This essay will evaluate two strengths and two weaknesses of the Dement and Kleitman study.
A strength of this study is its useful application in real life. This is a strength because a useful study can
benefit society and improve the quality of life. In this study, the useful application is seen from the use of
EEG machines to obtain reliable findings. For example, the EEG machine can be used to study the effect
of environmental change on sleep quality through observing and comparing the depth of sleep of the
patients. Similarly, it can be used to study the effect of psychological stress, such as exam stress, on sleep
quality. Hence, useful application in real life adds strength to this study.
Another strength of the study is low ethical issues. This is a strength because it preserves the name of
psychology and protects participants from potential harm. This study adhered to the ethical guidelines of
informed consent and right to withdraw. For example, all 9 participants were recruited through volunteer
sampling, meaning that they were aware that they were under study. Furthermore, 4 participants withdrew
from the study halfway through it. Hence, the study has a strength of high ethics.
On the other hand, a weakness of the study is low generalisability. This is a weakness because it makes
the study harder to be generalised and applied to most people most of the time. In this study, the study has
a small sample size and ethnocentric bias. For example, there were only 9 participants, in which only 5
were studied intensively. Furthermore, there were 7 males and 2 females in the sample. Thus, to deal with
this weakness, future studies should have a larger sample size with an equal number of both genders.
The other weakness of the study is low ecological validity. This is a weakness because it makes it harder
to generalise the findings to real life. This study’s low ecological validity is a result of the diet
requirement for participants and the setting. For example, the participants were required to refrain from
taking alcohol and caffeine which might be part of their daily diet. Thus, it might alter their sleep and
routines. Furthermore, the participants slept in a laboratory which is different from their usual sleep
environment. Hence, to deal with this weakness, future studies should allow the participants to carry on
their daily diet as usual and carry out the experiment in the participants’ homes.
A strength of this study is its useful application in real life. This is a strength because a useful study can
benefit society and improve the quality of life. In this study, the useful application is seen from the use of
EEG machines to obtain reliable findings. For example, the EEG machine can be used to study the effect
of environmental change on sleep quality through observing and comparing the depth of sleep of the
patients. Similarly, it can be used to study the effect of psychological stress, such as exam stress, on sleep
quality. Hence, useful application in real life adds strength to this study.
Another strength of the study is low ethical issues. This is a strength because it preserves the name of
psychology and protects participants from potential harm. This study adhered to the ethical guidelines of
informed consent and right to withdraw. For example, all 9 participants were recruited through volunteer
sampling, meaning that they were aware that they were under study. Furthermore, 4 participants withdrew
from the study halfway through it. Hence, the study has a strength of high ethics.
On the other hand, a weakness of the study is low generalisability. This is a weakness because it makes
the study harder to be generalised and applied to most people most of the time. In this study, the study has
a small sample size and ethnocentric bias. For example, there were only 9 participants, in which only 5
were studied intensively. Furthermore, there were 7 males and 2 females in the sample. Thus, to deal with
this weakness, future studies should have a larger sample size with an equal number of both genders.
The other weakness of the study is low ecological validity. This is a weakness because it makes it harder
to generalise the findings to real life. This study’s low ecological validity is a result of the diet
requirement for participants and the setting. For example, the participants were required to refrain from
taking alcohol and caffeine which might be part of their daily diet. Thus, it might alter their sleep and
routines. Furthermore, the participants slept in a laboratory which is different from their usual sleep
environment. Hence, to deal with this weakness, future studies should allow the participants to carry on
their daily diet as usual and carry out the experiment in the participants’ homes.
