Early results!

Our preliminary look at the data shows that we chose our measure of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) traits wisely. The distribution of scores is almost exactly that of a normal distribution.

What is a normal distribution?

A normal distribution is an average distribution of values that, when plotted on a graph, resembles the shape of a bell. Normal distributions generally develop when the sample size or number of observations is very large. Many human characteristics tend to follow a normal distribution, for example, biological measurements such as height, weight, and life span. In a normal distribution, most values fall near the average, with only a small percentage of values falling far above or below the average.

In our sample, the number of participants reporting high levels of ADHD traits and the number of participants reporting low levels of ADHD traits are approximately the same; with the vast majority of participants reporting average levels of ADHD traits.

As you can see from this graph, our data follows a normal distribution. The majority of participants reported average levels of ADHD traits (as seen by the tallest bars in the middle of the graph), while fewer participants reported either high or low levels of ADHD traits (as seen by the shortest bars on both side of the graph).

Preamble before we post our initial findings...

Over the course of the summer, we asked visitors to the Ontario Science Centre to join in a study of the genetics of obsessive, compulsive, and attentional traits.

Visitors were provided information about the risks and benefits of participation before giving written consent.

The data we collected is anonymous in all cases and there is no possibility that the scientists/researchers or anyone else can link genetic or behavioural data with a particular person.

Data was encrypted (given a "secret code" so that it's imcomprehensible to people not authorized to access the data) before being transferred to the Hospital for Sick Children, where analysis is currently taking place.

The project is approved by the Research Ethics Board of the Hospital for Sick Children and is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Department of Psychiatry, the Hospital for Sick Children, Endowment Fund.

We plan to present the results of data analyses at several scientific meetings and in scientifc journals after peer review. In no case will any specific individuals be identified. The principal investigators of this study are Dr. Russell Schachar, Dr. Paul Arnold, Dr. Jennifer Crosbie and Dr. Andrew Paterson.

Where is my spit now?

Did you "spit for science" and now you're wondering where your spit sample is?

All the saliva samples collected so far are now in a lab at the Hospital for Sick Children. Based on the information collected from the questionnaire that parents filled out about their children (or that teens filled out about themselves) we are determining which saliva samples will be included in the first round of DNA extraction.

Box of spit samples

Here are 4 boxes of spit samples. Each box holds 49 samples, and we have over 7000 samples in total. That means we have more than 140 boxes full of spit in our lab!

This spit sample has been in the preservative long enough for a "cell pellet" to form. The pellet is the cream colour mass you see at the bottom of the tube. The lab technician will use a chemical solution to break open each of the cells within the pellet. Once open, DNA can be extracted from each cell.

Recruitment Update

Where do we stand now?

We had a very busy summer at the Ontario Science Centre - in fact, 7024 kids and teens took part in our study! However, as followers of the blog may already know, our goal is to collect behavioural data and saliva samples from 10,000 children and teens.

What are our next steps?

Even though we didn't reach our goal, we're not discouraged. In fact, we will be back at the Science Centre on several dates through the months of September and October in order to collect more data and hopefully reach our goal of 10,000 participants.

When are we back at the Ontario Science Centre?

Spit for Science will be running on the following dates in 2009:

Saturday September 26
Sunday September 27

Saturday October 10
Sunday October 11

Monday October 12

Saturday October 17

Sunday October 18

Saturday October 24

Sunday October 25

Note: On Saturday September 26, the Science Centre is celebrating its 40th birthday -- this means free admission for all visitors