A multidimensional validation method for handwriting analysis: An exploratory study

In response to methodological problems found in available research concerning the validity of handwriting analysis in assessing personality, the researcher sought to design and test a multidimensional validation procedure which would address limitations raised by graphologists and other researchers. The study was unique in that graphology was evaluated on two different levels concurrently, using two criterion measures for comparison. The design incorporated a trait-by-trait procedure as well as a global procedure.; The multidimensional validation procedure was tested using two Master Graphoanalysts, 10 female subjects in outpatient psychotherapy, and the subjects' therapists. Instruments included two trait rating scales and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). One trait scale included 10 traits and operational definitions taken from the MMPI, while the other consisted of 12 traits customarily identified and operationally defined by graphologists. Subjects completed the MMPI while judges rated the subjects on 22 traits. Graphologists rated each trait and wrote single page personality evaluations based on neutral handwriting samples. Judges and subjects rank-ordered the graphology evaluations according to best fit. In addition, judges and subjects rank-ordered MMPI computer-generated interpretive reports.; Interrater reliability between graphologists was obtained using Pearson product-moment correlations. Graphologists reached a moderate degree of agreement on the graphology-defined traits but virtually none on the MMPI defined traits. Graphologists achieved significant correlations with the criterion measures on 5 traits when analyzed individually and 2 traits when analyzed collectively.; The accuracy of the graphologists' global evaluations was analyzed by obtaining correlation coefficients of relative predictability for each distribution of rankings of the reports made by the judges and subjects. All global ratings were negative and nonsignificant.; Although significant correlations were sought in order to test the hypotheses concerning the relative accuracy of handwriting analysis, the present research was meant to serve as a pilot study for the design of future research using larger samples. The limited number of subjects (n = 10) and graphologists (2) involved precluded any generalization of these results to the field of graphology.; The results were discussed, along with suggestions for modification of the design used in this study for larger samples.