Showing papers on "Graphology published in 1993"

A Comparison of the Extroversion-Introversion Scale of the Mvers-Briggs Type Indicator to the Handwriting Traits Which Indicate Extroversion or Introversion: A Graphology Validity Study

Abstract: The primary purpose of this validation study was to determine whether there was a significant relationship between the extroversion-introversion scores on the MyersBriggs inventory and the following graphometric characteristics: handwriting slant, midzone size, space between lines of writing, the space between words in writing, width of left margin, and width of right margin. Subjects for the study were drawn from a course offered by the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) counseling service. This course was designed for students who were uncommitted to a major. Most students were freshman. A total of 49 subjects were studied. Data were collected over a period of two semesters. Pearson correlation values were determined for the following handwriting characteristics: Wordspace r=-.30, midzone size r=-.23, space between lines r=-.17 right margin width r=-.17, left margin width r=-.15, and slant of letters r=-.09. The results indicated the acceptance of the null hypothesis that there is no significant correlation between the Myers-Briggs scores and the handwriting measurements, except for distance between words which had a value of r=.3 0 (significant at the .05 level). In direct terms there was a probability beyond chance that a writer would be more extroverted as the distance between words decreased. DEDICATED TO CARMEN, MY LOVING AND SUPPORTING WIFE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Preparation for this thesis topic occurred over a period of eighteen months. Traditional library sources were somewhat limited when it came to any graphological topics. Handwriting analysts were contacted by phone throughout the United States ranging from Virginia to California. Most contacts were very congenial and helpful. A common theme erupted from all of these contacts. "Very little validation research has been done in graphology or handwriting analysis and there is a real need for such research." Special thanks need to be given to several handwriting analysts who were especially helpful in this topic selection. Milton Moore, whose writings were utilized in this paper, was extremely helpful in narrowing down this topic. Several phone conversations with him concerning the Myers-Briggs Inventory and graphological characteristics resulted in my final topic selection. Mary Lynn Bryden of the Texas Institute of Graphological Sciences was especially helpful in providing names of prominent handwriting analysts who were of help to me. Several special libraries were of some help in obtaining literature on graphology. They include: Handwriting Analysis Research Library, Robert E. Backman, and The American Association of Handwriting Analysts (AAHA) Library, Nancy Kowalski, Librarian. The search for literature extended internationally and included contacts with graphologists from Germany, South Africa, and Canada. Several local handwriting analysts were also interviewed for suggestions concerning a thesis topic. In general much of the literature published concerning handwriting analysis is not supported by any research and is difficult to utilize in a paper of this kind. It should also be noted that there are. several different schools of handwriting analysis in the United States. Some disagreement does occur within the graphological community and a lot of information is not shared openly. Although the graphological group cannot be disclosed, the researcher will follow with an illustration. A phone call to an organization leader uncovered the fact that this group had amassed considerable data concerning certain graphological characteristics. When the researcher asked if any information could be made available he was told that he must take the organization courses (both time consuming and expensive) in order to access any information. In the interest of scientific research it seems unfortunate that such information couldn't have been shared. Obviously it would be beneficial to the graphological community if all literature and studies could be shared between all factions. TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1, INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Problem 3 Hypothesis 3 Significance of the study 3 Assumptions * 4 Limitations 4 Chapter 2, SURVEY OF THE LITERATURE 5 Jung, Extroversion, and Introversion 5 History of Handwriting Analysis 11 Research Methods . , 18 Methods of Graphological Measurement 21 Graphological Studies 23 Graphology, Personality Inventories, and Intelligence Tests . .24 Graphology and Individual Evaluations......... 32 Graphology and Personnel Measurements......... 3 5 Graphometric Studies 37 Studies Questioning the Validity of Graphology.38 Graphology and Reliability 3 9 Chapter 3, PROCEDURES 42 Subjects 42 Procedure 42 Instrumentation 43 Chapter 4, RESULTS 50 Chapter 5, DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS..57 Experimental Design 59 Implications for Counseling 61 Comments 63 Recommendations 65 APPENDIX A 67 APPENDIX B 69 REFERENCES 72 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Basic Descriptive Statistics 51 2. Pearson Correlation Analysis (one to all)......... ...51 3. Pearson Correlation Analysis (all to all) 52 4. Frequency Distribution 54 1 Chapter