Estimating Ancestry from Faces
Author Information
Author(s): Klimentidis Yann C., Shriver Mark D.
Primary Institution: University of New Mexico
Hypothesis
How accurately can people estimate genetic ancestry based on facial features?
Conclusion
Observers can estimate Native American ancestry from photographs better than chance, but their accuracy is still not perfect.
Supporting Evidence
- Observers reached a significantly higher degree of concordance than expected by chance.
- 89% of observers estimated better than random.
- Mean error score for observers was 6.074, closer to random estimation than perfect estimation.
Takeaway
People can guess someone's background by looking at their face, but they're not always right.
Methodology
The study involved showing photographs of 14 self-identified Hispanic individuals to 241 observers who estimated their Native American ancestry based on facial features.
Potential Biases
Observers' estimates may be influenced by their own ethnic backgrounds and experiences.
Limitations
The study's sample was limited to a specific demographic and may not represent broader populations.
Participant Demographics
241 observers, including university students and individuals from a local Motor Vehicle Division, with varying ethnic backgrounds.
Statistical Information
P-Value
1.51×10−36
Confidence Interval
6.074±1.141
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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