RELATIONSHIP OF SLEEP, WAKEFULNESS, AND BEYOND WAKING EXPERIENCES: A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF M. ROGERS' CONCEPT OF SLEEP/WAKE RHYTHM.
Contributors: New York University.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 123
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Duration of sleep, level of wakefulness, and frequency of beyond waking experiences were selected as operational definitions of sleeping, waking, and beyond waking, respectively. This study was a test of theory derived from M. Rogers' conceptual system of Unitary Human Beings. The investigator proposed that a shorter duration of sleep would be accompanied by a higher level of wakefulness and a greater frequency of beyond waking experiences. Beyond waking experiences included peak and extrasensory perception experiences.

A two-group comparison approach was used to collect data from volunteer participants. Group I, short duration sleepers, included 57 participants whose duration of sleep was six hours or less in a 24-hour period. Group II, average duration sleepers, included 62 participants whose duration of sleep was 7.5 to 8 hours in a 24-hour period. Thayer's Activation-Deactivation Adjective Check List measured level of wakefulness. A questionnaire developed by the investigator measured duration of sleep and frequency of beyond waking experiences.

Hypothesis 1 predicted a negative correlation between duration of sleep and frequency of beyond waking experiences. Hypothesis 2 predicted a positive correlation between level of wakefulness and frequency of beyond waking experiences. Hypothesis 3 predicted a negative correlation between duration of sleep and level of wakefulness.

Hypotheses 1 and 3 were not supported by the findings, although for hypotheses 1 the mean number of beyond waking experiences was higher for short duration sleepers than for average duration sleepers, and for hypothesis 3 the relationship was in the direction anticipated. The findings did support hypothesis 2. Additionally, the positive correlation was limited to telepathic-type experiences for the short duration sleepers only (r = .24, p < .05).

The findings suggest that the relation of sleep to other manifestations of human energy field wave pattern is unclear. The study did produce evidence of increasing diversity of human energy field wave pattern, a broad range of duration of sleep, and greater variability in frequency of beyond waking experiences in short duration sleepers than in average duration sleepers.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-01, Section: B, page: 0116.

Thesis (PH.D.)--NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, 1984.

School code: 0146.