Handwriting Analysis

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Permalink Reply by Karen Hardman on March 10, 2010 at 9:08am

Hi Colin,

Graphology is said to be underpinned by scientific principals (as told to me by a Graphologist), however, a concern should be that it is not registered or regulated. Psychometric assessments which would give you the same or similar answers can be proven to be reliable through research and registration at the HPCSA. I prefer this route as I have a responsiblity to the candidate to give accurate information.

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Permalink Reply by Colin Dovey on March 10, 2010 at 2:42pm

Thanks Karen for responding to the debate that I have opened on purpose by laying the bait in the water, so to speak. Contrary to what people think, and fail to research, is that there is an ABUNDANCE of VALID scientific, documented evidence, just a FEW of which you can see below. Anybody who wants the whole resource is welcome to visit my web site and download "Resource list of Scientific Studies concerning Handwriting Analysis"

Small handwriting in some patients with anorexia nervosa Beumont, P. - British Journal of Psychiatry, 119, 349-350, 1971.
 Graphology and Its Importance in Current Medical Psychology Broern, W. - Medizinische Klinik, Hamburg, 66, 6, 1971.
Can stress be measured by handwriting analysis ? Keinan, G. The effectiveness of the analytic method; discusses theoretical implications and possible advantages of
using handwriting parameters as an indication of acute stress. Applied Psychology--An International Review--Psychologies Appliquee-Revue International: V0042 N2: APR 1993: pp. 153-170.
Reliability and Validity of Handwriting Analysis compared to the standard battery of psychological tests and the ratings of therapists using the California Q-sort - a Doctoral Thesis, 1993. Kraus, Ron
(various graphologists)
Graphology: Towards a Hand-Picked Work Force Lynch, Brian - ; Personnel Management, Mar. 1985, v17n3, p. 14-18.
Nevo, Baruch - National Institute of Testing & Evaluation, University of Haifa - Graphology Validation Studies in Israel: Summary of 15 years of Activity; International Association for Applied Psychology, Jerusalem, July, 1986.
Schwarz, Daniel (graduate student) College of Criminal Justice, New York A validity study of graphology: Its usefulness in assessing integrity in identifying people prone to committing theft; Master's
Thesis, 1992.

Handwriting Analysis (Graphology) is a degree course in Italy, Spain and Argentina. it is used successfully, as a matter of course in 78% of job application procedures across Europe, 30% in the USA (also for Jury Selection) 11% in the UK, and then also in Israel, India, Australia and New Zealand.

I have it on good authority,(from HIGHLY QUALIFIED and experienced Psychologists in the HR field) and have personally seen it in practice in South Africa, that Psychometric testing can be fudged, and also, for example, people with a very good memory can twist Myers-Briggs Analyses to suit themselves. We worked on a parallel BLIND test for a large group of job candidates for a Major mining company, and the candidate eventually "selected" by a full battery of Psychometric tests lasting for a FULL DAY, and then that selected by a 30 minute test and then analysed by Handwriting Analysis procedures, showed this candidate as the WORST choice, and the one top of the Handwriting selection was eventually appointed. That person now successfully HEADS the department concerned.

I find the attitude of the Psychometric Testing fraternity disturbing, as we SHOULD, in SA, be finding ways of identifying potential talent, CHEAPLY, instead of making selections by apparently elitist, and EXPENSIVE methodologies. It almost seems as though someone is protecting their very lucrative territory, and using "SCIENCE" as their smokescreen. The right approach should be to run the two in parallel, and then have a valid, universal check all the time. That, in my opinion, would be the open, honest way of achieving the BEST result for ALL parties concerned. It would be refreshing to see someone who is openly brave enough to do a field test. A lot of the blame can also be laid at the door of the recruitment companies. The process that is used, and the reference "checking" leave a LOT to be desired. That is probably because the recruiter is under HEAVY pressure with say, 50 applications, and he or she cannot peruse all 50, so just "scans" them. Handwriting can SORT the top ten out, reliably, cheaply and effectively. AND BY THE WAY KAREN - what you asked for - ACCURATELY!

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