Attachment 4 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Research and Development Board Washington, D.C. COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES Transcript of Sixteenth Meeting Held 1 and 2 November 1951 in Room 3E-1060, Pentagon Reported by: November 3 - Mary Selby November 2 - M. Selby and M. Martin Conference Reporting Section Reported by: See above Extension 73252, Room 30-116 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry # 342 File: (in box #24) of the report, abbreviated summaries of the top document which (Illegible) Smith is pointing to as the report, the rest of the appendices, the initial document which provide the material of the report. DR. NADEL: What will be printed will be the report plus the summaries in a single volume. The appendices will have to be requested separately other than the initial 150, which will be distributed to the military agencies that are concerned with human resources research. DR. SHARTLE: Is it a classified document? DR. NADEL: It's unclassified completely. DR. GELDARD: Are there any further questions or discussion of the report? [None] We will turn back then to Item 3 C, Human Resources Research in the Army since the Army representative is now available. DR. BRAUN: DR. BRAUN: Mr. Chairman, gentleman, the plan of organization of an integrated and comprehensive Human Resources Research Program was presented to the Chief of Staff of the Army on 21 June 1951 and to the Secretary of the Army on 22 June 1951 by the Research and Development Division, G-4, of the Army. This program, which was approved by both General Collins and Mr. Pace, outlined an integrated Army program in Human Resources Research, which included the establishment of a new developmental research agency, the Human Resources Research 20 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry #342 Office, commonly known as HumRRO. My purpose in this presentation is threefold,(1) to outline the over-all Army organization plan for Human Resources Research, (2) to show how the new Human Resources Office fits into this plan, and (3) to describe the internal organization and present status of HumRRO. As indicated in Chart 1, the responsibility for planning and supervising the Army research program is assigned to G-4, and vested by G-4, through the R&D Division, in the Research Branch. Coordination and planning of the Army's Human Resources Research program is the primary obligation of the Human Resources Section of the Research Branch. The research agencies which actually produce the new Human Resource methods, techniques, and end items are shown below in Chart 1 and include AOO (Personnel Research Section), some of the technical services, the Army Participation Group of the Special Devices Center, some of the CRO projects, and the new HumRRO. Turning momentarily to Chart 2, we see listed some of the areas of primary responsibility of each of the various Human Resources Research agencies. Research in manpower and personnel has long been the province of PRS of AOO. Research in psychophysiology and human engineering properly belongs to the technical services of the Surgeon General's office, Signal Corps, Ordnance, Quartermaster, Engineering 21 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File and Transportation. The Army Participation Group at Navy Special Devices Center is conducting researches in design and development of training devices. Operations research, whether it bears on hardware items, human factors, or the interrelationships between the two is adequately handled by the Operations Research Office. HumRRO will have primary cognizance over training methods, motivation, morale, and leadership, and psychological warfare and intelligence. Need for such an expanded Army research emphasis has been stressed by RDB in program guidance for 1950 and 1951, and by Army General Staff Guidance. Returning to Chart 1, we see that it indicates the progress that has been made in Human Resources programming. HumRRO is brand new, the Army participation group at SDC and the Quartermaster Corps program have been made truly functional; Human Engineering programs at Signal Corps and Ordnance are projected for next year. The programs at AOO, SCO and ORC were operative a year ago, but particularly in the case of ORO has been considerable expansion this last year. A rough measure of the relative size and scope of the various research agencies is indicated by the recommended FY 1953 budgetary support which amounts to $1,250,000 for AOO, $200,000 for SOO; $400,000 for Quartermaster; $900,000 for SDC; and a little less than $3,000,000 for HumRRO. 22 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File It is obvious that HumRRO will play a very important part in the total Army Human Resources Research plan, and for this reason we present its fundamental plan and organization in detail. The Human Resources Research Office was established on 30 July 1951 by an administrative type contract with George Washington University and the Department of the Army, and a Director, Dr. Meredith P. Crawford, was selected. This contractual arrangement authorized for HumRRO the type of organization depicted in Chart 3. HumRRO is established as a Central Office with an Administrative Section, and three Research Sections, corresponding to the three primary research areas assigned to this new developmental research organization training methods; motivation, morale and leadership; and psychological warfare and intelligence. This Central Office is now housed in quarters provided by George Washington University. These quarters, the third floor of Staughton Hall, 707 - 22nd St., K.W., consist of 19 rooms which have been completely refurnished, remodeled and equipped, in keeping with the special needs of the Human Resources Research Office. Provision was made in the contract for the establishment of three Field Research Laboratories to be located at Army field installations. After conversations with Field Forces, it was decided to name these Field Research Laboratories Army Field Forces Research Unit No. 1, which is in the process of being established at Ft. Knox, 23 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File and Army Field Forces Human Resources Research Unit No. II and No. III whose establishment is projected in the next year. No. II probably at Fort Ord, No. III at Fort Mead although those locations have not been definitely decided upon. It is understood that Unit No. I will be primarily concerned with training methods research, Unit No. II with motivation, morale, and leadership, and Unit No. III with psychological warfare and intelligence. Since, however, research conducted at any unit will probably not be limited to a single human resources area or technical objective, we heartily endorsed Field Forces' suggestion to designate the Field Research Units by numbers rather than by name. Four research functions will be carried out by the personnel of HumRRO's Central Office in Washington. (1) All staff members will engage in research planning and research analysis; (2) all contract research with educational and industrial organizations will be supervised and conducted by the HumRRO staff; (3) Staff members at HumRRO will be called upon to form task force teams to conduct such researchers as are required at Army camps and installations in the Zone of the Interior and also in combat stress; and (4) the HumRRO staff will provide technical supervision and such personal support as may be needed in emergencies at the three (Illegible) Human Resources Research Units. 24 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File The relationships between R&D Division, G04, Army Field Forces, HumRRO, and the Field Research Laboratories are shown in Chart 4. It is HumRRO's responsibility to conduct the human resources researches approved by R&D, G-4. HumRRO exercises technical supervision over the work of the three field research laboratories. Administrative and logistic support for the Field research laboratories comes from Army Field Forces, as the names AFF Human Resources Research Unit implies. The Director of the Human Resources Research Units will be an officer with psychological training, assigned to the installation by the Chief of Army Field Forces. This officer receives his project assignments from the Office, Chief of Army Field Forces, and is responsible to the installation commander for the implementation of those researches. Successful research in the Army can be properly implemented only by effective coordination and forceful support of the Field Forces. Recognizing these needs, Army Field Forces has recently provided a Human Resources Section in the Research Division, R&D, Office, Chief of Army Field Forces, and an officer with combat and administrative experience and psychological research training has been assigned to the section. The working relationships between HumRRO and George Washington University have proved in the last three months to be efficient and cordial. George Washington has met all its obligations of providing housing and carrying out budgetary administration, and the 25 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 housing and equipment facilities have more than met the original quarters. The Planning Branch of R&D G-4, assures us that no contractual problem has arisen between George Washington and the Quartermaster Corps, our fiscal agent. The close proximity of the Central Office to the Pentagon has enabled them to maintain close liaison and coordination in the determination of basic policy, staffing problem, and the planning and coordination of major researches. As I indicated earlier, HumRRO was established on 30 July 1951, and a sum of $500,000 was provided from held-over FY 1951 monies, for its initial support. In order to further implement its program, HumRRO has requested an additional $700,000 from the FY 1952 emergency funds. The budget for fiscal year 1953 consists of approximately $2,900,000, with $700,000 requested for research of Psychological Warfare and Intelligence, and the remainder divided approximately equally between the areas of Training Methods research and research in Motivation, Morale and Leadership. Present plans are that approximately 50 percent of the FY 1952 and FY 1953 budget will be spent on contract research and 50 percent on in-service research. The long range plan is to increase the percentage allocated to in-service research as the HumRRO program becomes more and more adequately supported by experienced staff and proper physical planning. 