The genetic technologies questionnaire: lay judgments about genetic technologies align with ethical theory, are coherent, and predict behaviour.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Policy regulations of ethically controversial genetic technologies should, on the one hand, be based on ethical principles. On the other hand, they should be socially acceptable to ensure implementation. In addition, they should align with ethical theory. Yet to date we lack a reliable and valid scale to measure the relevant ethical judgements in laypeople. We target this lacuna.

Methods

We developed a scale based on ethical principles to elicit lay judgments: the Genetic Technologies Questionnaire (GTQ). In two pilot studies and a pre-registered main study, we validated the scale in a representative sample of the US population.

Results

The final version of the scale contains 20 items but remains highly reliable even when reduced to five. It also predicts b

SUBMITTER: Kuchenhoff S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9134650 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature