A Social States Index for Multi-National Crews Co-Contained in the ISS Simulator, Moscow, Russia

A study is discussed that seeks to collect baseline data from the International Space Station (ISS) Simulator, and in so doing, construct a measuring instrument to assess social states (group functioning) in the extreme environment, as proposed originally by social psychologist Irwin Altman. Six indicators with discrete values would be sampled among crews: 1) numbers of communicative modes, 2) unique communications, 3) efficient communication, 4) cuing behaviors, 5) informal behaviors, and 6) personal evaluations communicated to one another. The indicators would be charted chronologically and on profile at regular intervals, permitting the prediction of psychosocially nominal and off-nominal behaviors. The results of the study can be easily meshed with findings of other studies for a potentially powerful statement about future ISS group functioning.