Final research

Time to submit your research assignment ! Take each part that you’ve completed so far, reflect on the feedback given throughout the course, make any changes needed and put it all together. The final must be in APA format to include title and reference page, written in 12 point font, double spaced in Times New Roman. 

Research Paper-Topic Selection

Darius Nix

Troy University

Research Methods

January 13, 2025

Topic: Using Gaming in Education or Workplace

Brief Explanation: I chose this topic because Using gaming in education or the workplace is a
compelling research topic because it blends elements of engagement, motivation, and skill
development in innovative ways. Gamification—the integration of game elements like rewards,
challenges, and competition into non-game environments—has been shown to increase
engagement, improve problem-solving skills, and foster teamwork and creativity. In education,
gaming can provide immersive, interactive learning experiences that cater to diverse learning
styles, potentially making complex concepts more accessible and enjoyable.

In the workplace, games and gamified systems can boost productivity, improve employee
morale, and facilitate professional development. Games can also enhance leadership and
collaboration skills, simulate real-world scenarios for training, and provide instant feedback,
which accelerates learning.

Research in this area could explore how gaming affects learning outcomes, employee
performance, and overall job satisfaction, as well as the long-term impact of gamified systems
on cognitive and emotional development.

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The Role of Sleep in Cognitive Functioning and Memory Consolidation

Darius Nix

Instructor: Kimberly Donaldson

Research Methods

01/31/2025

Kimberly Donaldson
22460000000000198
Bring up a little.

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Annotated Bibliography

Cheng, L. Y., Che, T., Tomic, G., Slutzky, M. W., & Paller, K. A. (2021). Memory

Reactivation during Sleep Improves Execution of a Challenging Motor Skill.

Journal of Neuroscience, 41(46), 9608-9616.

https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0265-21.2021.

This paper reviews literature on memory reactivation during sleep and

procedural memory focus on motor skills. The research seeks to fill the

existing literature gap by investigating the role of sleep in the improvement

of the performance of new motor tasks. The procedure involved the subject

engaging in a myoelectric feedback task whereby the participants were

expected to contract arm muscles to move a cursor over desired locations.

The results suggest that performance enhancement through TMR during

sleep enhances motor performance in terms of speed, efficiency and muscle

activity. The authors suggest that getting sufficient amounts of sleep helps

consolidate motor execution skills, and this research may have implications

for neurorehabilitation and motor learning disciplines. This article will be

useful for my study as it shows the role that sleep plays in the formation of

procedural memory and cognition, especially in motor learning.

Kim, T., Kim, S., Kang, J., Kwon, M., & Lee, S. H. (2022). The Common Effects of

Sleep Deprivation on Human Long-Term Memory and Cognitive Control

Processes. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 16, 883848.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.883848.

This article focuses on how sleep can affect the long-term memory and

cognitive control processes that are affected by sleep and how both the short

https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0265-21.2021

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2022.883848

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term and chronic lack of sleep impair cognitive function. The study objective

is to systematically review literature from Google Scholar and PubMed on

the effects of sleep deprivation on memory consolidation and cognitive

functioning in humans. This study shows that sleep loss negatively affects

memory – reduces memory performance, enhances false memories and

weakens resistance to post-learning interference. Additionally, it notes that

sleep deprivation leads to reduced efficiency of cognitive control especially

in areas of attention and inhibitory control. This article will be beneficial in

my research as I will be able to compare the detrimental effects of sleep loss

on declarative memory and cognition with the overall improvement in

memory that is observed during sleep.

Oyanedel Salmerón, C. N. (2022). Episodic-Like Memory Consolidation during

Slow-Wave Sleep (Doctoral dissertation, Universität Tübingen).

This doctoral dissertation examines the function of slow-wave sleep (SWS)

in the retrieval of episodic-like memories, particularly how SWS supports the

integration of biographical and spatial data. The aim of the current study is to

explore the link between SWS and the memory consolidation, with the aim

of filling a literature gap concerning the actual processes of episodic memory

consolidation. The research employs a sample of human participants, with a

particular emphasis on hippocampal activity during SWS, as well as its role

in the storage of detailed memories. The studies presented imply that the

function of deep sleep, particularly SWS, is essential for the preservation of

episodic memories and their replay and recognition in a personal context.

