“Geneticization of Education: on consumer interpretation of DTC genetic reports for educational outcomes”
Friday, October 13, 2023
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM ET
Location: Chasseur (Third Floor)
Background: Polygenic scores (PGS) for intelligence and math ability are currently available to the public via third-party direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies. Given a long and troubling history of misuse of genetic information related to IQ, availability of educational PGS raises important questions about social and psychological implications of this new kind of genetic information. Who purchases these genetic reports and why? How do they understand and interpret their results? How will exposure to information regarding the genetics of education influence public understanding of educational achievement? This presentation will describe the preliminary results of qualitative study of DTC customers who have purchased and reviewed genetic reports for intelligence, educational attainment, or math ability.
Methods: This project describes the preliminary results of 20 in-depth, semi-structured interviews of individuals who have purchased and interpreted genetic reports for intelligence or math ability from Geneplaza.com, a third-party, DTC genetic testing company. Interviews were comprised of five domains of discussion surrounding their DTC genetic test results: rationale, interpretation, impact, application, and implication.
Results: Preliminary results indicate that although “curiosity” was the primary rationale behind nearly all participants pursuit of genetic reports for intelligence, interpretation, impact, application, and implication of results varied greatly.
Conclusion: Members of the general public are likely to misinterpret the results of genetic reports for intelligence and, in some rare instances, make potentially life-altering changes for themselves or their children.