Degree Name
MA (Master of Arts)
Program
Criminal Justice and Criminology
Date of Award
5-2012
Committee Chair or Co-Chairs
Larry S. Miller
Committee Members
John T. Whitehead, Michael C. Braswell
Abstract
Regarding the myriad disputed documents encountered within the science of forensic document examination, questioned handwriting is the most prevalent. This includes the simulation or alteration of and or additions to handwriting and signatures. The current study examined the changes that may occur in writing when given a limited amount of space. Several participants completed a survey wherein writing samples were taken under varying space allowances. These space restrictions were made under differing conditions such as boxed signatures, additions to prewritten material, and alterations to letters and numbers. The results of the study found characteristics of reflex of avoidance in the participants' handwriting. These characteristics included changes in height, width, and letter spacing in accordance to the amount of space provided. The examples of reflex of avoidance defined throughout this study may serve to assist forensic document examiners in the detection of alterations within questioned documents.
Document Type
Thesis - unrestricted
Recommended Citation
Burkey, Linde Christine Rush, "Reflex of Avoidance in Spatial Restrictions for Signatures and Handwritten Entries" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1421. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1421
Copyright
Copyright by the authors.