The Tektite Environmental Assessment (TEA) form is a separate habitability 

 evaluation form that was filled out by the aquanauts A days before the end of 

 each mission. This instrument specifically is used to evaluate various general 

 features of the habitat environment as these features affect various activities 

 performed by the aquanauts. Consequently, it may be reviewed as an activities- 

 by-support matrix. It provides information of a more general nature than the 

 HARS. 



The Mood Adjective Check List (NACL) was used to investigate what sort of 

 feelings would predominate in the habitat, and how tendencies toward these 

 feelings interrelate with attitudinal data already discussed. '\quanauts were 

 asked to self-administer the form daily. We employed a short version of a 

 test (one-minute administration time) successfully used in an earlier study 

 (Nowlis and Cohen, 1968). Eleven factors are included in this version of the 

 check list; the same three words are always used as the basis for obtaining a 

 score for any one factor. (Thus, there are 33 words altogether.) The order 

 of presentation is random so as to offset memorization of the list and habitual 

 checking response tendencies. 



Prior to the beginning of each mission, all aquanauts completed the Sixteen 

 Personality Factor Questionnaire (I6PF), (Cattell, Eber and Tatsouka, 1970). 

 This measure was employed to determine whether specific personality traits 

 could predict individual adjustment to the habitat. The I6PF test has been 

 shown to be of particular value in predicting adjustment to real-life situations 

 (Nowlis, 1965; Green, 1965). 



Leisure time observations were made by two methods. First, all aquanauts were 

 asked in their debriefing interview about leisure preferences in the habitat. 

 Also, on one mission, a detailed topside observational record of leisure time 

 activities was maintained. This record was compared with overall leisure 

 responses. 



Immediately after mission completion and prior to exposure to the press, each 

 aquanaut was administered a standardized and private debriefing. These tape- 

 recorded interviews were subsequently content-analyzed by independent raters 

 who demonstrated high interjudge agreement. 



Results 



Habitat Rating 



The results of aquanaut evaluation of the habitat using the HARS form revealed 

 that the most positively rated items were those for recreation; miscellaneous 

 touches such as carpeting were also well regarded. The most poorly rated 

 sets of items were those intended to provide support for scientific and engi- 

 neering tasks and the provision of information. The most disliked characteris- 

 tic of the habitat, rated as lower than poor, was access to news. Clearly the 

 aquanauts would have liked to have been better informed on current events; 

 their radio picked up few English-speaking stations, and newspapers and magazines 

 were rare and generally out-of-date. Thirteen additional items were rated as 

 poorer than ordinary, including specialized and general working areas, tools and 

 tool storage, areas for private reflection, garbage and litter containers. 



VHI-71 



