Moon Phase' in Behavioral Research

Abstract

Although the lunation cycle (phases of the moon) has been employed in behavioral research, there is little evidence that the variable is properly understood or recorded. In reality the phases of the moon are not a property of the moon alone but rather result from the angular relationship between the sun, moon, and earth. It is argued that a suitable analysis would require that the celestial longitude of both sun and moon be recorded separately for any given event and then analyzed conjointly with respect to that event. The main effects of both the sun's and moon's position can then be assessed, and the influence of moon phase and other sun-moon relationships will emerge as statistical interactions if significant.