In terms of data: We began with our initial survey to collect data to create a positive correlation between amount of sleep and well-being (Well-being: focus and energy levels), while considering other factors that may affect amount of sleep and well-being. We asked students 3 questions: how many hours of sleep they get each night, how tired they are each day (on a scale of 1-10), and how hard they find it to focus in class (on a scale of 1-10). Over 180 results showed that a majority of the student body is sleep deprived, so we began to compile data for our i2 project:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1b23Yc5CIz9DfEq01zyKhTuQy9ZSNnpr8VuBu800Nuv0/edit#slide=id.p
Our project has made major progress over the past few months in communication, location, and benefit to the SHC student (and part of the staff) population. We recently met with Mr. Sazo to discuss the final steps of this project: further implementation of our Space-Z: Nap Zones around the school campus. He directed us to Dr. Skrade, the president of our school, and we are currently awaiting a response.
Why we did the project: Our goal was to lessen the effects of sleep deprivation and increase the mental health of SHC students.
Our Experiment: With our experiment, we attempted to prove that more sleep improves mental health by giving students the opportunity to use their free time in school to take a nap or relax.
Purpose: With the use of the surveys (before and after use of Space Z), we hoped to positively associate the variables of hours of sleep/increase in rest to the increase in energy.
Consider: 3rd variable problem: that there may be other factors in addition to the variables above that contribute to the loss or gain or energy
Our Data:
- 110 survey responses
- 100% said that it was an opportunity to re-energize and re-focus
- 100% would like the nap zones to be permanent around the school (with a possible upgrade in the materials)
- 97% said that it improved their mental health, among other physical benefits
Analysis: We noticed higher levels of well-being are positively correlated with hours of sleep per night. Therefore, the more sleep students receive, the greater their feelings of well-being. When students were able to use the nap zones, their well-being increased and other effects of sleep deprivation (fatigue, low levels of attention, and irritability) decreased because they were able to catch up on their “sleep debts”, or relax during their free time.