Experiment Topic
How Does the Amount of Sleep Affect Reaction Time?
Students will analyze provided experimental data and prepare a full scientific report using Word and Excel.
Background
Reaction time is the amount of time a person needs to respond to a stimulus. Sleep is believed to influence concentration, alertness, and brain performance.
In this investigation, students tested reaction time after different amounts of sleep.
Research Question
How does the number of hours of sleep affect average reaction time?
Hypothesis
If the number of hours of sleep increases, then reaction time will improve (become shorter) because the brain is more rested and alert.
Variables
| Variable Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Independent Variable | Hours of sleep |
| Dependent Variable | Reaction time (milliseconds) |
| Controlled Variables | Same computer, same test, same room conditions |
Data for Analysis
Raw Experimental Data
| Student | Hours of Sleep | Reaction Time Trial 1 (ms) | Trial 2 (ms) | Trial 3 (ms) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4 | 392 | 401 | 388 |
| B | 4 | 410 | 398 | 405 |
| C | 5 | 360 | 371 | 365 |
| D | 5 | 355 | 349 | 361 |
| E | 6 | 320 | 315 | 325 |
| F | 6 | 330 | 327 | 322 |
| G | 7 | 289 | 301 | 295 |
| H | 7 | 300 | 294 | 291 |
| I | 8 | 260 | 268 | 255 |
| J | 8 | 250 | 259 | 254 |
| K | 9 | 240 | 235 | 238 |
| L | 9 | 228 | 232 | 230 |
Student Tasks
Part 1 — Excel Processing
Students must:
1. Enter Data into Excel
Create a clean data table.
2. Calculate Average Reaction Time
Use Excel formulas to calculate the average for each student.
Formula
Average Reaction Time=T1+T2+T33\text{Average Reaction Time} = \frac{T_1 + T_2 + T_3}{3}
Excel Formula Example
=AVERAGE(C2:E2)3. Create a Summary Table
Students should create a second table:
| Hours of Sleep | Average Reaction Time |
|---|---|
| 4 | ? |
| 5 | ? |
| 6 | ? |
| 7 | ? |
| 8 | ? |
| 9 | ? |
They must calculate averages for each sleep group.
4. Create Charts
Required Chart
Scatter plot or line graph showing:
- X-axis → Hours of Sleep
- Y-axis → Average Reaction Time
Chart Requirements
- Title
- Axis labels
- Units
- Clear formatting
Word Report Structure
Students must prepare a formal scientific report containing:
- Title Page
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Research Question
- Hypothesis
- Variables
- Method
- Data Collection
- Data Analysis
- Charts
- Conclusion
- Evaluation
- References
- Appendix
Hints for Students
Introduction
Explain:
- what reaction time is
- why sleep may influence it
Recommended length:
100–150 words
Data Analysis Hints
Students should look for:
- trends
- patterns
- anomalies
- comparison between groups
Questions to answer:
- Did more sleep improve reaction time?
- Was the relationship strong?
- Were there any unusual results?
Conclusion Hints
A good conclusion:
- answers the research question directly
- refers to the data
- mentions whether the hypothesis was supported
Weak Conclusion
Sleep affects reaction time.
Strong Conclusion
Students who slept 8–9 hours had significantly faster reaction times than students who slept 4–5 hours, supporting the hypothesis that increased sleep improves alertness.
Evaluation Hints
Students should discuss:
- small sample size
- human error
- individual biological differences
- accuracy of measurements
Possible improvements:
- test more students
- repeat over several days
- use professional equipment