterns vary internationally. Industrialized nations tend to have less time to sleep than traditional countries. Eastern Asian nations such as China sleep less than the United States, yet we cannot answer the question if east asian nation citizens get enough sleep; they just sleep less. Adults today also sleep less than adults from past time ears. However it is well known that lack of sleep is harmful to adults and children - scientists link sleep deprivation with fatigue and irritability.

Sleep time is also not correlated with growth. The average sleep time for 16 year olds is around 8.1 hours.

Artificial light has a large impact on sleeping patterns -- it is the biggest cause of cultural differences in sleep patterns across the world. Cultures that do not have artificial light have segmented sleep patterns. Cultures with artificial light tend to sleep continuously throughout the night and wake up later in the morning. Nomadic cultures tend to sleep in various times throughout the day rather than continuously at night. Mediterranean cultures routinely engage in short naps in the afternoons.

John:

Sleep is one of the basic needs of the human body. It helps the body recover after each day and prepare it for the next. Unfortunately, as important as it is, people are having trouble with getting enough sleep to keep them at an optimum health level. In order to combat this problem it is an imperative to know why we need sleep, how much sleep a person needs each night, what motivates them to get less sleep at night, and what could help them change their sleep habits. Human beings heavily depend on sleep to keep them going throughout the day. Oddly enough, the effect it has on the body is not as profound as one would expect. The actual muscles and organs of the body have the same reaction to sleep as they do when the person is calmly lying down fully awake and aware. The reason it is so important is because of the effect it has on the brain, more specifically the cortex. The cortex is the part of the brain that controls speech, thinking, and memory. When someone goes to sleep the cortex gets a break and effectively shuts off. The cortex is incredibly sensitive to sleep which is why staying up a small amount later than normal can throw off a person’s daily pattern. The effects of sleep deprivation were best documented in 1966 when the world record was set for going without sleep at a startling eleven days. Hallucinations were recorded starting in the fourth day and towards the end the subject had trouble distinguishing reality from fiction. It shows how absolutely important it is to make sure to get enough sleep to keep the delicate balance of the brain in place. How much sleep a person needs depends a lot on their age, but can be even more individualized than that. Although each age group has a basic guideline for sleep, some people can function perfectly fine with less while some people will need more in order to feel refreshed in the morning. The average amount of sleep for a teenager is typically between 8.25 hours and 9.25 hours while adults need around 7 to 9 hours. This, however, is the amount to keep someone at optimum awareness and ability. It is possible to average 4 to 5 hours but experiments show that sleeping that little results in significant physiological consequences. These consequences include trouble with paying attention or slower reflexes. Sleep deprivation can also result in an increase in stress hormones, which in turns causes an increase in appetite, which is why sleep deprivation is sometimes linked to obesity. All of these sources explain how important it is for people to sleep but the question is why people would ignore their sleep needs. In the case of teenagers, their circadian rhythms are set for them to go to sleep later yet they need to wake up earlier for school. This causes teenagers to be a common age group to be sleep deprived. In other cases the stressful workload from an adult’s occupation can raise stress hormones and cause sleep to be more difficult to obtain than if they found a way to help ease their stress. Sleep is an incredibly important part of anyone’s lifestyle because of how it helps the brain recharge after every day. The consequences from sleep deprivation can also range from trouble with problem solving to obesity. Unfortunately due to today’s society it becomes increasingly difficult to have a good night’s sleep, which is why it needs to be more of a priority.

potential research flaws/problems: Sleep anomalies (such as a hard week) or nonrandom samples of students (more problems)

Why: We came up with the tentative research because John told Jason that he actually got a full 9 hours of sleep on a school day. Jason was incredulous Is sleeping a cultural thing, a school thing, or something else? Are UHS students more organized/ get less hw / more time to sleep?

Before we begin, I think it is important that we discuss some differences regarding time schedules of our respective schools:

1. School start time? KIS: 8:00 AM (most get up at 6 to get ready, and then ride the bus at 7- 7:30 UHS: 7:00 AM or 8:00 AM Depending on what classes they have

2. School end time KIS: 2:45, buses leave at 3:00 PM. Sports stay in school until 5:15 UHS: 2:55

Please feel free to post anything I may have missed.

