The forensic literature identifies a range of methods for identifying the writer of a handwritten entry that emerged from the development of handwriting examination in the twentieth century. In addition to geometric and statistical methods, approaches that consider writing movement dynamics and the relationships between graphic elements of handwriting are significant. These include the method of determining the kinetic-geometric similarity index and the graphical comparison method.
The concept of graphology also appears in discussions of handwriting research, but it must be clearly distinguished from forensic identification examination. Graphology concerns interpreting handwriting features in relation to the writer’s psychological traits, whereas forensic handwriting examination focuses on establishing who made an entry and whether a document is authentic.
Method of determining the kinetic-geometric similarity index
The method of determining the kinetic-geometric similarity index was developed as an attempt to combine analysis of handwriting’s geometric structure with analysis of writing movement kinetics. Its basic assumption treats handwriting as the result of a complex motor process in which letter shapes and the dynamics of hand movements are closely linked.
This method primarily analyses relationships between graphic handwriting elements, such as:
- slant angles of handwriting elements,
- proportions between parts of letters,
- the spatial arrangement of characters within a word,
- the fluency and dynamics of the writing line.
These parameters are used to calculate an index of kinetic geometric similarity between the questioned and comparison material. This numerical index expresses the degree of agreement between the handwriting parameters analysed. The higher the index, the greater the similarity between the pieces of writing compared.
This method introduces a quantitative element into the assessment of handwriting similarity. However, as with other statistical methods, its effectiveness depends on the quality of the examination material and the number of available reference samples. In expert reporting practice, it is usually treated as a tool supporting analysis conducted using the classical graphical comparison method (Całkiewicz, 2009).
Graphical comparison method
The graphic comparative method is the principal method for identifying the writer in forensic handwriting examination. Its essence is the analysis of graphic handwriting characteristics and comparison of those characteristics between questioned and comparison material.
During analysis, the expert identifies both general and detailed handwriting features. General features include:
- the general character of handwriting (such as rapid, careful or school-style writing),
- letter proportions and character size,
- handwriting slant angle,
- word arrangement and spacing between characters.
Detailed features, by contrast, comprise individual graphic characteristics of particular characters, such as how lines begin and end, characteristic letter connections or distinctive deformations of graphic characters.
Comparative analysis involves comparing these characteristics in the questioned and comparison material and assessing their agreement or differences. A large number of shared characteristics and an absence of contradictory features may allow a conclusion of common authorship. Conversely, significant differences may lead to the exclusion of the same person as the writer of the compared entries.
The graphic comparative method also takes account of handwriting variation. A person's handwriting is not completely identical on every occasion, but displays a range of natural deviations resulting from writing conditions, the writer's physical and mental state or the type of writing instrument used. During identification, the expert therefore assesses both the recurrence of handwriting characteristics and their permissible range of variation (Całkiewicz, 2009).
Because of its versatility and ability to account for diverse handwriting characteristics, the graphic comparative method remains the principal tool used in handwriting examination in most European countries.
Graphology and forensic handwriting examination
The concept of graphology often appears in the literature on handwriting analysis. Historically, graphology grew out of research into the relationship between handwriting features and human personality traits. Its proponents assumed that analysis of handwriting could allow conclusions about the writer’s character, temperament or psychological predispositions.
Modern forensic science clearly distinguishes graphology from handwriting identification examination. The purpose of handwriting examination is to establish who made an entry or whether a document is authentic, rather than interpret the writer’s psychological traits.
For this reason, graphology is not treated as an evidential method in criminal or civil proceedings. Forensic expertise instead uses identification methods based on analysing graphic handwriting characteristics and a comparative procedure.
Nevertheless, some graphological concepts contributed to research into handwriting structure and variability, indirectly influencing the development of modern handwriting examination methodology (Całkiewicz, 2009).
References (APA 6)
Całkiewicz, A. (2009). Kryminalistyczne badania patologicznego pisma ręcznego. Warsaw: Wydawnictwa Akademickie i Profesjonalne.