The Many Facets of Genetic Literacy: Assessing the Scalability of Multiple Measures for Broad Use in Survey Research.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To determine how three dimensions of genetic literacy (familiarity, skills, and factual knowledge) fit the hierarchy of knowledge outlined in E.M. Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations to better conceptualize lay understandings of genomics.

Methods

A consumer panel representing the US adult population (N = 1016) completed an electronic survey in November 2013. Adjusting for education, we used correlations, principle components analysis, Mokken Scale tests, and linear regressions to assess how scores on the three genetic literacy sub-dimensions fit an ordered scale.

Results

The three scores significantly loaded onto one factor, even when adjusting for education. Analyses revealed moderate strength in scaling (0.416, p<0.001) and a difficulty ordering that matched

SUBMITTER: Abrams LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4625002 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature