The objective of this research is the development of an experimental test bed for modeling performance effectiveness and psychosocial adaptation in support of exploratory missions beyond Earth orbit. The methodology adopted to accomplish this objective provides for distributed interactive multi-person simulations in computer-generated environments focused upon psychosocial performance within and between space-dwelling flight crews and Earth-based control center groups. The experimental setting provides the automated means for setting the context for the analysis of space crew performance as well as monitoring electronically the interactive effects of communication modality constraints and other environmentally stressful conditions.

The results of these geologic specimen collection and analysis studies with a range of complex rules showed clearly that cooperative and productive interactions were maintained between individually isolated and dispersed crewmembers actively engaged in communicating and effective problem-solving over extended time intervals without benefit of one another's physical presence. In addition, the investigations of communication modality constraints indicated that there was a high degree of interchangeability between available communication modes. Moreover, experimental analysis of configuration changes with crew mates reassigned to simulated vehicles other than those normally operated showed clearly that baseline performance effectiveness levels under experienced "Strong" crew configuration conditions were significantly reduced following crew assignment changes that resulted in "Weak" configurations.

Recently completed studies of incentive effects made monetary rewards contingent on performance effectiveness. Individual performances contributed to a group bank account with the proceeds divided equally among the crew members. Under positive incentive, performances that exceeded a predetermined standard resulted in proportional additions to the group bank account. Crew performance effectiveness increased significantly under both positive and negative incentive conditions. In contrast, self-report measures reflected a consistent change in psychosocial adaptation, with negative incentive conditions characterized by a pronounced increase in negative self-report ratings accompanied by decreased positive self-report ratings. Positive incentive conditions were characterized by positive self-report ratings only. These results show clearly that incentive conditions associated with simulated spaceflight missions can significantly affect psychosocial adaptation without compromising task performance effectiveness in trained and experienced volunteer crewmenber participants.