Assessment of handwriting speed and factors influencing written output of university students in examinations

✍ Scribed by Janet Summers; Fatima Catarro

• Book ID: 104469475
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2003
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 104 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0045-0766
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1440-1630.2003.00310.x

✦ Synopsis

__Limited written output is of concern for students sitting examinations. Referral for assessment often states the problem as poor handwriting speed. This study investigated the ability of a short duration speed test to predict written output under examination conditions, and factors thought to influence written output. The number of words written per minute by 66 second‐year university students was calculated for three writing tasks (Handwriting Speed Test, and two examination papers) and the relationships examined. Data were collected on pencil grasp, legibility, writing style, pain, fatigue and academic ability. The results do not support the use of a short duration speed test to predict written output in an examination (__r^2^ = 0.072). Pencil grasp, pain and academic ability were found to have some association with written output. There is a need to establish normative data for written output in examinations and to further develop assessment techniques.