Cognitive and Personality Predictors of Attitudes Toward Genetic Research
Department
Psychological Science
Major
Psychology
Research Advisor
Bichsel, Jacqueline Michelle
Advisor's Department
Psychological Science
Abstract
Most research on attitudes toward genetic research has focused on individual differences that are explained by demographic or environmental factors. The present study utilized cognitive and personality factors in the prediction of attitudes toward genetic research to explore how reasonably stable traits account for the variance in attitudes. A sample of 289 participants (145 males, 144 females) ranging in age from 18-88 was administered the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Big Five Inventory-44, and the Attitudes Toward Genetic Research Questionnaire (GRQ). Regression analyses determined the proportion of variance accounted for in each GRQ factor by both the cognitive and personality variables. The results of these analyses indicated a significant amount of the variance in each GRQ factor was accounted for by differing cognitive and personality variables. These variables added to the variance in GRQ accounted for by demographic factors.
Biography
Lauren Summerville is currently a junior enrolled at Missouri S&T. She is working towards completion of a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with emphasis in Cognitive Neuroscience. She is also pursuing a minor in History. Lauren presently works in the Cognitive Studies Laboratory as a Research Assistant. This upcoming August, she is attending the American Psychological Association Convention to present the aforementioned research. Future plans for her include obtaining a Doctorate, continuing her interests in research, and potentially working as a professor at a university. She is set to graduate May of 2011.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Award
Social Sciences poster session, Third place
Location
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Presentation Date
07 Apr 2010, 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Cognitive and Personality Predictors of Attitudes Toward Genetic Research
Upper Atrium/Hallway
Most research on attitudes toward genetic research has focused on individual differences that are explained by demographic or environmental factors. The present study utilized cognitive and personality factors in the prediction of attitudes toward genetic research to explore how reasonably stable traits account for the variance in attitudes. A sample of 289 participants (145 males, 144 females) ranging in age from 18-88 was administered the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Big Five Inventory-44, and the Attitudes Toward Genetic Research Questionnaire (GRQ). Regression analyses determined the proportion of variance accounted for in each GRQ factor by both the cognitive and personality variables. The results of these analyses indicated a significant amount of the variance in each GRQ factor was accounted for by differing cognitive and personality variables. These variables added to the variance in GRQ accounted for by demographic factors.
Comments
Joint project with Jodi Paul