NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Validation of astronaut psychological select-in criteriaAn optional astronaut selection strategy would select-in individuals on the basis of personality attributes associated with superior performance. Method: A test battery, the Astronaut Personal Characteristics Inventory (ASTROPCI) was developed which assesses positive and negative components of achievement, motivation, and interpersonal orientations and skills. The battery was administered to one hundred three astronaut candidates and sixty-six current U.S. Shuttle astronauts. To determine performance, a series of conceptual areas related to space flight performance were defined. Astronauts rated their peers on each of these dimensions. Ratings were obtained on all eighty-four current astronauts (excluding those selected in 1990). In addition to peer ratings, supervisor assessments of the same dimensions were obtained for each astronaut. Results: Cluster and factor analysis techniques were employed to isolate subgroups of astronauts. Those astronauts with both high achievement needs and interpersonal skills were most often rated among the top five by their peers and least often rated among the lowest five. A number of scales discriminated between astronauts rated high and low on one or more performance dimensions. Conclusions: The results parallel findings from the personality assessment of individuals in other demanding professions, including aircraft pilots and research scientists, suggesting that personality factors are significant determinants to performance in the space environment.
Document ID
19950010347
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Rose, R. M. (Texas Univ. Galveston, TX., United States)
Helmreich, R. L. (Texas Univ. Austin, TX., United States)
Mcfadden, T. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Santy, P. A. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Holland, A. W. (NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
May 14, 1992
Publication Information
Publication: Aerospace Medical Association, Aerospace Medical Association 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting Program
Subject Category
Behavioral Sciences
Accession Number
95N16762
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available