Dement and Kleitman (1957)

Question 1

What was the aim of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 1

To investigate the relationship between eye movements and dream activity during sleep.

Question 2

What was the method of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 2

9 participants were studied (5 in depth) under controlled lab conditions. An EEG was used to record eye movements and brain activity. They were woken and asked to recall their dream.

Question 3

What were the results of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 3

80% of participants reported dreaming during REM sleep.
9% reported dreaming during nREM sleep.

Question 4

What are strengths of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 4

• Tightly controlled = more reliable
• Participants were informed and gave consent

Question 5

What are weaknesses of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 5

• Small sample size = can’t be generalised.
• Lacks ecological validity = unusual, could have affected sleep patterns.
• Door bell wake up = startling, could affect ability to recall dream.
• Self report = unreliable, could lie.

Question 6

What are analysis points of Dement and Kleitman’s study?

Answer 6

• Application of this study is in the area of sleep disorders.
• Czeisler carried out an experiment in the field however D&K have greater reliability as it was a lab experiment.
• Findings relate to memory consolidation, reorganisational theory of sleep and dreams suggests this happens during REM sleep.
• Findings used to interpret Peter Tripp’s behaviour (eye twitching = REM sleep while awake)
• Findings could guide creation of interventions that could improve dream length and content.