Critique of a Research Study

Slow wave sleep

Analyzing the effects of slow wave sleep on memory

Victor Chiumia

PSY 326

Instructor Jessica Wyman

November 23rd , 2015

The tittle of the study is “Sleep, Memory, and Aging: The Link between Slow-Wave Sleep and Episodic Memory Changes from Younger to Older Adults” written by Michael K. Scullin. It aims to uncover the relationship between slow wave sleep and the ability of humans to retain memory. Slow wave sleep is the deep sleep that occurs during non-rapid eye movement. It is called slow wave sleep because at this stage of slumber, the brain electrical activity is synchronized with slow waves of low frequency. Previous research has proven that slow wave sleep is crucial to the retaining of memory but until now, the dynamics of this relationship was not clear(Scullin, 2013).

In conducting the research, the researcher is trying to determine the correlation between slow wave sleep, memory retention, and aging. The author of the research aims to link together these three seemingly distinct variables and create a conceptual theory that explains how aging memory and deep sleep are related. The researcher asks a series of questions that help to guide the research process. These questions are, is there a correlation between short weave sleep in humans and memory consolidation? If so how significant is this relationship, is short wave sleep crucial to the memory consolidation process? The researchers then measure the amount of short wave sleep that young and old adults get. They compare this information with the increasing reduction in the ability to retain memory, as adults grow older and attempt to make a connection to the lesser amounts of short wave sleep that older adults get(Scullin, 2013).

Qualitative research is exploratory research conducted to gain an understanding of the underlying reasons of a problem. Qualitative research aims to provide a detailed description of the research process. Qualitative research is usually conducted a precursor to quantitative research.

Quantitative data aims to quantify the problem by generating numerical data. This data is then converted to useful statistics. Quantitative research is used to quantify behaviors, opinions, attitudes among numerous other variables. The mandate of quantitative research is to provide a clearer picture using statistical methods. A quantitative researcher uses tool such as surveys, questionnaires, and measurements.

The research conducted by Michael K. Scullin is quantitative in nature. In his research, he aims to uncover the relationship between slow wave sleep and memory by measuring sleep patterns and memory retention abilities of adults. Among the measurement taken are, time spent sleeping, age and ability to recall memory. In order to test the ability to recall memory the participants were given word pair combination to memorize before sleep. They were quizzed on these word pair combinations after waking from slow wave sleep(Scullin, 2013).

The research conducted by Michael K. Scullin relates to the field of sleep phycology. Sleep Psychology aims to understand how sleep affects psychological patterns. This is in order to be able to treat and diagnose sleep disorders. Sleep psychology addresses psychological, physiological, and behavioral factors that underpin disordered and normal sleep patterns across the lifespan of a human. The field of Sleep Psychology is committed to providing evidence‐based psychological approaches to the treatment and cure of sleep disorders.

Overall, the research paper does not consider ethics. The whole sum of the text does not contain the word ethics. Regardless ethics is crucial to any research attempts. The researcher should have considered the ethical treatment of the research subject and not used them as disposable guinea pigs. Careful consideration should be given to the human rights of the research subjects.

References

Apa.org,. (2015). Retrieved 23 November 2015, from http://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/sleep.aspx

Explorable.com,. (2015). Quantitative and Qualitative Research - Objective or Subjective?. Retrieved 23 November 2015, from https://explorable.com/quantitative-and-qualitative-research

Scullin, M. (2013). Sleep, memory, and aging: The link between slow-wave sleep and episodic memory changes from younger to older adults. Psychology And Aging, 28(1), 105-114. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0028830