AN EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PROBLEMS OF LARGE-SHELTER MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT, AND SMALL-SHELTER HABITABILITY UNDER CONDITIONS OF STRESS
Abstract
The research program was composed of three major efforts: (1) the initial development of and the feasibility testing of a large-shelter contingency game for use in the analysis of problems associated with large-shelter management, (2) the development of techniques for and the feasibility of the use of an underwater shelter as a method for producing an experimental analog of the threat associated with actual shelter habitability, and (3) the design and execution of four 24-hour habitability studies to investigate the effects of increased realism of a shelter stay, in terms of the number and range of problems presented to the shelterees and the realistic representation of other aspects of the expected shelter environment under the condition of nuclear attack. Results of these efforts indicated that (1) the contingency game is a meaningful and feasible technique by which to explore problems of large shelter management, (2) the condition of being underwater appeared to produce anxiety which was reflected in part, by marked attentiveness to atmospheric monitoring tasks in the shelter, an attentiveness that appeared to be greater than that exhibited to the analogous task of radiological monitoring in the shelter studies, and (3) some knowledge of the concept of dual-purpose shelters is desirable on the part of the public; EBS programming should be continuous; authoritarian leadership is most effective, but there are some potentially dangerous aspects in its use; and concern over the maintenance of group discipline at shelter exit is definitely called for.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0645343
Entities
People
- Donald E. Meagley
- John F. Hale
- Robert L. Davis
- Robert W. Smith
Organizations
- American Institutes for Research