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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2017

Principles of Sociology in Systems Engineering

Systems engineering involves both the integration of the system and the integration of the disciplines which develop and operate the system. Integrating the disciplines is a sociological effort to bring together different groups, often with different terminology, to achieve a common goal, the system. The focus for the systems engineer is information flow through the organization, between the disciplines, to ensure the system is developed and operated with all relevant information informing system decisions. Robert K. Merton studied the sociological principles of the sciences and the sociological principles he developed apply to systems engineering. Concepts such as specification of ignorance, common terminology, opportunity structures, role-sets, and the reclama (reconsideration) process are all important sociological approaches that should be employed by the systems engineer. In bringing the disciplines together, the systems engineer must also be wary of social ambivalence, social anomie, social dysfunction, insider-outsider behavior, unintended consequences, and the self-fulfilling prophecy. These sociological principles provide the systems engineer with key approaches to manage the information flow through the organization as the disciplines are integrated and share their information. This also helps identify key sociological barriers to information flow through the organization. This paper will discuss this theoretical basis for the application of sociological principles to systems engineering.

Watson, Michael D.↗
NASA NTRS2017

Practical Application of Sociology in Systems Engineering

Systems engineering involves both the integration of the system and the integration of the disciplines which develop and operate the system. Integrating the disciplines is a sociological effort to bring together different groups, who often have different terminology, to achieve a common goal, the system. The focus for the systems engineer is information flow through the organization, between the disciplines, to ensure the system is developed and operated will all relevant information informing system decisions. The practical application of the sociology in systems engineering brings in various organizational development concepts including the principles of planned renegotiation and the application of principles to address information barriers created by organizational culture. Concepts such as specification of ignorance, consistent terminology, opportunity structures, role-sets, and the reclama (reconsideration) process are all important sociological approaches that help address the organizational social structure (culture). In bringing the disciplines together, the systems engineer must also be wary of social ambivalence, social anomie, social dysfunction, and insider-outsider behavior. Unintended consequences can result when these social issues are present. These issues can occur when localized subcultures shift from the overarching organizational culture, or when the organizational culture prevents achievement of system goals. These sociological principles provide the systems engineer with key approaches to manage the information flow through the organization as the disciplines are integrated and share their information and provides key sociological barriers to information flow through the organization. This paper will discuss the practical application of sociological principles to systems engineering.

Watson, Michael D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

US Forest Service and National Park Service Wilderness Aircraft Overflight Study: Sociological background and study plans

The background and sociological aspects of the combined U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service Wilderness Aircraft Overflight Study (WACOS) are presented. The WACOS broaches a new area of research by combining aspects of outdoor recreation sociology and aircraft noise response studies. The tasks faced create new challenges and require innovative solutions. Background information on the WACOS is presented with special emphasis on sociological considerations. At the time of this writing, no data have yet been collected, so this paper will present background information, related issues, and plans for data collection. Some recent studies indicate that managers of Forest Service wildernesses and National Park Service areas consider aircraft overflights to be a problem to their users in some areas. Additional relevant background research from outdoor recreation sociology is discussed, followed by presentation of the authors' opinions of the most salient sociological issues faced by this study. The goals and desired end products are identified next, followed by a review of the methods anticipated to be used to obtain these results. Finally, a discussion and conclusion section is provided.

Harrison, Robin T.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Behavioral, psychiatric, and sociological problems of long-duration space missions

In an attempt to isolate behavioral, psychiatric, and sociological problems expected on long- duration space missions, a literature search was conducted at the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas. Primary sources include short - term space flights, submarine tours, Antarctic expeditions, isolation-chamber tests, space-flight simulators, and hypodynamia studies. Various stressors are discussed including weightlessness and low sensory input; circadian rhythms (including sleep); confinement, isolation, and monotony; and purely psychiatric and sociological considerations. Important aspects of crew selection are also mentioned. An attempt is made to discuss these factors with regard to a prototype mission to Mars. However, it is concluded that more experimentation under actual space conditions are necessary before such a mission should be attempted.

Nick A Kanas↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy Equity: From Sociological Concept to Engineering Perspective of Electric Power Systems

The implementation of energy equity has emerged as a pivotal goal of the global energy transition, driven by widespread recognition of energy inequities worldwide. Because energy equity is broadly regarded as a sociological concept rather than an engineering one, the current absence of technical engineering methods necessitates the development of a justified and sound approach to making energy equity an actionable practice in the broader realms of energy, environment, and sustainability. This Perspective discusses different terms related to energy equity and proposes a generalized definition of energy equity from the engineering perspective of electric power systems. To address these challenges related to energy equity, policies in Europe and the U.S. are introduced, although their effectiveness is limited. Further, current energy equity research is classified into four categories: quantifying energy equity, improving equity in the accessibility of electricity, improving equity in the affordability of electricity, and improving equity in the resilience of power systems. Then, we classify the ongoing research challenges in energy equity into two categories, technical challenges and application challenges, and provide corresponding insights. Finally, we discuss equity of resilience or reliability, income disparity, and environmental equity, followed by a summary of this Perspective.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗
NASA NTRS1976

