An Investigation on the Memory Recall of a 1st-year Psychology Student According to Sleep

Quality

Angel D. Dapilaga1,2,3, Julliane Miles M. Esteban1,2,3, Meccaella Nicoule L. Glorioso1,2,3, Sarah

Margarrete L. Paglinawan1,2,3, Ria Julia C. Santiago1,2,3, and Ms. Mara Escasinas, RPm, MP,
PRsy1,2,3,4

1
College of Arts and Sciences
2
Research Development and Innovation Center
3
Our Lady of Fatima University

4
Ms. Mara Escasinas, RPm, MP, PRsy

March 2023
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Endorsement

This thesis entitled: “An Investigation on the Memory Recall of a 1st-year Psychology
Student According to Sleep Quality” prepared by Angel D. Dapilaga, Julliane Miles M. Esteban,
Meccaella Nicoule L. Glorioso, Sarah Margarette L. Paglinawan, Ria Julia C. Santiago of
Bachelor of Science in Psychology 2YB-1, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing has been examined and now recommended for Oral
Examination.

This is to certify that Angel D. Dapilaga et al. are ready for the Oral Examination.

Ms. Mara Escasinas, RPm, MP, PRsy

Adviser

This is to certify that the thesis: “An Investigation on the Memory Recall of a 1st-year
Psychology Student According to Sleep Quality” prepared and submitted by Angel D. Dapilaga,
Julliane Miles M. Esteban, Meccaella Nicoule L. Glorioso, Sarah Margarette L. Paglinawan, Ria
Julia C. Santiago of Bachelor of Science in Psychology 2YB-1, is recommended for Oral
Examination/ has been examined by the panel of examiners with a grade of _____.

Name of Chairman, Title

Chairman

Name of panel, Title Name of panel, Title

Member Member

Name of Dean, Title

Dean, College

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Certificate of Originality

We hereby declare that this thesis is our own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and
belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person nor material to
which to a substantial extent has been accepted for award of any other degree or diploma of a
university or other institute of higher learning, except where due acknowledgement is made in the
text.

We also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of our work, even though
we may have received assistance from others on style, presentation and language expression.

Angel D. Dapilaga
Principal Investigator

Members:
Julliane Miles M. Esteban
Meccaella Nicoule L. Glorioso
Sarah Margarette L. Paglinawan
Ria Julia C. Santiago

Ms. Mara Escasinas, RPm, MP, PRsy

Research Adviser

Date Signed:
Date

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Table of Contents

Title Page xx
Endorsement xx
Letter of Originality
Abstract
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
CHAPTER 2
Theoretical Framework
Repair and restoration theory
Two-stage theory
Variable Discussion
Memory Recall
Sleep Quality
Research Paradigm
Problem Statements
Hypotheses
CHAPTER 3
Research Design
Research Locale
Population & Sampling
Research Ethics
Research Instruments
Data Collection
Data Analysis

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List of Tables

Table 1: Title of Table xx

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List of Figures

Figure 1: Title of Figure xx

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List of Appendices

Appendix A: Title of appendix xx

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Abstract

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1.0 Introduction
It has been a common practice for many students to stay up late at night in order to study
against a tight deadline, whether it be for a school presentation, a big assignment, or a coming
test. This has probably made them think about giving up sleep so they can spend more time
getting ready. Pulling an all-nighter is the most severe case of this sacrifice in an academic
setting. At first, pulling an all-nighter could appear to be advantageous because it would provide
additional time for working or studying. However, staying up late negatively affects your
memory, energy, and overall mental and physical well-being. Due to the aforementioned
consequences, staying up all night rarely yields positive results the next day. Some 43.7% of 18-
to 25-year-olds in a 2009 survey admitted to having fallen asleep at some point during the day
without meaning to (Centers for Disease Control, 2015). According to Significant Sleep
Deprivation and Stress among College Students USA (2023), around 20 percent of students pull
all-nighters at least once a month, and about 35 percent stay up past three in the morning once or
more weekly. In the last 20 years, scientists have found that sleep impacts more than just
students’ ability to perform well; it improves their ability to learn, memorize, retain, recall, and
use their new knowledge to solve problems creatively, all of which contribute to better academic
performance. The quantity of sleep an individual receives every night has also been
demonstrated to affect performance, specifically in memory recall under motor skills (Tucker &
Fishbein, 2009). Not getting sufficient sleep can have an effect on your ability to recall
information and learning capabilities. It is detrimental to our working memory, which is a bank
of temporary memory that we employ for day-to-day activities and tasks. Studies have also
shown that individuals who have insufficient sleep are more likely to generate false memories,
which might hinder their ability to remember information even after they resume their normal
sleep schedule (All-Nighters: Helpful or Harmful? | Sleep Foundation, 2017). There were 38.8
million individuals under the age of 20 who reported having memory problems between 2005 and
2008 (Centers for Disease Control, 2015).

