AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
Statement of the Topic
How much sleep do high school students get, how much sleep constitutes
enough, and what are the effects on the students of sleep deprivation?
Outline: Students may be receiving amounts of sleep that result in sleep
deprivation, a state that can have negative effects of on health, safety and
academic success.
Keyword descriptors for ERIC search: sleep deprivation in students, teenagers, sleep
patterns
Operational Definitions
Sleep Deprivation

A lack of sufficient sleep, which can be either chronic

or acute

Obesity

A disorder that results in excessive body fat, resulting

in adverse health affects

Chronic

An ongoing condition experienced over an extended

period of time

Acute

An experience or condition that is severe or intense

Review of Related Literature

For this paper, I reviewed two newspaper articles and five web-based articles. They
shared the consensus that American teenagers are getting insufficient sleep and
suffering a variety of maladies as a result, including depression, obesity, and
difficulty paying attention at school.
Statement of the Hypothesis
A. Introduction:
The insufficient amount of sleep that American teenagers receive can lead to
negative impacts on their health, safety, and academic success. Studies
show that teenagers need at least nine and half hours of sleep a night.
However, 58% of 15-17 year-olds sleep less than seven hours each night. Due
to the delay in the release of melatonin, teenagers have a more difficult time
falling asleep than either adults or children. Chronic sleep loss contributes to
depression, obesity, and suicidal thoughts. Long-term effects of sleep loss
have been shown to include lower test scores, decreased concentration,
tardiness, and reduced academic success.

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
Dependent variables: nightly hours of sleep; Independent variables: high
school students
Hypothesis:
Many high school students are sleep deprived, resulting in diminished
performance in school and extra-curricular activities. This is considered a
deductive research project because research and articles have shown that
many high school students suffer from sleep deprivation. My research
hypothesis can be considered directional, because I can predict that a lack of
sleep in high school students will result in negative impacts.
Null hypothesis Ho==o
Alternative Hypothesis H1=.67
Population of interest
The population of interest is high school students who suffer sleep
deprivation, and sleep experts who study the effects of high school students
amount of sleep on their development
Ethical Principles
I ensured the ethical principles and guidelines were used to protect my
participants anonymity, by having them fill out the survey individually, and
by asking them to not sign their names on the survey.
What is being studied?
The amount of sleep students get, and the negative effects of sleep
deprivation on health, safety and academic success.
Survey
Grade: _____
1.

On average, how many hours of sleep do you

2.

How many days in the typical week do you

get a night?
A. 0-2 hours
B. 3-5 hours
C. 6-7 hours
D. 8 or more hours

feel tired?

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
A.
B.
C.
D.

1-2 days
3-4 days
5-7 days
0 days

3.
Do you ever feel that a lack of sleep impairs
your ability to perform at school?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Sometimes
D. Other ____________________________________________
4.
Have you ever fallen asleep in class?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Other ____________________________________________
5.
Have you ever tried to stay home from
school to catch up on sleep?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Other ____________________________________________
6.
Do you ever have to miss extracurricular
activities to catch up on sleep?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Other ____________________________________________
Bias
I avoided statistical bias in my questionnaire by wording the questions in an
impartial manner, ensuring that my data is accurate.
Descriptive statistics
Hours of Sleep per night for 9th Graders
Total numbers
Mean (average)
Standard Deviation
Variance (Standard Deviation)
Population Standard Deviation
3

13
8.0833
1.7298
6
2.9924
2
1.6562

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
Variance (Population Standard
Deviation)

2
2.7430
6

Hours of Sleep per night for 10th Graders

Total numbers
Mean (average)
Standard Deviation
Variance (Standard Deviation)
Population Standard Deviation
Variance (Population Standard
Deviation)

13
7.25
1.8153
4
3.2954
5
1.7380
5
3.0208
3

Hours of Sleep per night for 11th Graders

Total numbers
Mean (average)
Standard Deviation
Variance (Standard Deviation)
Population Standard Deviation
Variance (Population Standard
Deviation)

13
6.75
1.4847
7
2.2045
5
1.4215
6
2.0208
3

Hours of Sleep per night for 12th Graders

Total numbers
Mean (average)
Standard Deviation
Variance (Standard Deviation)
Population Standard Deviation
Variance (Population Standard
Deviation)

13
6.8333
3
1.6422
5
2.6969
7
1.5723
3
2.4722
2

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
Graphs

9th grade
15
10

Hous of sleep

5
0

Number of participants

10th grade
15
10

Numer of Hours

5
0

Number of participants

11th grade

Number of hours

10
8
6
4
2
0

Number of Participants

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6

12th grade
10

Number of Hours

5
0

Number of Participants

9th
10th
11th
12th
grade grade grade grade
10
11
6
8
9
9
5
7
6
5
7
5
9
6
5
6
8
8
6
5
10
7
8
7
7
9
9
8
6
6
7
9
8
6
5
6
9
7
6
4
10
5
9
8
5
8
8
9
Data Analysis
My graphs represent the amount of sleep each grade level gets based on my
survey. Within my data I have found that for grades 11 and 12 were more
likely prone to sleep deprivation than grades 9 and 10.
Subjects
The subjects chosen for my research were students at Austin High School,
ranging from freshmen to seniors, in order to get an accurate representation
of the entire school. I will randomly select 25 students from each of the
classes and survey them on the amount of sleep they receive each night. All
participants will be asked to complete the same survey, regardless of their
differing characteristics.
6

