Reflex of Avoidance in Spatial Restrictions for Signatures and Handwritten Entries
Linde Christine Rush Burkey · Journal of Forensic Sciences and Digital Investigation · 2017
Within the various disputed documents encountered in the science of forensic document examination, questioned handwriting is the most prevalent.This includes the simulation or alteration of 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 previously written 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 identification of variations in handwriting due to limited space and the detection of alterations within questioned documents.