[Robert Lee]

Robert Lee  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Dear Naked Scientist,

First off, I found you through the [relatively non-commercial] site b3ta.com; and I must say it makes a change from the majority of news agencies' science sections, which mostly consist of "ZOMG, ASTEROID DEATH!" etc. whilst still being something light for listening to during off-hours.  However, aside from the thanks my question is as to Graphology.

I have in the past attended "The Language Show" at the London Olympia, and amongst the many talks on accents, etymology, tasting sessions for languages as well as attempts to garner as many freebies as is possible from the many different stalls (liberal nationalist Romanian music from the 1920s, hurrah!) there was one lecture on Graphology.  Due possibly to the limited time available for the talk there were many questions left unanswered by everyone who attended and the science behind Graphology seemed wobbly at best.

The question is is Graphology truly an ology?  How can one quantify the accuracy of its claims?  As it has only recently been developed and so is still in an early stage of calibration (or so was claimed) how can any of the conclusions be reliable, considering that definitions of certain handwriting characteristics are still open to interpretation (cynically read as:  Graphologists can change their mind about anything at any time)?  If the matter of the study of handwriting is of interest to you then I would look forward to hearing it discussed, however briefly, in the show.  If you wish to investigate Graphology then I am perfectly willing to be used as a guinea pig (i.e. Handwriting samples, psychologists' reports, etc.)


(Also, for the newbielink:http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/ [nonactive] dated 15.03.09 there is the point of a study of hair on the thigh.  A slightly related note is that I've found if I get a shiver then I feel it through my head, neck, forearms and lower legs, but not my thighs.  I am male.  This may be something one could investigate by slipping in to everyday conversation, say, on the bus.)

Yours in gratitude,
Robert Lee

What do you think?

[lyner]

it goes with astrology!

[RD]

Is the process of identifying handwriting, (e.g. forged signatures), also pseudo-science  ?

[Bored chemist]

This
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questioned_Document_Examination
is science. It gets used in court.
This
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphology
is sh** and is used to exploit gullible pepople and organisations.

[Robert Lee]

It seems I've been effectively press-ganged into joining the forum; so I thought I'd go along with it and say thanks for the replies so far!

I was writing in reference to Graphology in specific as opposed to Questioned Document Examination; I'm pretty sure the latter has a lot going for it.

A next question would be does anyone have first hand or reliable experience of experiments whereby Graphology has been shown to have very little supporting evidence?  Just so you don't think I'm sponging off and doing none of the work myself I am checking out the studies referenced by wikipedia.

Next, in reference to Sophiecentaur, could we use an astrologist to predict the definition of a graphologist?  That needs more investigation, for sure.

[Bored chemist]

"could we use an astrologist to predict the definition of a graphologist? "
You could, but don't use a Sagitarian- they aren't very good at it.

[lyner]

I considered introducing Uranus into the argument but thought better of it.

The idea of identifying or eliminating someone as the source of a bit of handwritten text is worth taking seriously. The rest is very tenuous and I wouldn't spend money on it.