26 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File Chart 4 details the present and tentative table of organization for HumRRO, dividing it into three categories, (1) the Administrative Staff of the Central Office, (2) The research staff of the Central Office, and (3) the staff of the Field Research Laboratories. The research staff of both the Central Office and the Field Laboratories is further broken down into HumRRO's three primary research areas. It is planned to staff the new organization with a few more than 100 scientists, of whom approximately 65 percent will have received the doctorate in psychology, anthropology, sociology, or some related human resources field. The numbers to the right of the slant indicate the positions expected to be filled in the fully expanded program. Those to the left of the slant represent positions actually filled. At the present time, 11 of the scientific staff have been hired, and it is predicted that from 15 to 20 will be employed by the end of the present calendar year. This number should be approximately doubled during winter and spring, should triple during the summer after the end of the next academic year, June 1953, and should be essentially complete by January 1954. Since HumRRO is established on an 18-months' contract, the staff should be complete or near completion one year before the termination date for expenditure of FY 1953 funds. HumRRO was officially established less than six weeks before the beginning of the current academic year, and by this time, 27 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File almost all academic and applied psychologists had made firm commitments for the current year. In spite of this, HumRRO was able to employ a skeleton staff which at the present time is showing itself capable of directing a major research enterprise, and which will subsequently be able to meet the initial staffing problems of the authorized AFF Human Resources Unit No. I and also conduct certain high priority researches at and through the Central Office. In the motivation and morale field, the Scientific Director of the AFF Human Resources Research Unit No. II has been appointed and will assume his duties in February. He is already active in recruitment of professional staff for that unit. Staffing for psychological warfare research will be the next goal, the contacts have been made and are being made with authorities in this field to determine availability of capable investigators. Top priority is being given to the assembly of a highly competent professional staff. Before selecting the 11 scientists now on duty, interviews were held and correspondence was conducted with some 100 persons, and offers were made only to those who were exceptionally well qualified at an appropriate level. Since the majority of the scientists will be drawn from universities, commitments for the academic year will delay many from participating on a full-time basis before June. 28 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #336 Entry: #342 File The first research project that HumRRO has undertaken is the planning and coordination of the psychological evaluation of troop behavior in connection with Project "Desert Rock." Human Resources participation was suggested by Armed Forces Special Weapons Project and the Office, Chief of Army Field Forces, in order to determine the indoctrination value of this training exercise, in which a troop unit will participate in the atomic weapons tests. This operation is planned to include movement of a Regimental Combat Team into an area to be bombed, where field fortifications will be constructed and items of equipment set up, in advance of the drop. Troops will then be withdrawn to a safe vantage point. Following the burst in their presence, men will return to the bombed area to resume activity. The primary purpose of the maneuver is to indoctrinate troops in atomic warfare by giving them firsthand experience. (Illegible) it is hoped that information gained from the experience will be disseminated widely among troops other than those who participate. The over-all objective of the psychological study in connection with this project is to evaluate by means of accurate quantitative methods the performance of the troops participating in an A-bomb exercise. The military requirement for this study is generated by the necessity to engage troops when action is a major factor in a tactical employment of atomic weapons. 