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How can we manipulate our state of arousal to reach an optimal level? -…
How can we manipulate our state of arousal to reach an optimal level?
Potential independent variables
2. Caffeine intake
(stimulant that can increase short-term arousal, alertness and cognitive performance
Ways to measure:
Self-report questionnaires and surveys: (e.g Profile of mood states or Standford Sleepiness Scale)
Reaction time test
Monitoring heart rate and blood pressure
Measuring catecholamine levels
1. Exercise
High intensity exercise has the potential to impact
physiological
and
psychological
responses
Psychological
Improved cognitive function
Reduction in anxiety and depression
Ways to measure:
Measuring cortisol (stress) levels
Self-reported questionnaires and surveys
Activity logging over time
Exercise increases the production of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine
High intensity exercise can be
a distraction from anxieties
Physiological
Endorphin production
Ways to measure:
Heart rate variability (HRV)
Mood and pain assessments
Metabolite analysis
Blood plasma analysis
Intense physical exercise stimulates endorphin production, therefore leading to an improvement in mood and alertness
Enhances mood
Kills pain
Adrenaline Release:
Ways to measure:
Wearing electrochemical sensors
Heart rate and blood pressure
Hair analysis
24 hour urine collection
All of the above lead to heightened arousal and alertness, all possibilities to measure
Increases energy availability
Increases blood pressure
Increases heart rate
3. Environmental lighting and temperature
(Bright light can increase arousal, where as dim light can promote relaxation)
Ways to measure:
Core body temperature
Light meters can measure light intensity, blue light specifically is known to influence arousal
Temperature sensors can measure the ambiant temp of the environment
Exercise as the IV
Limitations and Considerations
Individuals have
different fitness levels
; therefore, high intensity exercise could be low for another, leading to different arousal responses
Pre-existing health conditions
can limit the ability to engage in certain activities therefore affecting arousal response
Determining the optimal
intensity and duration
of exercise for each individual can be challenging
Through subjective measurements (self reported arousal levels) the results could affected by individual
perceptions and biases
Through physiological measurements (heart rate or cortisol levels) results can be influenced by
diet, sleep and emotional state
For a longitudinal study,
inconsistent exercise patterns
can affect arousal levels.
Caffeine Intake as the IV
Limitations and Considerations
Individuals vary in their tolerance to caffeine.
A higher dosage may be needed to achieve the same arousal levels as another
High dosages of caffeine can cause
jitteriness, anxiety and gastrointestinal issues
, counteracting any arousal-benefits.
Experiment should be conducted in a
controlled environment
, to minimise the influence of external factors on arousal measurements/
A
standardised dosage
should be made for each participant based on weight and regular consumption patterns.
Enviromental temperature as the IV
Limitations and Considerations
Individuals bodies regulate temperature differently,
due to age, gender, fitness level and health conditions. This can affect how people respond to environmental temperature changes.
Paricipants may have
adapted to certain temperatures
based on habitat over time, which can reduce the impact of temperature change on arousal
The type and amount of clothing
wore by participants could effect their thermal comfort and arousal responses.
standardised protocols
will need to be used for clothing, activity levels, and duration of exposure to ensure consistency across participants.
Data types
Quantitive
data benefits
Reduces researcher bias
High replicability
High generalisability
Allows for precise measurement and comparison
Qualitative
data benefits:
Deeper insights into participant's thoughts, feelings and experiences, offering a deeper understanding
Provides a holistic view
Captures the human element, making it more beneficial for psychology-related research
Cross-sectional
data benefits
Useful for descriptive and comparative studies
Quicker and less resource-intensive compared to longitudinal data
Can cover a wide range of variables and participants