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Eye-Hand Coordination: The Logic of Questioned Document Examination

NCJ Number
152634
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Dated: (May-June 1994) Pages: 276-290
Author(s)
C A Richards
Date Published
1994
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The work of the examiner of questioned documents is compared with that of the graphologist or the graphoanalyst with respect to their nature, methods, and conclusions.
Abstract
Although both handwriting analysts and examiners of questioned documents both assume that handwriting is an expression of a person, they differ regarding what is revealed. The analyst believes that the handwriting reveals a human trait or personality, whereas the examiner seeks to identify a particular person based on the habit patterns revealed by the handwriting. Both use comparative studies to reach conclusions. The analyst uses inductive proof to make a deductive argument, while the examiner uses abductive logic that begins as an intuited hypothesis. Analysts and questioned document examiners also differ with respect to the ways in which the timing of the sample influences their perceptions and approaches. Graphologists assume that handwriting changes reflect personality changes, whereas examiners understand that handwriting changes from moment to moment and are suspicious of samples without variation. Aware that forgers are liars, they seek only to identify the person whose writing they are examining. 15 references

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