Identification of the Class Characteristics in the Handwriting of Polish People Writing in English

• NCJ Number: 232580
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2010 Pages: 1296-1303
• Author(s): Susan J. Turnbull, M.A., D.Clin.Psy., M.Sc.; Allison E. Jones, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.; Mike Allen, B.A., M.Sc.
• Date Published: September 2010
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

An investigation was carried out to identify the class characteristics of Polish people writing in English and to specifically identify those characteristics that separate Polish handwriting from English handwriting.

Abstract

In the first stage, 40 Polish and 40 English handwriting samples were collected and systematically examined. In total, 31 features were identified that occurred in greater than or equal to 25 percent of the Polish handwriting samples and therefore considered class characteristics. Of these, chi-square analyses identified 21 class characteristics that occurred significantly more in Polish compared to English handwriting. Twenty-one of the class characteristics in the Polish handwriting had similar constructions to the copybook pattern, thus supporting the theory that class characteristics frequently stem from the taught writing system. In the second stage, an algorithm was developed using 17 of the class characteristics that successfully discriminated between a further 13 Polish and 12 English handwriting samples. (Published Abstract)