Young Adults’ Belief in Genetic Determinism, and Knowledge and Attitudes towards Modern Genetics and Genomics: The PUGGS Questionnaire

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169808
• Publication Date: 2017-01-23T19:02:25Z
• Authors: Rebecca Bruu Carver; Jérémy Castéra; Niklas Gericke; Neima Alice Menez...; Charbel N. El-Hani
• Keywords: Jargon; Human genetics

In this paper we present the development and validation a comprehensive questionnaire to assess college students' knowledge about modern genetics genomics, their belief in genetic determinism, attitudes towards applications of genomic-based technologies. Written everyday language with minimal jargon, Public Understanding Attitudes Genetics Genomics (PUGGS) is intended for use research on science education public understanding science, as means investigate relationships between knowledge, determinism genetics, which are date little understood. We developed set core ideas initial items from reviewing scientific literature previous studies student genetics. Seventeen international experts different fields (e.g., education, philosophy science) reviewed feedback was used revise questionnaire. validated two pilot tests samples university freshmen students. The final contains 45 items, including both multiple choice Likert scale response formats. Cronbach alpha showed good reliability each section conclusion, PUGGS reliable tool investigating