On Monday, Geneseo's Psychology Club delivered its first presentation of a study exploring the relationship between class time and learning preparedness.
The club began the project last semester amidst controversy over proposed changes to the schedule, when Polly Radosh, dean of the college, said she would like to see classes spread out more evenly during the week to ease class conflicts.
"We figured that may not be what students want … the way we solve problems [in psychology] is to do research," said senior Erika van der Kloet, president of the Psychology Club.
Specifically, the study focused on the ability of students to learn at classes, which meet as early as 8 a.m. The club's study cites prior research that indicates that the amount of sleep students receive is more closely related to their grade point average than other factors like exercise, diet, mood or time management skills.
431 students were sampled for the study. The findings suggest that the typical bedtime of a Geneseo student is between midnight and 1 a.m. and that most students would prefer to take classes in the early afternoon versus in the morning, late afternoon, or evening. Thirty-five percent of respondents, however, said they were likely to take 8 a.m. classes anyway out of necessity.
Perhaps most significantly, the study found that 69 percent of students are "somewhat or extremely" concerned about experiencing scheduling conflicts.
The authors of the study are van der Kloet, senior Abby Wydysh, junior Melanie Schukrafft, sophomore Catherine Herman and senior Alyssa Infantino. A full presentation of the study will take place at G.R.E.A.T. Day on April 20.