This article would be helpful for my research by giving an understanding of

how SWS is involved in the process of declarative memory consolidation,

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especially in the connection with the hippocampus and episodic memory

systems.

Taraborelli, D. (2022). The Promise of Sleep Tech: Strategic Alliance Opportunities

in Healthcare to Increase Access to a Sleep and Circadian Rhythm-Targeted

Platform Technology (Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University).

The study investigates sleep technology advancement while evaluating its

effects on public health through sleep deficit management and health and

performance deterioration. This research investigates how healthcare

strategic partnerships enable better access to sleep technology solutions that

address circadian rhythms and sleep disorders. The research question

examines how healthcare startups can team up with established organizations

to expand innovative sleep technology solutions. The existing research void

addresses non-clinical and scalable approaches to treat sleep deficiency

through platform technologies that focus on sleep and circadian rhythms. The

study conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with leaders and stakeholders

from public health and health insurance as well as pharmaceutical and

wellness organizations followed by qualitative thematic analysis to identify

emerging patterns. The study shows that strategic alliances provide startups

with the capability to utilize expert knowledge and resources for developing

sleep technology reach and impact. This article will help my research by

explaining how public health strategies and healthcare systems can integrate

sleep technology to combat insufficient sleep and its effects on cognitive

performance and overall health.

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Yang, Y. (2023). Current Perspective on Sleep and Emotion Regulation. Highlights

in Science, Engineering and Technology, 74, 1378-1384.

https://doi.org/10.54097/e9fyae12.

This article investigates the intricate sleep-emotional memory relationship

which examines how sleep influences emotional regulation while processing

emotional memories. This research investigates the relationship between

substandard sleep quality and sleep deprivation along with irregular REM

sleep patterns which lead to emotional control breakdown and mental

illnesses including depression and PTSD. The study reveals missing

knowledge about how sleep quality affects emotional memory consolidation

particularly through its effects on emotional reappraisal and cognitive

modification processes. Through a combination of research studies and

literature review the author demonstrates how mental disorders are affected

by REM sleep abnormalities while showing how disrupted sleep impacts

serotonin and dopamine regulation. Research has demonstrated that sleep

functions as a fundamental process for emotional memory processing but

disturbed sleep intensifies symptoms of emotional disorders. The article

serves my research by presenting knowledge about how REM sleep impacts

the consolidation of emotional memories and emotional regulation across

normal populations and clinical patient groups.

https://doi.org/10.54097/e9fyae12

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The Role of Gaming in Enhancing Education and Workplace Training

Darius Nix

Instructor: Kimberly Donaldson

Research Methods

02/12/2025

The Role of Gaming in Enhancing Education and Workplace Training

Gaming has emerged as a powerful and important medium for learning at school and in the workplace. It offers a live, fun, engaging, and comprehensive platform that galvanizes knowledge attainment and skill improvement. Scholars have investigated the availability of different methods of evaluating the impact of gaming on learning and training in the workplace, including data collection methods, samples, and research paradigms. This paper discusses these investigative strategies based on emergent research findings that have revealed the effectiveness of games in learning.

How Has Gaming in Education and Workplace Training Been Investigated?

Research on student gaming in academic education and workplace examinations has employed one of the following methods: experimental, case, and survey research. Most investigations concern student interaction, cognitive enhancement, and learning accomplishment when using games in learning spaces (Adipat et al., 2021; Neerupa et al., 2024). One of the most significant methods is based on assessing the student’s performance during the game placement of concepts in practice. Another important approach involves evaluating the student’s outcome during the game placement of concepts into practice tests. For instance, Adipat et al. (2021) have considered pre-and post-test questionnaires to examine the impact of games in higher education. In such models, the subjects that engaged in the educational games showcased high retention rates and problem-solving skills compared to traditional learning methods. Studies have also been done on how gaming can enhance skills and knowledge transfer in workplace training. In the recent study by Krajčovič et al. (2021), virtual reality educational games applied in lean management training were considered. The researchers used surveys and observational analysis to evaluate the training outcome. It was observed that gaming-based learning was perceived by the employees as motivational and enhanced their understanding of the cross-sectional complicated industrial operations.