Utilization of remote sensing data - The sociological perspective

Remote sensing provides an opportunity to study the ways in which new sources of data enter into decisions related to resource management, the conditions and criteria for acceptance of the new techniques, and the methods by which assessment of their utility is accomplished. This article underscores the social dimensions of technology utilization and assessment, with reliability, specificity, ease of access, and openness among the main desiderata. The point is made that the interface between the technology and the society it is designed to serve is crucial, for upon its nature depend how, whether, when, and by whom the technology will be utilized. The present reliance on quantitative techniques, such as benefit-cost analyses, is reviewed from a sociological view point, and the inadequacy of these techniques is pointed out.

Hoos, I. R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Study of annoyance due to urban automobile traffic. Annex 5: Sociological study

The aim, method, description, and results of the study of the influence of traffic noise on the annoyance of persons living near points of measurement are discussed. A facsimile of the questionnaire used in the study is included. The essential themes were: the different dimensions of annoyance; the means of defense against noise; the criteria subjects use to describe the noise; attitudes regarding noise; and the functions of noises.

Aubree, D.↗
NASA NTRS2008

The Power of Story

A major knowledge-sharing issue that is the source of many project problems: how to communicate our intentions so that the information received is the same as the information given. One answer is conversation-the back-and-forth of statement, question, and response that gradually brings talkers and listeners to a shared understanding. Stories also offer a way to share knowledge effectively. While the story teller's intent and the listener's interpretation will not be identical, a good story reliably communicates essential knowledge so it is not only understood but absorbed and embraced. Narrative is one of the oldest knowledge-transfer systems in the world. Religion knows it. Politicians know it. Fairytales know it. Now, knowledge management practitioners are coming to know it, too. But why are stories such a powerful knowledge-transfer tool? And what kinds of knowledge do they transfer? Joseph Campbell, the mythologist, defined stories as serving four major functions: the mystical, the cosmological, the sociological, and the pedagogical. The mystical function of narrative lies in its ability to open up emotional realization that often connects with a transcendent idea such as love or forgiveness. He calls this realization "mystical" because it connects the self with the universal. What Campbell calls the cosmological function of stories relates the self to the outside world, focusing on action, on understanding cause and effect and our role in it. For the cosmological function of stories "to be up to date and really to work in the minds of people who are living in the modern scientific world," Campbell notes, "it must incorporate the modern scientific world." We must continually tell stories that demonstrate our current vision of the world. The sociological function of stories, Campbell explains, helps maintain and validate the social order of a society. Stories pass on information about power relationships, taboos, laws, and the inner workings of communities. Countries and religions have stories that serve this function and so do organizations and project teams, where stories about project work communicate information about behaviors and attitudes that are expected and rewarded or frowned upon and penalized. Functioning pedagogically, says Campbell, narratives guide individuals harmoniously through the stages of life in terms of their world today, with its current goods, values, and dangers. These are stories that deal with life transitions and guide us from one stage to another. Stories powerfully serve these functions partly because of two great strengths: their ability to engage listeners personally and emotionally and their use of metaphor. And it turns out that these two things are related.

Cohen, Don↗
NASA NTRS1964

Population

Sociological implications of explosive increase in human population

POPULATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Governance and Resilience: A Holistic Approach to Systems Security in Complex and Chaotic Environments

Here, a systems governance approach emphasizes a holistic perspective that identifies and navigates the interdependencies and conflicts between security and operational needs. Governance is defined as a collection of metasystems that provide the necessary constraints and processes to support, steer, adapt, transform, and sustain a system (Keating et al. 2022). Utilizing the Cynefin framework, which distinguishes between simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic environments (Snowden and Boone 2007), the article highlights the challenges faced by nuclear power plants in predatory contexts and the importance of integrating security objectives into governance frameworks. By incorporating security as a fundamental aspect of governance, the article underscores its significance for persistence, adaptation, and transformation in the face of uncertainty. Additionally, it introduces key heuristics of systems security, such as the importance of context, knowledge‐based decision‐making, and organization‐specific sociological factors (Williams and Caskey 2024). Ultimately, this work provides valuable insights into enhancing resilient operations in complex environments by reinforcing the connection between effective governance and security in systems engineering.

Caskey, Susan A. [Sandia National Laboratories (SN↗
NASA NTRS1964

Man's space venture

Manned space flight - scientific, technological and sociological background

SPACE PROGRAM↗