29 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File Reliable answers to the following specific problems are being sought in what ways and to what extent are troop attitudes toward atomic weapons changed as a result of firsthand experience? (2) To what extent do present indoctrination procedures prepare troops for actual exposure to atomic weapons? (3) To what extent does troop behavior as observed during and immediately following the explosion show impairment of efficiency? (4) What are the effects on non-participant troops relative to A weapons disseminated by experienced troops? In compliance with the desire of the Commanding General of the Third Corps, a brief summary of accomplishment will be submitted for incorporation within his report by D plus 30 and it is estimated that a preliminary report of the essential findings can be made by 15 January 1952. A final report including complex cross analysis and controls will be available by 29 February 1952. There are further details on this project "Desert Rock", at least the psychological study aspect of it. Whether they are of interest I do not know, but in conclusion I would like to say that I have briefly outlined the over-all Army organization plan for Human Resources Research. I have tried to show how the Human Resources Research Office, HumRRO, fits into this plan. I have also spent some time in describing the internal organization and the present status of HumRRO. Thank you. 30 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File DR. GELDARD: We are obligated to you, Dr. Braun, for this presentation which is highly informative and very clear. I have no doubt that it will stimulate some questioning from the Committee. In view of the history of this, it must be gratifying to the Committee to see how much progress has been made. DR. BRAUN: What I have read here has been an abstract or a digest of presentations made by Dr. Harlow and also by Dr. Crawford at various briefing sessions. Essentially I am here as a representative of Dr. Harlow who is out of town at the present time. So any questions that you may ask will have to be asked with the thought in mind since I have been here only several weeks I may not be in a position to give the answers you may want. Colonel Moncrief will be glade to answer most of them. DR. GELDARD: I take it you would be agreeable to answering the questions if you can. DR. FINCE: You may have stated it, but I don't recall. What is the source of funds? Are those R & D funds? DR. NADEL: Yes. COLONEL MONCRIEF: Yes, they are R & D funds. DR. GELDARD: One question occurred to me in connection with this chart. Is there any problem connected with essentially the command channel relationship here as between HumRRO and these field units in view of the fact there is intermediate headquarters 31 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 involved, the Army headquarters field forces. DR. BRAUN: Well, inasmuch as this unit has not as yet been established we can't talk about any field, or any actual things which have occurred, but it is anticipated there will be a minimum of difficulty. DR. GELDARD: I think I should put my question this way. Would you have representation in the Army Field Forces Headquarters? DR. BRAUN: The Army Field Forces has set up a Human Resources Section in its division. DR. GELDARD: This is actually Fort Monroe. That answers my question. DR. BRAUN: Yes, and an officer has agreed to become active and assume his post, Dr. Holt. COLONEL MONCRIEF: If I might amplify that a little bit, obviously there will be some problems. I am sure, that will come between the Command relationship, Dr. Gelated. At this time, however, those specific problems have not been generated due to the fact that the field units have not become operative. There are conferences going on now which would attempt to define the Command relationship, but no one, I am sure, foresees or contemplate problems that can't be overcome. DR. HUNTER: The local commanders at the stations where these units are will have no authority to interfere with the 32 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File research housekeeping. COLONEL MONCRIEF: That is right. It is planned that the field units will be more or less direct in the command channel from the command general field forces, Fort Monroe, and that the station commanders at these physical locations will furnish administrative housekeeping support, but undoubtedly a lot of their specific projects will probably come from the local stations because of their interest in the operation. The approval of the reports and that sort of thing will not filter through the local station commander. Does that answer your question, Dr. Hunter? DR. HUNTER: Yes. DR. GELDARD: You will hope that the unit commanders are friendly with CNO. COLONEL MONCRIEF: That is a foregone conclusion that pleasant relations bring about pleasant results to state it mildly. DR. GELDARD: Are there other questions you wish to put to Dr. Braun? DR. SHARTLE: You say you could mention something in addition about "Desert Rock"? DR. BRAUN: I might mention that the-- DR. SHARTLE: Who is in charge of the thing? DR. BRAUN: Dr. Finnan is directing the participation and coordinating the work of the other organizations which are cooperating with HumRRO. 