Integrating genetics into research
Overview
NCHPEG is creating a web-based educational program that will provide sufficient genetics background to allow social and behavioral scientists (SBS) to engage effectively in interdisciplinary research with genetics researchers. The overarching goal of this project is to create an educational program that will improve social scientists’ genetics literacy in the following areas:
- Conversation: increase structural genetics literacy, which is defined as the ability to understand genetics conceptual schemes, understand procedural knowledge and skills, and explain genetics concepts in the user’s own words.
- Imagination: conceive of progressive but feasible studies incorporating genetics
- Evaluation: assess genetics research for validity and utility for social and behavioral research questions
- Integration: integrate genetics concepts into their own research questions and facilitate collaborative studies with genetics experts
Audience
SBS encompasses a broad range of professionals with a large breadth of expertise. Instead of attempting to target a subgroup of SBSs, we will concentrate the program on core concepts that are applicable to all (or most) users. We will use specific examples to teach the core concepts that will appeal to an array of SBS's. We anticipate that there will be users of this program at a variety of places in their training and careers, and, thus, needing different types of information in different forms. Based on adult learning theory, we are creating a program for which the path through the content will be user-directed and interactive. We will rely on beta-testing in the target audience to modify the structure as needed.
Program Structure
This web-based educational program will allow users to access the information in a variety of ways, depending on their needs and interests. The core content has been determined by our advisory committee and includes the following areas:
- Variation (e.g., sources of genetic variation, biological pathways, continuum of traits)
- Gene-environment interaction (e.g., epigenetics, defining phenotype)
- Evaluating genetic research (e.g., unique aspects of genetic studies)
- Population issues (e.g., population stratification, race and ethnicity)
- Clinical issues (e.g., family history, genes of large and small effect)
- Research issues (e.g., data sharing, GWAS, heritability)
Users will be able to access the content directly or learn it through case studies. There will be four case studies: tobacco, obesity, major depression, and breast cancer. The case studies are designed to be interactive and to build the user’s knowledge and comfort with the concepts in a step-wise manner. The general structure for each case study includes a statement of the problem, interactive review of the pertinent literature, discussion of approach to research in this area, exercise to develop next research question, opportunities for collaboration, and discussion of clinical implications. Each case study will link to specific core concepts to allow the user to determine his or her own learning approach.
Timeline
We will be beta-testing the content of this program in the summer 2010. The completed program and a teaching tools extension will be available at the end of 2010.
- For more information about this program please contact Kate Reed.