Experimental Design: Sleep Deprivation and Cognitive Performance

Researchers are interested in studying the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. They recruit two groups of participants: one group is allowed to sleep for 8 hours, while the other is kept awake for 24 hours. After the sleep conditions are established, both groups are given a series of cognitive tasks, including memory recall, problem-solving, and attention tests.

Discuss the key elements of the experimental design used in this study, including the identification of the independent and dependent variables, the control measures in place, and potential threats to internal validity. Your response should include the rationale behind these design decisions and how they contribute to the reliability of the findings.