Handwriting Analysis Guide
- Handwriting Analysis Quick Reference Guide For Beginners
- Handwriting Analysis Study Guide
- Handwriting Analysis Guide Understanding Personalities
Many people grow up wanting to fight crime. But while not all of us can become superheroes or even police officers, there are a range of ways that people can assist in identifying, prosecuting, and convicting criminals in the field of forensic science. If you are interested in forensic science, detailed and meticulous work, and do not mind the minutiae of close analysis, handwriting analysis and forensic document examination may be the right field for you. These highly trained specialists use scientific methods to determine the origin and veracity of all types of documentation.
Read on to learn more about this interesting career. Handwriting Analysis & Forensic Document Examination Overview Handwriting analysis and forensic document examination is the process of using scientific methods to determine the origins of documentation, both written and electronically produced. The term “handwriting analysis” is not to be confused with “graphology,” which is the process of determining the psychological state of a writer through use of his or her handwriting. Handwriting analysis and forensic document examination may also be known as “questioned document examination” (QDE), simply “document examination,” “handwriting examination,” or “diplomatics.” It is important to note that there is overlap between forensic document examiners and handwriting analysts, though some experts choose to specialize in either one discipline or the other.
In most cases, QDE involves comparing an unknown writing sample with a sample from a known writer and determining whether the two samples belong to the same person. Forensic document examiners work closely with the criminal justice system, often employed by government agencies or as independent consultants. A forensic document examiner must be trained in how to appear as an expert witness in court as well as presenting his or her expert opinion in other venues such as depositions and reports.: This book, first published in 1910, was written by Albert S.
Osborn who is considered the father of handwriting analysis. Its text is available in full here.: Board Certified Forensic Document Examiner Emily J.
Will gives a tour of the different tools that help someone in her career to examine, compare, and form their expert opinions.: SWGDOC “develops standards and guidelines for forensic document examination.” Both private examiners and government employees are part of the work group.: An overview of forensic document examination from the SAFDE, one of the preeminent associations of FDE’s in the U.S.: A short guide from the National Forensic Science Technology Center and the Bureau of Justice Assistance that covers the most basic aspects of forensic document examination. Handwriting Analysis & Forensic Document Examination Career Outlook The U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks career information for forensic science technicians. The title can include many types of forensic scientists, including forensic document examiners.
For the span of 2012 to 2022, the career is expected to grow at the rate of 6%, which is somewhat slower than the average for all careers in the country. According to the BLS, increased interest in forensic sciences due to the influence of popular media means that competition for jobs in the forensic sciences will be stiff in coming years. Advancing technology will also mean that even those forensic science technicians who are employed will need to be diligent with staying on top of new trends and training to remain competitive in the field.: The Bureau of Labor Statistics collects regular information about the outlook for a career as a forensic science technician including salary, job growth, and general duties. (ASQDE): Forensic document examiners, also referred to as Questioned Document Examiners, may find it useful to be a part of professional organizations such as this one in order to network and find career opportunities. The ASQDE site also contains information on the career and professional resources.: The Southwestern Association of Forensic Document Examiners’ membership is not limited to those living and working the the southwest, but rather to all forensic document examiners in the U.S., although new members must be sponsored by a current member.: This survey from 2002 was critical in expanding the idea of the individuality of handwriting (as the title suggests), which was certainly a major step forward in the career outlook for new handwriting analysts. Top Employers for Forensic Document Examiners Because forensic document examination and analysis is key to criminal investigations, the top employers for forensic document examiners are law enforcement and criminal investigation agencies. An FDE might be employed by a local police force or sheriff’s department, but can also work alongside private investigators and criminal attorneys, as well as prosecutors.
Forensic document examination is often used in cases of financial fraud and other white collar crimes. This means that FDEs can often find employment working with forensic accountants and other fraud investigators. In fact, some forensic document examiners are also certified fraud examiners. Finally, an experienced forensic document examiner may also choose to strike out on her own as an independent consultant.
This is one way to diversify one’s workload since this type of consulting means that the examiner is free to consult for a number of different cases and agencies. FDEs may find the schedule and work more satisfying as a consultant once they have been properly trained and earned the requisite experience.: Job listings for forensic document examiners from the ABFDE.: This Los Angeles Times profile of a prominent handwriting analyst offers a professional overview of where exactly this career can lead, including high profile cases.
Handwriting Analysis Quick Reference Guide For Beginners
Note that even the LA Times uses the term “graphologist” incorrectly here, though.: The ASQDE keeps an active employment page where employers can post vacancies and qualified forensic document examiners can post their resumes. As of November 2014, every employment opportunity listed is for a law enforcement position, in areas as diverse as California, Saint Maarten, and Mexico. Forensic Document Examiner Salary The median salary for a forensic science technician as of May 2012 is $52,840 annually while the lowest paid 10% earn $34,750 and the top 10% earn more than $85,210. It is important to recognize that these figures include all forensic technicians, not only handwriting analysts and forensic document examiners. According to Indeed.com, as of November 2014 the average annual salary for forensic investigators was $50,000.
