Kendler and Prescott

Question 1

Year

Answer 1

1998

Question 2

What can this study be used for?

Answer 2

• Discuss dispositional factors as determinants of health.
• Risk factors

Question 3

Aim

Answer 3

Study the role of genetics in cannabis use

Question 4

Experimental design

Answer 4

Interviews

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

Almost 2000 female twins 22-62 years old (mono and dizigotic)

Question 6

Procedure

Answer 6

Phone interviews were conducted to asses lifetime cannabis use, heavy use, abuse and dependence. Use of cannabis was defined as at least 1 nonprescribed use of a drug.

Question 7

Results

Answer 7

• Researchers found that cannabis dependence is highly heritable, genetics being responsible for 60-80% liability. This shows that genotype might be a determining factor in cannabis addiction.
• The link between cannabis use and abuse was weaker

Question 8

Evaluation

Answer 8

✘ Low external validity due to twin sample
✘ Interviews require self-reporting and carry the risk of innacurate or fabricated answers
✓Used both monozygotic and dizygotic twins, making it possible to see how different levels of genetic relation affect whether it’s a strong determinant of addiction or not.