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6

Sampling Method
To choose my participants I created a generator to randomly choose 13
participants from each of the classes. This method prevented statistical bias
and created a fair and accurate survey.
Instruments
The survey measured the amount of sleep students at Austin High School
receive each night in order to determine how widespread sleep deprivation is,
and its effects. By having students self-report their data we reduce the
amount of transcription errors, and because the surveys are confidential,
students were able to report truthfully. Providing categorical answers to
choose from, such as categorizing the students amount of sleep in
increments of 0-5 hours of sleep, 6-8 hours of sleep, 9-12 hours of sleep, and
other (with descriptions), allowed me to organize my data.
Design of the Study
This study was comprised of a survey that I conducted and interpreted. This
design was chosen because it allowed me to collect and consider a variety of
different answers. In my survey I provided an array of answer choices to
account for all answers so that I could get the most accurate data.
Procedures
At the end of the school year, 25 students from all classes were randomly
selected to participate in my survey. Selected students individually completed
my survey, which I then tabulated and reviewed, and will publish the results.
On the resulting paper I plan to correlate the hours of sleep with
achievement, health, and academic success.
Informal report
As a junior in high school, Im well aware of the negative effects of sleep
deprivation can have on teenagers. However, I was surprised when I
conducted my survey by how many students at Austin High School were
receiving less than the recommended amount of sleep suggested for
teenagers. Since many of my subjects suffered from sleep deprivation, my
data could be useful for research about sleep deprivation in teenagers. By
posting my research online it will allow the public to gain access to this
important information.
Technical report

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
After tabulating data from 50 Austin High School students, who came from
each grade level, my survey showed that the average amount of sleep was
7.22917 hours a night, with a range from four to eleven hours of sleep. Based
on the 9.5 hours of sleep recommended for teenagers by Nationwide
Childrens Hospital, the high school students I surveyed are receiving far too
little sleep, and are very likely suffering from sleep deprivation.
Method of data analysis
After conducting my survey I reviewed my data, so that I could examine the
amount of sleep students at Austin High School received each night. By
dividing the amount of sleep students received into increments of 0-5 hours
of sleep, 6-8 hours of sleep, 9-12 hours of sleep, I could easily interpret the
amount of sleep students get each night. My prior reading suggested that
students receive an insufficient amount of sleep.
B. How much sleep do teenagers need?
1.
Average Americans suffer from sleep deprivation, but teenagers
are especially likely to fall into this category. Brody, Jane E. "Hard Lesson
in Sleep for Teenagers." New York Times, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Apr.
2015.
2.
Sleep provides energy for the brain; a lack of sleep can harmful
and limits the ability to learn. "Teens and Sleep." Sleep for Teenagers.
National Sleep Foundation, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
C. What factors can result in sleep deprivation in teenagers?
1.
Factors like homework, technology, and overscheduling can
result in sleep deprivation in teenagers. Garey, Juliann. "Get Informed."
Why Are Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived? Child Mind Institute, n.d. Web. 05
Apr. 2015.
2.
Sleep deprivation in teens can affect them now, but can also
negative lasting results. Boston, Gabriella. "Teens Are Sleep-deprived."
Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
D. What are the effects of sleep deprivation on teenagers?
1.
Sleep deprivation in teens can affect them now, but can also
negative lasting results. Boston, Gabriella. "Teens Are Sleep-deprived."
Washington Post. The Washington Post, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
2.
Sleep deprivation in teens can have both negative effects in
school and personal life. Carpenter, Siri. "Sleep Deprivation May Be

AQR, Final Project Assignment 05

Grace Hicks-Green
4/20/15
Per. 6
Undermining Teen Health. Http://www.apa.org. American Physiological
Association.
3.
Teens who suffer from sleep deprivation can also suffer with
irritability, mood swings, and depression. "Teen Health." Teen Sleep
Deprivation and Sleep Disorders. Web MD, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
4.
Teens today are getting less sleep; this can result in negative
impacts on health and school performance. Why U.S. Teens Are More
Sleep Deprived than Ever." CBS News. CBS Interactive, n.d. Web. 05 Apr.
2015.
References
Boston, Gabriella. "Teens Are Sleep-deprived." Washington Post. The Washington
Post, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
Brody, Jane E. "Hard Lesson in Sleep for Teenagers." Well Hard Lesson in Sleep for
Teenagers Comments. New York Times, 20 Oct. 2014. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
Carpenter, Siri. "Sleep Deprivation May Be Undermining Teen Health.
Http://www.apa.org. American Physiological Association
Garey, Juliann. "Get Informed." Why Are Teenagers So Sleep-Deprived? Child Mind
Institute, n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
"Teen Health." Teen Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Disorders. Web MD, n.d. Web. 05
Apr. 2015.
"Teens and Sleep." Sleep for Teenagers. National Sleep Foundation, n.d. Web. 05
Apr. 2015.
"Why U.S. Teens Are More Sleep Deprived than Ever." CBS News. CBS Interactive,
n.d. Web. 05 Apr. 2015.
Style Manual
I employed the style guide of the Modern Language Association (MLA) for this paper.