Statistical Methods in Sleep Deprivation Study

In a psychological study investigating the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance, researchers conducted an experiment where one group of participants was deprived of sleep for 24 hours, while another group slept normally for 8 hours. After the sleep manipulation, both groups completed a series of cognitive tests designed to assess attention, memory, and problem-solving abilities. The researchers collected data on the number of correct responses and the time taken to complete each test.

Using the information provided, analyze the potential results of this study. Identify the appropriate statistical tests the researchers could use to analyze the differences in cognitive performance between the two groups. Explain why these tests are suitable and how they would help in drawing conclusions from the data collected. Additionally, discuss the importance of considering statistical significance in the context of this research design.