Question

Julie finds that the number of hours she sleeps each night is related to the scores she receives on quizzes the next day. As her sleep approaches 8 hours, her quiz scores improve; as her sleep drops to 5 hours, her quiz scores show a similar decline. Julie realizes that ______________________.

A) there is a negative correlation between the number of hours she sleeps and her quiz grades

B) there is a positive correlation between the number of hours she sleeps and her quiz grades

C) her low quiz scores are caused by sleep deprivation the night before a quiz

D) she should sleep about 10 hours a night to ensure 100 percent quiz grades

Answer 1

Julie realizes that there is a positive correlation between the amount of sleep she gets and her quiz scores, reflecting the benefits of optimal sleep on academic performance.

Step-by-step explanation:

Julie realizes that there is a positive correlation between the number of hours she sleeps and her quiz grades. This means as Julie's hours of sleep increase, so do her quiz scores; conversely, when her sleep decreases, her scores tend to decline. Julie's observation reflects the notion that getting an optimal amount of sleep can lead to better academic performance, which is supported by various research findings.

Research often demonstrates a positive correlation between sleep and cognitive functions such as creative thinking, language learning, and inferential judgments. Moreover, inadequate sleep can lead to sleep debt which negatively impacts alertness and mental efficiency. The National Sleep Foundation has highlighted the importance of adequate sleep for maintaining good health and cognitive function, recommending 7-9 hours for adults.