NCJ Number
186082
Journal
International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners Volume: 5 Dated: December/January 1999 Pages: 175-185
Date Published
1999
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on a comparative analysis of adolescent handwriting collected from two different geographic areas (Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia).
Abstract
To facilitate this research and subsequent similar studies, a handwriting survey was prepared. The survey was designed to collect the greatest handwriting information within a 35-40 minute sitting. The text was designed to reproduce all upper and lower case letters, numerals, and doubled consonants of lower case letters. A total of 300 surveys were sent to a local high school. Of the 78 that were returned, only 72 were usable for this project. There were 34 males and 38 females between the ages of 14 and 21. The same kinds of differences between male adolescent handwriting and female adolescent handwriting were evident in the Nova Scotia study as were seen in Saskatchewan. Females tended to write with good line quality using short staffs, some disconnections, and rounded arches. Males were more likely to write with taller staffs, no disconnections, and peaked arches. Some slight regional differences were apparent. This may be due to the fact that the average age of the students in the Saskatchewan study was 13-14, while the average age of the students in the Nova Scotia study was 16-17. There may also have been some outside influences, such as teachers, parents, etc. In both studies there were females who wrote in a "masculine" style and males who wrote in a "feminine" style, thus making it impossible to positively determine the gender of an adolescent writer. Such an assessment could be useful as an investigative aid, however, when dealing with writing by an unknown person. 5 figures, 2 tables, and 4 references