In this paper, we provide a guide for how to do “good genetics research.” The authors on this paper come from a diversity of backgrounds, with Danielle M. Dick trained in clinical psychology (behavior genetics) and statistical genetics, Shawn J. Latendresse trained in child development and statistics, and Brien Riley trained in molecular genetics; yet we all have interest in understanding how genetic and environmental influences impact behavioral outcomes, and we work together at an interdisciplinary institute that takes advantage of complementary expertise. We recognize that with the rapid pace at which genetics advances, this review is likely to become dated. However, we hope that our presentation of many of the basic tenets of genetics will give the reader an appreciation of the complex issues that surround studying genetic influences on behavior. We note that we refer alternately to “developmental scientists” or “psychologists” as our target audience for this review, but in actuality the information is relevant to any social scientist with interest in adding a genetic component to an on-going project.
