Williams et al. (1992) study into the bizarreness of dreams & fantasies

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

To see if bizarreness of dreams is different to the bizarreness of daytime fantasises.

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

12 biopsychology students from Harvard University, aged 23 to 45

Question 3

research method

Answer 3

Natural experiment and self- report (journal entries)

Question 4

procedure

Answer 4

a) Participants kept a journal for a term recording any dreams
they could recall & any day dreams they experienced.

b) Researchers selected 60 dreams & 60 day dreams.

c) 3 different judges scored for bizarreness (inter-rater reliability).

Question 5

findings

Answer 5

Dreams were found to be a lot more bizarre than
daytime fantasies (day dreams).

There were good levels of inter-rater reliability
between the judges (88.7% similar scores).

Dreams scored higher than fantasies for: plot
discontinuity (greatest difference), plot
incongruity, uncertainty, and thought incongruity

Question 6

conclusion

Answer 6

The bizarreness of dreams is due to the brain activity during REM sleep.

Question 7

limitations

Answer 7

Sample too small & gender biased (10 females)- cannot be generalised.

Social desirability - self report so participants may have lied about/ changed their dreams/fantasies.