Hooker and colleagues designed the Genetic Literacy and Comprehension (GLAC) measure to assess research participant familiarity with eight commonly used genetic terms and concepts (genetic, chromosome, susceptibility, mutation, variation, abnormality, heredity, and sporadic) using a 7-point scale, ranging from strongly agree to strongly disagree with the statement “I am familiar with this term.”

Abrams and colleagues designed the Genetics Literacy Survey to gather information about how the public understands genomics and applies their knowledge in everyday scenarios beyond medical settings, including in the marketplace and mass media. Aiming to fit the hierarchy of knowledge framework outlined within
E.M. Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations, the authors created a survey that measures three, scaled dimensions of genetic literacy (term familiarity, practical skills, and factual knowledge).