Data Collection Methods and Study Populations

The literature review revealed that the following research methods are widely used in game-based learning outcomes surveys, interviews, and performance measures. Quantitative methods such as pre-and post-test comparisons (Krajčovič et al., 2022) and correlation and regression analysis (Neerupa et al., 2024) help measure knowledge acquisition and retention. Quantitative and generally, survey questionnaires are especially helpful in describing the extent of learners’ experience and attitude toward game-based learning in instructional and training contexts. In the studies above, the populations differed accordingly depending on the aim and objectives of the studies. Most of the literature revolves around university learners, especially the ones in technology and engineering learning institutions (Adipat et al., 2021; Neerupa et al., 2024). These students would benefit from game solutions that imitate real-life problems and thus improve their problem-solving ability and decision-making skills. The target subjects of WSs in workplace training are more often than not embracing participants in the manufacturing, health care, and business industries since gaming gives them simulated training in a no-risk area (Krajčovič et al., 2022).

Research Designs and Analysis Techniques

In studies relating to gaming in education and the workplace, it is possible to identify a number of experimental and quasi-experimental research designs that are frequently used. These designs allow the researcher to conduct pre-test and post-test results to evaluate the efficiency of using games in teaching as opposed to conventional forms of teaching. For instance, Krajčovič et al. (2021) used a study design between the control and experimental groups. The subjects were divided into the experimental group, which undertook their learning in a virtual reality environment, and the control group, which undertook conventional learning methods. This showed that people who used gaming in training were more capable of grasping lean management knowledge, which was retained in them for an extended period. As a last note, it is also helpful to establish that case studies provide a realistic view of how gaming is used effectively in learning environments. Krajčovič et al. (2022) were more inclined to propose virtual reality to support instruction based on observation and meaningful questions addressed to the students. The authors also identified that virtual reality gaming assisted students in understanding many industrial processes and sharpened their critical thinking skills.

Conclusion

Computer and video gaming have proved to be practical tools in education and even teaching methods in workplaces as a way of training employees creatively. The information about the impact has been gathered through survey research designs, case research, and experimental research methods. Evaluation tools like pre-and post-surveys, observation, and learners’ feedback are given to offer a detailed insight into the efficiency of the given subject. Based on the current studies, gaming elevates knowledge comprehension, increases interest, and develops problem-solving skills; hence, it should be adopted in educational settings and training environments. Further research on the topic has to address the further uses of this kind of gaming across more fields for improving skills and knowledge gain.

References

Adipat, S., Laksana, K., Busayanon, K., Ausawasowan, A., & Adipat, B. (2021). Engaging students in the learning process with game-based learning: The fundamental concepts.
International Journal of Technology in Education,
4(3), 542–552.

https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.169

Krajčovič, M., Gabajová, G., Furmannová, B., Vavrík, V., Gašo, M., & Matys, M. (2021). A Case Study of Educational Games in Virtual Reality as a Teaching Method of Lean Management.
Electronics,
10(7), 838.

https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics10070838

Krajčovič, M., Gabajová, G., Matys, M., Furmannová, B., & Dulina, Ľ. (2022). Virtual Reality as an Immersive Teaching Aid to Enhance the Connection between Education and Practice.
Sustainability,
14(15), 9580.

https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159580

Neerupa, C., Kumar, R. N., Pavithra, R., & William, A. J. (2024). Game on for learning: A holistic exploration of Gamification’s impact on student engagement and academic performance in educational environments.
Management Matters,
21(1), 38–53.

https://doi.org/10.1108/MANM-01-2024-0001