Circadian Rhythms A03

Question 1

Strength - help with understanding issues shift work

Answer 1

Disruption of cr = desynchronisation
Occurs with shift workers
Mistakes r most likely to happen early in morn and reduced concentration around 6am (circadian trough - Bolvin et al)
Shift workers r more likely to develop heart disease than usuals
May be due to stress of adjusting to different sleep wake cycles
Can help with with worker productivity+ work accidents

Question 2

Desynchronisation - issues

Answer 2

Methodological flaws - studies that study shift work use correlational methods
Not sure is desynchronisation of sleep/wake cycle is a cause of negative effects
Solomon et al = divorce rate might be due to deprived sleep + missing out on fam events
May not be biological factors that cause thi

Question 3

Lim of cr

Answer 3

Duffy et al found some people r larks (rise early ans sleep early) others r owls (sleep late and wake late)
Individual differences in sleep wake cycle so may not account for all
Complicates generalisation

Question 4

Lim - use of case studies (siffre)

Answer 4

Ashchoff + weaver
Not representative of whole population + limits generalisation
Also siffre was 60, internal clock ticked more slowly when younger so when same person involved, may prevent general conclusions being drawn