Dement and Kleitman (1957) (Sleep and Dreams)

Question 1

What is the general aim of the study?

Answer 1

To investigate the relationship between eye movements and dreaming.

Question 2

What are the specific aims of the study?

Answer 2

• Does dream recall differ between REM and NREM stages of sleep?
• Is there a positive correlation between estimated dream duration and REM period length?
• Are eye movements related to the dream content?

Question 3

What is the research hypothesis regarding REM sleep?

Answer 3

There will be a significant association between REM sleep and dreaming.

Question 4

What is the research hypothesis regarding dream duration?

Answer 4

There will be a positive correlation between estimated dream duration and REM period length.

Question 5

What is the research hypothesis regarding eye movement patterns?

Answer 5

There will be a significant association between eye movement patterns and dream content.

Question 6

What does an EEG do?

Answer 6

EEG (electroencephalogram) traces brain waves and can measure which areas of the brain are more active. It is used in this study to measure REM/NREM sleep.

Question 7

What does an EOG do?

Answer 7

EOG (electrooculogram) = traces eye movements during sleep.

Question 8

What revealed the association between REM sleep and dreams?

Answer 8

Aserinsky (1955) revealed that participants who woke from REM sleep reported more vivid dreams. Just remember that previous studies suggested that REM sleep is when we dream.

Question 9

What type of research method was used in the study?

Answer 9

A laboratory experiment.

Question 10

What is the independent variable (IV) in Approach 1?

Answer 10

Whether they woke up from REM or NREM.

Question 11

What is the dependent variable (DV) in Approach 1?

Answer 11

Whether they recalled a dream or not.

Question 12

What correlational method was used in Approach 2?

Answer 12

Correlational analysis was used to cross-check estimated dream duration and word count of dream narratives.

Question 13

How many participants were involved in the study?

Answer 13

9 participants (7 males and 2 females).

Question 14

What was the sample size for the main participants?

Answer 14

5 main participants spent between 6 - 17 nights in the lab.

Question 15

What did participants need to avoid on the day of the study?

Answer 15

Caffeine and alcohol.

Question 16

What equipment was used to monitor participants during the study?

Answer 16

EOG electrodes near the eye and EEG electrodes on the scalp.

Question 17

What was the purpose of waking participants with a doorbell?

Answer 17

For standardisation.

Question 18

How did the researchers operationalize a dream?

Answer 18

A dream only counted if the recall was clear.

Question 19

What were participants asked to do after being woken up from REM sleep?

Answer 19

Guess the duration they had dreamt for.

Question 20

What was recorded to prevent researcher bias during dream narrative collection?

Answer 20

Dream narrative recorded on a tape recorder.

Question 21

True or False: Participants were allowed to drink caffeine on the day of the study.

Answer 21

False

Question 22

What percentage of dream recall occurs when woken from REM sleep?

Answer 22

79.6%

Waking from NREM sleep results in 7% dream recall.

Question 23

Was the participants’ ability to recall their dreams affected by how soon they were woken up after REM sleep?

Answer 23

Yes

Waking up within 8 minutes of REM sleep results in 30% dreams recalled.

Waking after more than 8 minutes resulted in only 4% of dreams recalled.

Question 24

What was the accuracy rate for estimating REM duration for 5 minutes?

Answer 24

88%

78% accuracy for 15 minutes.

Question 25

What is the relationship between REM duration and word count in dream recall?

Answer 25

Positive correlation.

Question 26

What types of eye movements were observed in relation to dream content?

Answer 26

* Vertical eye movement * Horizontal eye movement * Both vertical and horizontal * Little or no movement

Question 27

Do dreams occur during REM sleep or NREM sleep?

Answer 27

Only during REM sleep.

Question 28

What does the similarity between estimated dream duration and REM period lengths indicate?

Answer 28

Dreams are experienced in real-time.

Question 29

What is the significance of eye movements during dreams?

Answer 29

They correspond to where and what the dreamer is looking at.

Question 30

What dream content was associated with vertical eye movements?

Answer 30

Standing at the bottom of a tall cliff.

Question 31

What dream content was associated with horizontal eye movements?

Answer 31

Two people throwing tomatoes at each other.

Question 32

What dream content was associated with little or no eye movement?

Answer 32

Watching something in the distance or staring at an object.

Question 33

What are the three main conclusions of the study?

Answer 33

1. Dreams occur during REM sleep only. Dreams reported from NREM sleep are from previous REM episodes. 2. Dreams occur in real-time. Estimated dream duration and REM period length were similar, proving that dreams are not instantaneous. 3. Eye movements are linked to dream content. They are not random but correspond to where and what the dreamer is looking at.

Question 34

What factors increased the study’s reliability?

Answer 34

1. Controlled lab experiment with standardized procedures. 2. Doorbell ensured instant awakening, preventing memory loss of dreams.

Question 35

How were demand characteristics avoided?

Answer 35

Participants were not told if they were in REM or NREM, preventing them from trying harder to recall dreams.

Question 36

What aspects ensured validity?

Answer 36

1. The study operationalized the definition of a dream and standardized the method of waking participants up. 2. Participants had to choose between 5 or 15 minutes, reducing participant variables like guessing ability.

Question 37

What types of data were collected?

Answer 37

1. Quantitative data: Brain waves, eye movements, and REM duration (EEG & EOG). 2. Qualitative data: Dream content (but this was subjective and could affect validity).

Question 38

How does the sample size affect generalizability?

Answer 38

1. Both genders were included, increasing generalizability. 2. Sample size was small (9 participants), limiting generalizability.

Question 39

Why does the study lack ecological validity?

Answer 39

1. Participants avoided caffeine and alcohol, which might alter their normal dreaming patterns. 2. Sleeping in a lab with electrodes may have disrupted natural sleep behavior.

Question 40

How does this study relate to nature vs. nurture?

Answer 40

Nurture: Dream content is based on life experiences. Nature: The ability to dream is biologically determined.