Questions to ask on survey:

1. How many hours of sleep do you get a night on average this week?

2. If less than 6 hours, why? a. studying b. leisurely activities (watching a movie, etc.) c. others

3. If more than 6 hours, why? a. etc.

Should we ask any other questions?

John's Raw Data

Freshman Sophomores
 * Hours || Why ||
 * 6 || Homework ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 8 || Performance ||
 * 7 || Homework ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 7 || Health, Homework ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 7.5 || Performance ||
 * 7 || Leisurely activities ||
 * 5.5 || Leisurely activities ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * 6 || Homework ||
 * 6.5 || Texting ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 6 || Homework ||
 * 8.5 || Tired ||
 * 7 || Performance ||
 * 6.5 || Not tired ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * Hours || Why ||
 * 6.5 || Homework ||
 * 8 || Health ||
 * 6 || Trouble sleeping ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * 6 || TV ||
 * 7 || Practice, 7:00 Class ||
 * 6.5 || Texting ||
 * 8 || Health ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * 7.5 || Performance ||
 * 8 || Tired ||
 * 6 || Homework ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 5.5 || Trouble sleeping ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 7.5 || Tired ||
 * 7 || Tired ||

Juniors Seniors
 * 7 || Homework, Phone ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * 7 || School Performance ||
 * 6.5 || TV ||
 * 9 || Athletic ||
 * 8 || Tired ||
 * 7.5 || Tired, Health ||
 * 7 || Performance ||
 * 6.5 || TV ||
 * 7.5 || Tired ||
 * 6 || Texting ||
 * 6.5 || Homework, Extracurricular ||
 * 8 || Performance ||
 * 6.5 || Leisurely ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 7 || Health ||
 * 6.5 || Leisurely ||
 * 8.5 || Health ||
 * 7.5 || Health ||
 * 5.5 || Texting ||
 * Hours || Why ||
 * 6 || Leisurely Activities ||
 * 8 || Academics, Athletics ||
 * 8 || Tired at night ||
 * 6 || Leisurely Activities ||
 * 5 || Family Activities ||
 * 9 || Health ||
 * 4.5 || Work/Trouble sleeping ||
 * 4.5 || Homework ||
 * 3.5 || Trouble Sleeping ||
 * 7.5 || Health ||
 * 6 || Phone (leisurely activities) ||
 * 7 || Tired ||
 * 5 || TV ||
 * 7.5 || Academic Performance ||
 * 6.5 || Homework, sports ||
 * 8 || Tired ||
 * 9 || Tired ||
 * 8.5 || Tired ||
 * 8 || Health ||
 * 6.5 || Leisurely activities ||

=KOREA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SLEEP SURVEY=

Total Surveyed: 80 Students Surveyed per Grade: 20 Students
 * Hours of Sleep || Freshmen || Sophomores || Juniors || Seniors ||
 * 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 4 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 ||
 * 5 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 5 ||
 * 6 || 8 || 7 || 9 || 7 ||
 * 7 || 7 || 7 || 4 || 6 ||
 * 8 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 2 ||
 * 9 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
 * 10 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||

Freshmen
Reasons Why (All that Apply):

School Related Works - 18 Personal Leisure - 15 Athletics - 2

Are you tired now? Yes - 17 No - 3

Sophomores
Reasons Why (All that Apply):

School Related Works - 20 Personal Leisure - 17 Athletics - 5

Are you tired now? Yes - 18 No - 2

Juniors
Reasons Why (All that Apply):

School Related Works - 20 Personal Leisure - 17 Athletics - 8

Are you tired now? Yes - 19 No - 1

Seniors
Reasons Why (All that Apply):

School Related Works - 17 Personal Leisure - 15 Athletics - 7

Are you tired now? Yes - 18 No - 2

I think that you may be better off with a more specific question and hypothesis because at first it was a little unclear to me what was going on. -Cymone

(Brianna Wirtz) With a survey how you ask the questions is important. You don't want to influence their choice.

Peyton: I think that doing a survey is a great idea. If you were to actually go and ask people these same questions then they probably wouldn't be honest about it. I think people take pride in being busy all the time, so they wouldn't tell you if they got a lot of sleep, so like I said I think doing a survey is great and will give you a more accurate result.

Danny- This sounds like a very good experiment but i agree with Bri in that they way you ask questions will be very important to your results.