Correlation versus Causation
This study scenario asserts that a sufficient amount of sleep can be useful in curing depression and the impact on energy and intelligence levels. Upon evaluating the case, it is clear that it does not abide by critical scientific guiding principles and clear rules.
Part one
Correlation versus Causation
The guiding principle of correlation vs causations is the first guiding principle that has been violated in this research. A correlation refers to a recognized relationship between two items without necessarily implying causation. Always, causation is determined as the cause of the event that is taking place. The research scenario asserts that sleep deprivation is the cause of depression, and persons with depression have lower intelligence and lower energy levels. Depression relates to sleeping, and inadequate sleep is not the cause of depression as sleeping is an essential requirement, and it cannot be the critical cause of depression. Dr Springfield contradicts the assertion when he states that “The best way to reduce depression is to get some sleep.” This supposition has been affirmed by other researches that have pointed to the distressing conclusion: poor sleep lead to depression. Multiple reasons could result in depression, such home environment, school, family, poor upbringing, self-identity and struggle to fit into the community. These problems can be alleviated by ensuring that a person has a sufficient sleep. To arrive at wrapping up that sleeping adequately can heal depression, other factors must be considered, and comprehensive studies must be done to further expunge different plausible explanations. This is why adequate sleep has been found to improve mood and give energy but cannot be considered as the cause of depression.
Falsifiability
Falsifiability refers to the ability of the statement or a model to be proved false and is an essential element of scientific testing. For aim assertion to be falsifiable, there must be the available mechanism of refuting the claim by gathering sufficient data that offer a foundation for testing the claim. If the argument cannot be tested, then it is not an ideal argument. This research scenario affirms that the lack of sleep in the cause for depression and having little sleep is directly related to lower intelligence coupled with lower levels of activity. The relationship between depression and sleep is sophisticated, as ideally depression can lead to sleep issues, and sleep deprivation may significantly contribute to depression. Dr Springfield explains that the best method of reducing depression must involve getting sufficient sleep. The assertion that sleep deprivation leads to depression, and the right mechanism to lower depression is sleeping adequately cannot be falsified. Since every person must sleep (life necessity), thus it cannot be disapproved to be a depression cause. There are multiple causes of depression that must be considered as not every patient suffers depression for the similar reason. There scenario therefore cannot be proved to be false or correct meaning it cannot be employed in scientific method testing.
Part Two
Talk of ‘proof’ instead of ‘evidence’
Science is a consistent discipline where fresh information is established every day, also the persistent beliefs and claims are being investigated afresh. Ultimate proof that anchors an assertion is entirely uncommon. Because of this reasons, all scientists and researchers are require to be prepared for their findings to be refuted. Therefore, they must focus on making moderate claims that offers room of the claim to be found false. For instance, a claim needs to be worded in a manner that it leaves a possibility for alternative explanations contradicting a claim. All claims must be reasonable to the extent that “it is possible that or the evidence suggest. In contrast, the scenario being discussed provides direct statements that give no room for a different explanation. For example, Sleep appeared to considerably raise intelligence!”, and “The best way to lower depression is to get enough sleep.” In this instance, there can be multiple reasons why depression attacks people as well as how intelligence is negatively affected in view of that. These different reasons must be crossed out or refuted to formulate both a strong and a direct argument that it make it look as if sleep deprivation is sole contributor to depression. Part Three
Absence of Control Group
The purpose of utilizing control groups in a research is to reduce the impacts of variables external to the independent variable that is being assessed. Making the comparison of the outcomes between the experiment and control group increase the study reliability, leading in an excellent scientific exploration. Therefore, this is why presence of a control group is an essential aspect of any scientific investigation. If the control group is missing in an experiment, it is impossible to establish the causal relationship between the dependant and independent variables. In this case study, the researcher has not mentioned the availability of a control group that would make the research reliable for the scientific usage. Although this scenario concluded that sleep is important whether or not a person is depressed, still it cannot be regarded as a control group as this a was a different research that employed varying parameters and sample group. Additionally, control group was missing in the studies that focused on intelligence in comparison with depression. The experimentation led in an abnormal results where the score increased by 300%, this difference was too huge, thus requiring a control group to be utilized as a baseline for comparing groups and
assessing the impact of that intervention.
Biasness
One of the barriers of obtaining information through interviews and self surveys is that subjects are more likely to change their response to the questions with aim of conveying a positive impression to the public. Rather than responding genuinely, respondents strive to give information that will make them to be considered as how the ideal individual would be. This distorted and false information can negatively impact on the study accountability, and the study would be regarded impracticable for supporting a claim. For instance, during the reporting day, a student may wear his or her best cloths with aim of conveying
the impression of being clean and organized to the school management. They might also not discuss personal issues and treat it private incase a person their undesirable conducts such as smoking. Additionally, they may show different aspects of their life that portray them as disciplined or intelligent. This is referred to as positive impression management where a person strives to manage information they release to the public with aim of steering the opinion of others in a favorable manner.
In this case study, the information given by the participants was self reported, inclusive of the number of hours slept as well as the levels of depression. The information adduced could be subjected to the positive impression management easily as the subjects could have changed information to appear to have been excessively depressed and have little or no sleep at all.