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Advantages
- subsequent studies above ground have confirmed the findings of research in cave environments. Siffre's study was also and experiment. He controlled key variables (extraneous variables) to observe their effects on the sleep-wake cycle. The experiment approach is important because it allows us to demonstrate casual relationships.
- As he was underground for such a long time, he was able to gather vast amounts of qualitative and quantitative data, which produced a detailed record of his time. Siffre documented everything and logged all his results, which meant researchers got a wealth of information about how the absence of light can affect our sleep-wake cycle.
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Disadvantages
- some have criticised this research since it is so artificial. In particular, they object the use of artificial light by Siffre. On waking, Siffre switched on lights, which are likely to artificially re-set the body clock. Czeisler et al. (1999) has argued this is the equivalent of providing powerful drugs.
- There is an issue of validity relating to the study. It may be described as a case study as it is the study of one individual and therefore has unique features.
- His body's behaviour may not be typical of all people and, in addition, living in a cave may have particular effects, for example the fact that it is cold.
- Also, there is the question of internal validity as Siffre was not isolated from all exogenous zeitgebers as he contact with the outside world, and the effect on his sleep-wake cycle of even dim artificial light was not fully understood
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