The Emotion of Anxiety and its Impact on Astronauts
The emotion of anxiety is said to be caused by a bodily, tense, exhausting alert that focuses on impending feelings and unavoidable threats. (Kurebayashi, Do Prado & Da Silva, 2012). Astronaut anxiety is a significant issue, especially when they are in space. During the mission of the space exploration, anxiety may result in variations from the expected results. In order for the astronauts to complete their mission, it needs to be evaluated and corrective action needs to be performed. Therefore, research should be done to gather pertinent data regarding what causes anxiety and how to stop it. Procedures related to the collection of the needed data for analysis to devise the best methods of reducing anxiety among astronauts as anticipated include qualitative and quantitative approaches. The required results should show which option is required: the medication practices or medication, or both at the same time. All the methodologies to be employed to validate the research are feasible and relevant to the study proposal.
Methods of Data Collection and Analysis
For the study to be considered valid and relevant, about one thousand astronauts associated with the NASA program should be interviewed and their responses tested. Among these astronaut participants, about half of them should have participated in the exercise of space tasks (Ball & Evans, 2001). The approach may include intensive interviews that are psychiatric in nature, focusing on specific symptoms that will be further collated with the diagnostic measures put in place. Moreover, the data needed will also be obtained using open-ended questionnaires containing questions with multiple choices, cognitive evaluation functions that are computerized, and personality-focused scales that will direct the medication and medication practices to be used to reduce anxiety.
Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches
The qualitative measure extracts data relying on experiments. This approach will be used to obtain data related to challenges and anxieties arising from space-flights with long travel durations. This information will be very important because it gives direction on the kind of approach to be used in reducing this kind of anxiety. This data is valid, reliable, and relevant. On the other hand, the qualitative methodology will be used to understand the levels of knowledge about technologies required for spacecraft operations among astronauts. There is a relationship between space-craft operations knowledge and anxiety. The higher knowledge level regarding technological operations of space machines and experience leads to the lower anxiety level among the astronauts. Additionally, this quantitative approach will be used to understand and explore astronauts' traits that will be used to predict their values regarding intellectual levels for space-flights. These intellectual functions will include analytical, practical, and creative intelligence.
Correlational Approach and Quasi-Experimental Design
The study includes a correlational approach in analyzing situations relating to each other that will give guidelines helpful in understanding conditions, behaviors, and events that may amount to anxiety, therefore helping differentiate solutions to reduce anxiety. This approach uses correlation coefficients in relating experience and spaceship operation know-how to anxiety. The other correlation is shown where there is a positive relationship between space-flights with long travel durations and anxiety.
The quasi-experimental design is another method that was used as random sampling is not possible sometimes because the research focuses on groups of astronauts measured already. Quasi-experiment relies on the comparison between groups of astronauts according to measurement sets and tends to do the elimination of possible confounds to minimal levels (Kosslyn & Rosenberg, 2004). However, because there is no perfect equation on the characteristics, there is no certainty in differences between the groups and this will not give clear results.
References
Kosslyn, S. M. & Rosenberg, R. S. (2004). The research process: How we find things out. Student edition order. Retrieved from http://ablongman.com/html/productinfo/kosslyn2e/0205376096_ch2.pdf
Kurebayashi, L. F., Do Prado, M. J. & Da Silva, J. M. (2012). Correlations between stress and anxiety levels in nursing students. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, Vol. 2, No. 3. School of Nursing, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Retrieved from www.sciedu.ca/jnep.
Ball, R. J. & Evans, C. H. (2001). Safe passage: Astronaut care for exploration missions. Washington DC: National Academic Press. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223783.