There have been numerous attempts to show that sleep is linked to improved memory. The
lack of sleep is a contributing factor that is often overlooked, and perhaps the most
underappreciated factor in forgetting memory. It has a negative impact on a person's physical and
mental health as well as their ability to perform well at work, which can lead to mistakes and
forgetting. As per Sleep Deprivation Described as a Serious Public Health Problem (2014),
"Insufficient sleep is a public health issue”, due to the reason that affects nearly every aspect of
our existence, especially the biological processes of memorization and how we interact with the

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environment. The ability to remember new information is negatively impacted when you don't
get enough sleep because it disrupts the signals in the hippocampus, which is an area of the brain
implicated in the recalling of new memories. Along with that, it makes it difficult to consolidate
memories because it interferes with the normal process of building and keeping memories, which
is heavily correlated to NREM and REM sleep (How Does Lack of Sleep Affect Cognitive
Impairment? | Sleep foundation, 2016). Getting enough shut-eye each night can do wonders for
a student's ability to memorize, concentrate, focus, and do well in class (Sleep and Health, 2023).
Scientific investigations have shown two separate ways in which sleep benefits learning and
memory. First, a person who hasn't gotten enough rest won't be able to study as much as they
could. Second, the process of consolidating memories during sleep is crucial to retaining or
recalling information. Each of these steps is necessary for proper memory function. Without
adequate sleep, your brain has a harder time absorbing and recalling new information.

To address the issues that revolve around the topic of sleep and memory, the present study
intends to investigate and determine the memory recall of a 1st-year psychology student
according to sleep quality. The objective of the study is to compare the different groups of
participants according to their sleep quality and identify which group has good memory recall
among the participants. A scale and test will help to monitor, sort, and obtain an outcome from
the respondents. The length of the study is a requirement for achieving the objectives, and a well-
conducted exam will make objectives easier to achieve. The current study makes an important
contribution toward bridging the knowledge gap in existing theories, research, and practices. In
contribution to future research, the current study could pave the way for further inquiries and
investigations on the other contributing factors related to sleep and memory recall that isn’t
included in the scope of the study, which could advance our understanding of the topic. By
investigating the impact of sleep quality on memory recall, the study would benefit the students,
teachers, and other community members to become more aware and understand their sleep
quality and take the appropriate actions to address and improve their sleep practices if necessary.
The study can be utilized to enhance sleep quality and memory recall, which will be useful in
academic settings and daily living.

2.0 Literature Review

2.1 Theoretical Framework
The Theoretical framework for this study is presented in this chapter. The study's relevant
theories, as well as preceding studies, are discussed. This study was based on a critical

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examination of the researcher's conceptions and theories, from which important variables were
extracted. These theories have aided the researcher in narrowing the research challenge and
developing the study's conceptual framework.

Repair and restoration theory

It suggests that the function of sleep is to repair and restore the brain and body (Dokie, n.d.).
Two theorists have made major theoretical contributions to this general field. Oswald (1980) first
contributed to this theory and Horne (1988) was extended Oweald’s theory (Dokie, n.d.). Oswald
suggests that different types of sleep are required to repair and restore other biological functions.
The repair and restoration will happen during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep pattern. Rapid
Eye Movement (REM) sleep is necessary for brain development, repair, and recognition function.
Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) is also necessary for the growth and repair of the body (Dokie, n.d.). It
is important for protein synthesis as growth hormone is released during Slow Wave Sleep (SWS)
(Dokie, n.d.). Moreover, Horne suggests that sleep is divided into core sleep and optional sleep.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) are included in core sleep (Dokie,
n.d.). He suggests that the repair and restoration of the brain happen during core sleep while the
body happens during optional sleep, and can also happen at other times (Dokie, n.d.). By
contrast, the differences between Oswald and Horne are Oswald suggests that repair and
restoration of the brain and body are happening during core sleep which is Rapid Eye Movement
(REM) and Slow Wave Sleep (SWS), while Horne suggests that the repair and restoration of the
body happen during optional sleep.

In Addition, sleep is a very sophisticated process that consists of more than simply closing
one’s eyelids and counting stars. It is an active state of unconsciousness induced by the body in
which the brain is relatively at rest and largely reacting to internal stimuli. According to the
restorative idea, sleep enables the body to repair and replenish cellular components necessary for
biological activities that become depleted throughout a day of wakefulness. This is supported by
the discovery that many of the body's processes, such as muscle repair, tissue growth, protein
synthesis, and the production of numerous growth hormones, occur largely during sleep.
(Brinkman, J. et al 2022)

Two-stage theory
The two-stage theory explains the process of recalling a memory. According to this theory,
the first stage in the process of recall is the research and retrieval of information from the storage.

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The next step is recognition of the chosen correct information from what has been retrieved. The
newly acquired information is stored in short-term memory to easily recall the information. This
theory shows that recall works through a two-stage process:
1. A search through memory for something that might satisfy the search criteria.
2. A comparison of recalled memory with the detail of which is being sought. (Ezeh, L. et al
2018)

According to some scientists, recognition is superior to recall because it involves only one
process while recall involves two processes. So, the recall is susceptible to more errors. But
some scientists argue that recall is superior to recognition in some cases. An example of this may
include failure to recognize words that can later be recalled. Additionally, according to Dr.
Audrain's research, "A lot of things are happening when retrieving a memory," and the two-stage
theory of recall explains that "there is a construction period when recalling the gist of what
happened." An example of Dr. Audrain’s research is when the researchers gave the participants
the cue word “happy memories” and asked them to retrieve a memory from a memory with their
friends, they might think that it is only one and the most certain happy memories with their
friends but if the participants think, after that, there is this other period called elaboration where
you are wandering yourself through the memory and retrieving little by little details about the
memory, like what you were wearing, how long that happy memory lasts and how happy we
were.

2.2 Variable Discussion

2.3.1 Memory Recall
One of the most important things cognitive psychology has done is look into how people can
only remember and process so much information. In psychology, recall is the process of bringing
to mind past experiences or facts in the absence of a triggering stimulus. The recall is used when
someone describes a past experience, such as a trip, a set of numbers, or a poem upon hearing
only the title. Several learners would rather take an easier, more familiar test that relies on
recognition memory than one that requires them to rely on recall memory to write an essay. If
people are evaluated within the exact physical setting in which the incident they are attempting to
recall occurred, they have a far better chance of successfully recalling crucial details. Successful
learning requires motivation, intrinsic value, focused attention, the ability to draw connections
between new and existing knowledge, and repeated application of newly acquired skills (Doyle &
Zakrajsek, 2019). According to Huizen (2021), The brain's short-term memory recall system is

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responsible for keeping bits of knowledge in mind for a relatively brief amount of time, generally
up to 30 seconds. It has been hypothesized that the human mind can store no more than seven
pieces of knowledge in its short-term memory at any given time.
The process of retrieval from memory is a key and efficient one in the learning process. When
you recall something, you're actually retrieving data that was encrypted and preserved in your
brain at some point in the past. The brain essentially "replays" a pattern of neuronal activity
formed in reaction to an event. Memory recall involves a reenactment of the brain's neural
activity at the time of the original occurrence. It's a reflection of how the brain interprets the
experience, which isn't an exact replica. By doing so, the brain is able to retain the relevant data
and specifics of the experience. In reality, recalling information from memory is more of a
creative process than a simple act of retrieval, as it requires the brain to piece together pertinent
details from a vast amount of unrelated data. It is claimed in this section that in order to perform
an explicit and deliberate memory retrieval within the context of a psychological task (for
example, recalling or recognizing information), the recovered chunk needs to be in the center of
attention at the moment immediately prior to the answer. This presumption is grounded in
extensive research that shows how direct memory tasks like recognition and recall necessitate
paying observation to the stimuli at both encoding and retrieval, whereas indirect memory tasks
like prompting and term fragment completion do not. Therefore, all information that is
consciously recalled, including information from a previous stimulation, is limited by the
capacity of the attentional focus. The appropriate units can only be entered into the center of
attention when knowledge has been retrieved both from the stimuli and long-term memory

