Sleep Deprivation And Effects On Academic Performance

Sleep Deprivation and Effects on Academic Performance
Emily M. Gonsalves
Butte College

Abstract
This experiment was conducted in order to determine the effects sleep deprivation has on academic performance among college students. I chose 1,580 students from Chico State along with 1,387 students from San Diego State aged 17-22 and GPAs ranging from 2.0-4.0. The students were tested on various information during 24 hours of wakefulness in order to determine how lack of sleep effected their performance. Self-reported surveys on usual sleep cycles, academic records, and personal and demographic information were given at the beginning of the study in order to notice or eliminate extraneous variables. Our goal was to see if it was harder to retain information and then perform academically when deprived of sleep.

Introduction Sleep deprivation has become a prominent issue in modern society. This problem can be due to many intrinsic and extrinsic factors in one’s personal life. Many believe that the prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain are effected by lack of sleep. While asleep, restoration of neurocognitive function takes place, which is vital to learning capacity and academic performance; hence, lack of sleep can impair our learning process detrimentally (Marhefka, Julie King,R.N., M.S.N, 2011). This issue becomes apparent among many students and can have substantial effects on their ability to perform in school. I have noticed and experienced these effects first hand and therefore, chose to conduct my experiment on this particular issue.
There have been numerous studies on the effects sleep deprivation has on a student’s academic performance. A study done by Carskadon and co-workers examined the effects of loss of sleep on cognitive performance among adolescence. They assessed the sleepiness along with performance level of 12 adolescence during a total of 38 hours of sleep deprivation. The results unveiled an increase in sleepiness along with a decrease in performance level and computation speed. Another study that manipulated sleep among college aged students resulted in impairment of psychomotor abilities, increase in sleepiness, poor memory, and a decrease in performance on verbal creativity and abstract thinking (Curcio, Ferrara, De Gennaro, 2006).
According to Gomes, A. A., Tavares, J., & de Azevedo, and M.P (2011), further research was conducted on sleep and academic performance among undergraduates. The participants included 1,654 full time students from a public University in Portugal. They were 55% female and 45% male from ages 17 to 25 years old. Information about the students were received through a sleep wake questionnaire, Eysenck personality inventory, and a composite morning questionnaire. Their performance at the end of the semester was then measured using self-reports of previous and current academic achievement along with objective perspective measures of how they did overall in their class. The results were that students who received the highest scores at the end of the semester reported earlier sleep phases, more stable bedtimes, and better sleep quality. On the other hand, those who received low scores at the end of the semester reported later sleep-wake phases and poor sleep quality. Overall, both studies unveiled a correlation between sleep deprivation and academic performance. My prediction is that lack of sleep will lead to a decrease in performance among students.
Participants
For my study, I went to two different universities in order to get a larger range of data and minimize environmental factors. I grouped together students from different majors and chose a select few with a range of GPAs from 2.0-4.0 from each group. From Chico State, I received data from 1,580 students 55% male and 45% female. From San Diego State, I received data from1, 387 students, 40% female and 60% male. I first conducted the study in Chico and then went down South to conduct the same study in San Diego. All participants were aged 17-22 with a variety of different backgrounds and academic achievements.
Procedure
I first gave out a survey to the participating students in order for them to self-report their sleeping patterns. I then had them self-report their previous and current academic records to see where they already stand. A third survey was also given to determine their demographics, age, and other relevant information. I tested the students 100 at a time being sure to include 50% female and 50% male with varying majors and GPAs. I composed a quiz including vocabulary words, random history facts, jeopardy questions, and word puzzles. The students were tested after a full nights rest with eight hours of sleep, after being awake for 12 hours straight, after 18 hours, and last after 24 hours of wakefulness. Their scores were then used to determine how sleep effected their ability to perform. The surveys taken at the beginning of the experiment were taken into consideration in order to eliminate the effect of extraneous variables.

References
Curcio, G., Ferrara, M., & De Gennaro, L. (2006, January 1). Sleep loss, learning capacity, and academic performance. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://kvccdocs.com/KVCC/2013-Spring/PSY101-OLA/content/L-04/sleep-loss.pdf
Gomes, A. A., Tavares, J., & de Azevedo, M. P. (2011). Sleep and Academic Performance in Undergraduates: A Multi-measure, Multi-predictor Approach. Chronobiology International: The Journal Of Biological & Medical Rhythm Research, 28(9), 786-801. doi:10.3109/07420528.2011.606518
Marhefka, Julie King,R.N., M.S.N. (2011). Sleep deprivation: Consequences for students. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 49(9), 20-25. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20110802-02

References: Curcio, G., Ferrara, M., & De Gennaro, L. (2006, January 1). Sleep loss, learning capacity, and academic performance. Retrieved December 14, 2014, from http://kvccdocs.com/KVCC/2013-Spring/PSY101-OLA/content/L-04/sleep-loss.pdf Gomes, A. A., Tavares, J., & de Azevedo, M. P. (2011). Sleep and Academic Performance in Undergraduates: A Multi-measure, Multi-predictor Approach. Chronobiology International: The Journal Of Biological & Medical Rhythm Research, 28(9), 786-801. doi:10.3109/07420528.2011.606518 Marhefka, Julie King,R.N., M.S.N. (2011). Sleep deprivation: Consequences for students. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 49(9), 20-25. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20110802-02