Examination Performance and Graphological Analysis of Students' Handwriting

Abstract

Research has yielded mixed support for graphological claims. The present study was designed to see whether specific components of students' handwriting were related to personality traits associated with achievement in written examinations. If aspects were identified that could be used to predict future academic performance, the findings would not only be of interest to graphologists but would be invaluable to both student and tutor in a teaching environment. In a blind trial, 100 handwriting samples from first-year scripts were analysed for the presence or absence of 12 graphological characteristics deemed to be relevant for academic performance, and each of these aspects was tested for association with the grade points awarded. Statistically significant differences were found for two of the 12 characteristics: "carefulness" and "constancy." Also, measurements of individual letters indicated that consistent slant was significantly associated with high grade points, whereas upright or mixed writing was not. These attributes appeared to be generally related to readability and aesthetic quality. Although such aspects might influence the grading of scripts by teachers, typed versions received similar grades to those awarded for the handwritten versions.

Behavioral Evaluations of Anesthesiology Residents and Overuse of the First-Person Pronoun in Personal Statements

“…8,9 Graphology, the study and analysis of handwriting and its relation to human behavior, has largely been disproved and is considered a pseudoscience by most. [10][11][12] Most behavioral research originated in the analysis of verbal speech, with several large studies demonstrating a relationship between distinct behavioral traits and word choices in spontaneous verbal speech. 13 From these emerged a rational but intriguing correlation between egocentrism and use of the personal pronoun ''I.''…”

“…There are several individual reports of residency programs using ''I'' counts from personal statements in an attempt to identify selfish or egocentric behavioral traits among applicants. 11 In addition, a multitude of online and printed resources warns applicants of the social dangers associated with liberal use of the ''I statement,'' demonstrating the pervasive cultural aversion to this pronoun. [12][13][14][15] The purpose of this retrospective study Background The admissions process for residency encompasses numerous objective and subjective measurements by which an applicant is evaluated.…”

The Influence of Implicit Achievement Motive and Graphological Variables on Learning Variables

“…Oosthuizen (1990) analyzed the correlation of questionnaire and graphological indices with learning and achievement and found that graphology better predicts those scores than questionnaires. Also Lowis and Mooney (2001) assessed the conjunction of graphology with the achievement of students and found that the individual feature slant can predict achievement.…”

Short‐term sensorimotor‐based intervention for handwriting performance in elementary school children

“…Research suggests that handwriting influences reading, writing, language and critical thinking . Children with writing disorders have a tendency towards lower mathematics achievement, low verbal IQ, and increased attention difficulties, and consistently achieve lower marks compared with controls . Handwriting difficulties in children include illegibility and inefficient writing speed.…”