Reflex of Avoidance in Spatial Restrictions for Signatures and Handwritten Entries

<p>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.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

MA (Master of Arts)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Criminal Justice and Criminology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Burkey, Linde Christine Rush

• forensic
• document examination
• reflex of avoidance
• handwriting
• confined space
• Criminology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1421

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2614