Study to validate the Non-Interference Performance Assessment (NIPA) technique

The NIPA (Non-Interference Performance Assessment) technique involves direct observation of group verbal activities by trained observers who rate the emotional content (affect) of each verbal interaction as either positive, negative, or neutral. During the test, in which four men were confined for 90 consecutive days, feasibility of the NIPA technique was demonstrated and observer reliability was verified. However, the validity of the test was not proved because an independent criterion measure of morale for the confined crew was lacking. There were indications, however, that NIPA measures were tracking changes in crew morale. At approximately the two-thirds point (Days 60 to 70), morale apparently fell dramatically for a period of about ten days, and simultaneously NIPA measure of positive verbalization decreased in number. A need was indicated for a separate study to apply the NIPA technique under experimental conditions and using a clearly defined criterion measure against which the ability of NIPA observations to truly measure morale changes could be determined.