Leyksha Pumarino
Fairbanks School of Public Health
PBHL-S349 Research Methods in Public Health
A Cross-Sectional Survey Study on the Relationship Between Sleep Habits and Contraceptive Use Among College Students
I selected my final project from PBHL-S349: Research Methods in Public Health for my learning artifact. Our group conducted a cross-sectional survey study on the connection between college students' use of contraceptives and their sleeping habits as part of this course, which focused on applying research concepts to practical public health concerns. We created a Qualtrics survey, gathered data from Indiana University Indianapolis students, and used R to do a chi-square statistical analysis. I choose this project because it is one of the most engaging and important learning opportunities I have had while studying public health. It improved my collaborative and analytical skills while challenging me to think logically about research design, variable determination, and data interpretation.
What I learned
I am especially proud of this study since it allowed me to put my understanding of data collecting, testing hypothesis, and research ethics into work. The project presented how research can help us understand health behaviors in young individuals, even if our results did not indicate a substantial relationship between sleep habits and the use of contraceptives. I gained an understanding of the importance of determination, teamwork, and attention to information from this experience which are skills that will be crucial in my future work in public health. It also strengthened my determination to use research to study preventative and behavioral health issues that have a significant effect on the health of communities.