As with any profession, the salary that one can expect to earn as a forensic document examiner will depend largely on that individual’s experience and training as well as the employer and location of the job. Keep reading for more details on desirable training, certifications, and geographies for forensic document examiners and handwriting analysts.: Information and charts in regard to the salary of forensic science technicians, sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.: Indeed.com is a job listing site that track real data from job postings for forensic document examiners as well as hundreds of other occupations and careers. Best Locations for Handwriting Analysis & Forensic Document Examination Handwriting analysts and forensic document examiners are necessary in many levels of law enforcement and therefore should be able to find work in virtually any geography. However, the fact remains that those law enforcement agencies in larger, more densely populated areas will likely have more need and resources for these types of consultants. Further, for those examiners looking to work alongside forensic accountants, the larger companies who employ forensic accountants generally have offices in all major cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. It is worth noting that foreign agencies outside of the U.S. May have a need for forensic document examiners as well.
When salary is a main concern, interested applicants should remember that geographic areas with higher costs of living will offer higher median salaries, although that may not correlate to a higher standard of living. For example, a forensic technician in California can expect to earn a median annual salary of $73,500, which is significantly higher than the national median rate of $54,400.
Handwriting Analysis Study Guide
If the below was a sample of my handwriting, would you be able to determine my personality characteristics? During my wonderful 27 years of teaching, there were times I questioned whether a student completed his or her assignment, or had someone else do it instead.
Since I keep all student assignments and parent notes for each grading period (nine weeks), I would pull several handwritten assignments from his or her file and analyze the handwriting. Analyzing handwriting (graphology) can be used for legally identifying people. It can also be used to reveal one's personality characteristics. The activity below provides a general introduction to the analysis of handwriting. Classification, human behavior and communication activities are provided for analyzing handwriting and revealing something new about your students. If nothing else, examining handwriting can develop analysis and observation skills – and it's fun! Materials.
white, unlined paper. a pen. What do you think President George W. Bush's handwriting sample revealed about his personality? Procedures. You can analyze your own handwriting or someone else's.
It's best to try to get a sample of 'normal' handwriting; that is, handwriting that wasn't written specially to be analyzed. If you're getting a sample from someone else, don't tell them why you want it until they've finished writing.
This way, they won't think about their writing, which can change its characteristics. A handwriting sample should be on a piece of white, unlined paper. Choose a specific topic to write about. The topic itself doesn't really matter.
What's important is concentrating on the topic you're writing about – not on your handwriting! The sample should be made up of one or two paragraphs and finished off with a signature. Analyzing the handwriting. Letter Slope: Notice how the words and letters slant.
This feature gives insights into a person's sociability. The greater the slant, the more extreme the personality.
Right: Outgoing. Left: Shy. Straight: Mostly independent Note: if left-handed people slant their words to the left, switch Right and Left characteristics above). Line Slope: Notice the lines of handwriting slope on the page.
Slope is influenced by a person's mood at the time he or she wrote the sample. Rising: optimistic and energetic. Falling: worried, lack of confidence. Straight: self-controlled, reliable.
Flow: Notice how words are connected to each other. This gives insights into how a person thinks. All connected: rational, logical. Some connected: imaginative, depends on hunches and intuition. Few connected: not always practical. Pressure: Does the writer press the pen hard or softly against the paper? Turn the writer's paper over and check by using your finger to feel for grooves and ridges.
Handwriting Analysis Guide Understanding Personalities
This feature gives insights into health and willpower. Heavy pressure: healthy, forceful. Light pressure: physically weak. Capital Letters: Notice how capital letters look relative to other letters. This feature gives insights into how someone views him or herself.
Very large: arrogant, dishonest. Same size as small letters: humble. Writing Specific Letters:. 'T' – This letter is one of the keys in analyzing handwriting. Notice how the 't' is crossed.
Long line: overly aggressive. Short line: fixated on ideas.
Thick line: wants to be in charge. Thin line: timid, weak will. 'I' – How is the 'i' dotted?. Dot is high above stem: focuses on tiny details instead of bigger picture. Dot close to stem: doesn't share easily. Dot centered above stem: over-precise.
Dot to the right of stem: tends to act quickly or hastily. Dash – like dot: anxious. Circle dots: stubborn, fussy. No dot: reckless, poor memory. Signature: Most people develop and practice a signature, which isn't like normal handwriting. A signature is one's own personal 'stamp' and often reveals what a person thinks he or she is like (or would like to be like).
Compare the signature to the rest of the handwriting sample(s). Do the letters and/or capitals look the same? Is the signature decorated in any way? Is the signature larger than the rest of the writing?
What insights can you get into the personality of a writer by examining his or her signature? Conclusion Do you agree with handwriting analysis? Do you think it's scientific?
Do you think that one's handwriting can tell you something about his or her personality? Why or why not?
John Cowens teaches sixth grade at Fleming Middle School in Grants Pass, OR.