Starvation at one end of the continuum or on missing a single meal at the other end (Green et al., 1995). First, much of the research has focused either on chronicThe researchers explain how their study will add to past research on the topic. Running on Empty The relatively sparse research on food deprivation has left room forįurther research. However, as Green, Elliman, and Rogers (1995) point out, the effects of food deprivation on cognition have received comparatively less attention in recent years. Since that time, research has focused mainly on how nutrition affects cognition. Another study found that fasting for several days produced muscular weakness, irritability, and apathy or depression (Kollar, Slater, Palmer, Docter, & Mandell, 1964). The researchers supply background information by discussing past research on the topic.Įxtensive referencing establishes support for the discussion. The introduction states the topic and the main questions to be explored. The earliest investigation of the general effects of food deprivation found that long-term food deprivation (36 hours and longer) was associated with sluggishness, depression, irritability, reduced heart rate, and inability to concentrate (Keys, Brozek, This theory seemed logical because glucose is the brains primary fuel (Pinel, 2000). The idea was that people become hungry when their blood-glucose levels drop significantly below their set point and that they become satisfied after eating, when their blood-glucose levels return to that set point. Several researchers in the 1940s and 1950s suggested that the brain regulates food intake in order to maintain a blood-glucose set point. However, what about internal factors, such as an empty stomach? Can people increase their ability to focus simply by eating regularly? One theory that prompted research on how food intake affects the average person was the glucostatic theory. To some extent, people can control the environmental factors that make it difficult to focus. Many things interrupt peoples ability to focus on a task: distractions, headaches, noisy environments, and even psychological disorders. Running on Empty Running on Empty: The Effects of Food Deprivation on Concentration and Perseverance The scientific language used when reporting their results.Ĭenter the title one inch from the top. The background they provide before getting into their own study results. As you review their paper, read the side notes and examine the following: The use and documentation of their numerous sources. However, participants in the 12-hour deprivation group spent significantly less time on the perseverance task than those in both the control and 24-hour deprivation groups, suggesting that short-term deprivation may affect some aspects of cognition and not others.Īn APA Research Paper ModelThomas Delancy and Adam Solberg wrote the following research paper for a psychology class.
Food deprivation had no significant effect on concentration scores, which is consistent with recent research on the effects of food deprivation (Green et al., 1995 Green et al., 1997).
We predicted that food deprivation would impair both concentration scores and perseverance time. Undergraduate students (N-51) were tested on both a concentration task and a perseverance task after one of three levels of food deprivation: none, 12 hours, or 24 hours. Sample AbstractRunning on Empty Abstract This study examined the effects of short-term food deprivation on twoThe abstract summarizes the problem, participants, hypotheses, methods used, results, and conclusions.Ĭognitive abilitiesconcentration and perseverance. Running on Empty: The Effects of Food Deprivation on Concentration and Perseverance Thomas Delancy and Adam Solberg Dordt College Put five spaces between the page header and the page number.įull title, authors, and school name are centered on the page, typed in uppercase and lowercase. Sample APA Research PaperSample Title PagePlace manuscript page headers one-half inch from the top.