How to Improve the Scientific Status of Handwriting Psychology? Psychometric and Methodical Aspects
Dr. Nicole Gruber
University of Regensburg, Germany
DOI:
In Chernov, Y., & Nauer, M. A. (Eds.). (2018). Handwriting Research: Validation & Quality. P. 12-29.
Abstract
Today the scientific status of handwriting research is decreasing more and more and graphology as well as handwriting analysis is more often criticized as a pseudoscience. Graphology is the measurement of personality variables in handwriting but has got a negative stigma because of often methodical errors and scientific doubtful interpretations. Current handwriting researchers, who are more interested in a scientific and standardized assessment of handwriting, introduced the term handwriting psychology when they assessed the relationship between psychological concepts and handwriting signs. Perhaps this change of name could make a difference, but more important is that handwriting researchers show more scientific behavior. The chapter summarizes the reasons why handwriting psychology has got a negative stigma in the official academic community and what possible solutions can be found to improve the scientific status of this research.