Task Progress:
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Along with hardware, software, and equipment upgrades and completion of various administrative procedures (e.g., IRB and CITI approvals), the first quarter of the project was largely devoted to implementing a formal reorganization of the PI's research Unit. This was marked primarily by the careful selection and intense training of a full-time Master's-level Research Coordinator and a part-time Bachelor's-level Research Assistant team. With updated infrastructure, refined procedures, and high-quality personnel stabilized, data collection began in earnest in the second quarter.
As described above, the scientific core of the project is ground-based research comprised of a "Short-Term" (ST) study involving a single laboratory session measuring implicit cooperation, productivity, and fairness behaviors via the TPT/PoC assay in 3-person teams. More important is the complementary "Long-Term" (LT) study investigating the development and maintenance of task cohesion, social cohesion, and biopsychosocial adaptation over time in similarly composed 3-person teams across 12 separate "missions" using our laboratory’s Planetary Exploration Simulation (PES), an interdependent computer-based geological survey. Interested participants are eligible for the LT study following completion of the ST study, with the ST effectively serving as a "feeder" study for the much more demanding and comprehensive LT experiment. The LT study includes Training, Development, and Challenge/Recovery phases.
Recruitment per se has been robust, with over 1200 individuals volunteering to participate since the project launch. However, selection and group assignment have been challenging given the variety of inclusion and exclusion criteria we employ, as well as the generally lower probability of volunteering among individuals below the 50th percentile in Agreeableness. That said, the primary challenge has been participant reliability once selected, assigned, and scheduled for a session. Specifically, nearly 50% of all scheduled ST study sessions must be cancelled or rescheduled due to at least one participant failing to arrive as scheduled. Fortunately, the LT Crews are generally more reliable, and with their regularly scheduled mission times, data collection is much more consistent.
Despite these challenges, overall data collection has been progressing remarkably well. As of August 12, 2012, the Short-Term study is 46% complete (37 of the minimum 80 planned sessions) and the Long-Term study is 17% complete (67 of 384 planned sessions). However, since considerable effort is required for recruitment, selection, assignment, and scheduling, once a team of 3 is formed into a Crew for the LT study, it is literally just a matter of time before they complete all 12 sessions. Considering all Crews that have either completed or are currently in progress, then the LT study stands at 22% complete (7 of 32 planned Crews). Total data collection complete or in progress stands at 39% (44 of 112 groups to run or launch).
A final aim of the project is to develop next-generation TPT/PoC software. Our partners at Aptima recommend a continuous 1-year process in accordance with the budget allocated to the task. The PI is currently working with the software firm, institutional business development staff, and NASA Administrators to design, fund, and implement a formal subcontract, with the goal of beginning software development by January 2014.
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Abstracts for Journals and Proceedings
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Roma PG, Hursh SR, Hienz RD, Brady JV. "The Price of Cooperation: A novel behavioral economic task as a simple, rapid, and objective group-level assay of altruism, effort, and fairness." Society for Neuroscience 2012, New Orleans, LA, October 13-17, 2012. Society for Neuroscience 2012, New Orleans, LA, October 13-17, 2012. Program#/Poster#: 629.05. Abstract available at: http://www.abstractsonline.com/Plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?sKey=aaed0e9e-9e07-41f2-adfc-4f6ab29c63a5&cKey=b1388a55-b974-48ba-a0c0-3cbf1e2a8ffd&mKey={70007181-01C9-4DE9-A0A2-EEBFA14CD9F1} ; accessed 8/13/13. , Oct-2012
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Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals
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Goswami N, Batzel JJ, Clément G, Stein TP, Hargens AR, Sharp MK, Blaber AP, Roma PG, Hinghofer-Szalkay HG. "Maximizing information from space data resources: a case for expanding integration across research disciplines." Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Jul;113(7):1645-54. Epub 2012 Oct 17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2507-5 ; PubMed PMID: 23073848 , Jul-2013
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Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals
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Hursh SR, Roma PG. "Behavioral economics and empirical public policy." J Exp Anal Behav. 2013 Jan;99(1):98-124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jeab.7 ; PubMed PMID: 23344991 , Jan-2013
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Articles in Peer-reviewed Journals
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Goswami N, Roma PG, De Boever P, Clément G, Hargens AR, Loeppky JA, Evans JM, Stein TP, Blaber AP, Van Loon JJ, Mano T, Iwase S, Reitz G, Hinghofer-Szalkay HG. "Using the Moon as a high-fidelity analogue environment to study biological and behavioral effects of long-duration space exploration. " Planetary and Space Science. 2012 Dec;74(1):111-20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.07.030
, Dec-2012
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Books/Book Chapters
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Roma PG, Hursh SR, Hienz RD, Brinson ZS, Gasior ED, Brady JV. "Effects of autonomous mission management on crew performance, behavior, and physiology: Insights from ground-based experiments. Chapter 13." in "On Orbit and Beyond: Psychological Perspectives on Human Spaceflight." Ed. D. A. Vakoch. New York : Springer, 2013. Space Technology Library Series; v. 29., p. 245-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-30583-2_13 , Jan-2013
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Papers from Meeting Proceedings
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Roma PG, Hursh SR, Hienz RD, Brinson ZS, Gasior ED, Brady JV. "Interactive effects of autonomous operations and circadian factors on crew performance, behavior, and physiology." IAC 63: 63rd International Astronautical Congress, Naples, Italy, October 1-5, 2012. IAC 63: 63rd International Astronautical Congress, Naples, Italy, October 1-5, 2012. , Oct-2012
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