This award will support the research of three cultural anthropologists in Antarctica, studying how an extreme and isolated environment affects group structure and individuals' understanding of that structure. The incidence and management of conflict will be studied as it is, in turn, affected by the group structure. Both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected on the formation of group structure, status and role consensus, perceived conflict and morale for three groups at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station. Quantitative models of the formation of group structure will be created. This study will contribute to our understanding of the role of group structure and cognition in the functioning of groups in isolation, will complement work on health and adaptation in polar environments, and provide important information that will help develop improved procedures to assemble groups for the Antarctic and other isolated environments (e.g., space stations).