33 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 I have the outline of the study here and if you are interested I can read the outline which was presented. This is the extent of my acquaintance with the project. DR. GELDARD: I think that would be helpful. DR. BRAUN: I mentioned four specific problems, answers to which were being sought, namely, in what ways and to what extent are troop attitudes toward atomic weapons changed as a result of firsthand experience? The second question is to what extent do present indoctrination procedures prepare troops for actual exposure to atomic weapons? Third, to what extent does troop behavior as observed during and immediately following the explosion show impairment of the efficiency and, finally, what are the effects on non-participant troops of information relative to A weapons disseminated by experienced troops? Standard techniques for measuring the attitude and control procedures for observation of a behavior will be employed. Investigation of attitude involves the administration of a series of questionnaires to personnel selected randomly from three companies of participant troops within a battalion team school to an equivalent number of non-participants selected from. This phase of the study, which emphasizes information possessed by the troops prior to indoctrination, is intended to yield a basic line of troop information. Test "B", which is to be administered to D minus 1 involves similar groups of participant and non-participant troops. The "B" 34 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File phase is to yield a measure of the effect of phase 3 and special indoctrination as to troop information and attitudes. Test "C" is to be administered to "D" Day to a third group of matched participants and non-participant groups to permit us to measure the effects o the "A" bomb experienced on men's information and attitudes. Test "D" is to be administered on approximately D plus 26 to several participant and non-participant groups which will permit estimation of sleeper effects as well as the extent and effects of the dissemination of the information to inexperienced troops. Among the areas of attitudes and information included within the survey are (1) indoctrination; (2) kind and degree of emotional experience; (3) before and after attitude toward participation in the services; and (4) general morale and attitude toward combat. To supplement the results obtained from printed questionnaires, a limited number of more intensive phase 2 type interviews will be conducted at intervals following the explosion. Investigation of behavior will be accomplished by expert participant observers assigned to platoons for the purpose during the period D minus 4 to D day. Observers will be alert to critical features of the troops behavior including their tendency to panic, to leg behind during advance to the bomb area, and to engage in spreading rumors. In addition, selected features of the unit and individual behavior 35 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File will be recorded through an arrangement with the Signal Corps. The possibility of measuring the number simple instances of emotion response such as blood pressure, pulse rate, and so forth, by means of a polygraphic instrument is being weighed at this time. This outline was being drawn up by a 16-man team consisting of trained scientific personnel drawn from the Human Resources Research Office, operations research office, INE Attitude Research Branch, OSD, INE, Department of the Army. Chief responsibility for the study has been assigned to HumRRO and arrangements necessary to the efficient conduct of the investigation have been successfully negotiated with the Commanding General of the Third Corps and of the 11th Airborne Division. The final paragraph in this report concerns the target dates which they set for themselves for the presentation of the results. I hope this has been helpful. More than this I cannot give by reason of the fact I don't know any more. DR. GELDARD: Have the preparations gone pretty much as scheduled so that all of these phases can be expected to be carried out? DR. BRAUN: Of course it's been subjected to the delays that everybody knows about from reading in the newspapers. My information is that essentially this outline was followed. DR. MACMILLAN: Is this to be the first of a series of studies and subsequent tests? 36 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #330 Entry: #342 File DR. BRAUN: Involving the A bomb? That I don't know. DR. MACMILLAN: This is not to be the definitive study, as I understand it. There are to be studies on troops and tests at a late dates in the light of the results that come from this one. DR. BRAUN: It would seem reasonable, but I don't have any information on that. DR. MACMILLAN: I wondered if planning had gone that far. The reason I asked we have been (Illegible) in ONR to prepare materials for possible use in a Navy study of this kind. DR. BRAUN: I am just not acquainted with this project. DR. NADEL: The Army member of the Human Relations Panel made reference to some future tests of this kind during a recent meeting, but no more definitive information was given other than anticipation of possibly two more tests each one of which would be a little more critical when compared with this one. COLONEL MITCHELL: The Air Force has also been asked to do some planning relative to future tests. DR. MEAD: In the matter of staffing up this organization obviously building around the end of the academic year, I wish to know where all these people are coming from. It seems to me you are building up an obligation to somehow put more people into the pipeline than you are getting out. I feel the same way with respect to some of the Navy and Air Force projects which we also bear about. This 37 Copied: 9/7/94 Record Group: #336 Entry: #342 File