2.3.2 Sleep Quality

Sleep is an inseparable part of human health and life, pivotal to learning and practice as well
as physical and mental health (Dewald JF, Meijer AM, Oort FJ, Kerkhof GA, Bogels SM, 2010).
In this discussion, sleep quality will be taken into account. According to Nelson et al. (2021),
sleep quality refers to an individual's self-satisfaction with all aspects of the sleep experience.
Positive outcomes from good sleep include feeling rested, having normal reflexes, and having
satisfying relationships. On the other hand, the effects of poor sleep quality include increased
consumption of caffeine and alcohol, daytime dysfunction, irritation, and exhaustion. Sleep
quality is essential, and poor sleep quality contributes to disease and poor health outcomes. The
fact that nowadays complaints about sleep disorders are prevalent, low sleep quality being an
indicator of many medical diseases and there is a strong relationship between physical, and
psychological wellness and sleep; sleep quality is an important concept in clinical practices and

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related research on sleep. Sleeping disorders are a common health problem among adolescents
and young adults. There is a general belief that university students do not sleep enough. It has
been reported that the amount and the quality of sleep of university students have changed in the
past few decades and sleep disorders have been inclined (Yilmaz et al., 2017).

Sleep is vital for the enhancement of working memory capacity and memory consolidation. A
meta-analysis of seventy studies concluded that acute sleep deprivation harms most cognitive
domains, such as simple attention, intricate attention, working memory, and short-term memory
(Fenn KM, Hambrick DZ., 2012). Sleep quality refers to a person's overall pleasure with their
sleep experience is referred to as their sleep quality. Studies have suggested that insufficient
sleep, increased frequency of short-term sleep and going to sleep late, and getting up early affect
learning capacity, academic performance, and neurobehavioral functions. Duarte J, Nelas P,
Chaves C, Ferreira M, Coutinho E, Cunha M, 2014). 

2. 4 Research Paradigm/Simulacrum
Figure 1: Research Paradigm
 

Sleep Quality Memory Recall

Figure 1 presents the conceptual framework of this study. It consists of two variables, Sleep
quality as an independent variable and Memory recall as the dependent variable. The table
illustrates the number of digits a 1st-year psychology student of Our Lady of Fatima-Valenzuela
can recall according to their sleep quality.

In figure 1, Sleep quality as an independent variable refers to sleep as "a state of body and
mind, which normally recurs for several hours every night...", while the definition of quality in
the same dictionary is "the standard as judged against other objects of a similar kind." (The
Oxford English Dictionary 2021) According to the study conducted by Kline (2013), sleep
quality often refers to the subjective perception of a person's sleep. The researcher indicated sleep
quality as an individual’s pleasure in his or her sleeping experience with other integrating sleep

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features, which are the sleeping amounts, maintenance of sleep, sleep initiation, and refreshment
on awakening.

Memory recall as a dependent variable pertains to an act of bringing to mind something that
was encoded and stored in the brain at an earlier time. Recalling a memory involves a
reenactment of the brain's electrical activity at the time of the triggering event. This is reflective
of the brain's interpretation of the event in question, which differs from the actual occurrence in
certain ways. The brain stores the data and specifics of the experience in this way. Recalling
information from memory is more of an imaginative process than a mechanical one, requiring the
brain to piece together essential details from a jumble of unrelated data. (Antic 2020).

2.5 Research Problem

This study aims to Investigate and determine the memory recall of a 1st year psychology
student According to sleep quality at Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela Campus. The
proposed research has questions that must be answered by the respondents and is
summarized as follows:
Research Question 1: Among the three different groups, which of them has the highest and most
effective ability to recall the digits?
Research Question 2: Among the three different groups, which of them has the lowest and most
ineffective ability to recall the digits?
Research Question 3: Does the quality of sleep have a significant influence on the level of
memory recall among students?

2.6 Hypothesis
Ha: The quality of sleep has a significant influence on the memory recall of a 1st-year
psychology student. 

3.0 Research Methods

3.1 Research Design
3.2 Research Local
3.3 Population and Sampling
3.4 Research Ethics
3.5 Research Instruments
3.6 Data Collection

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3.7 Data Analysis

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