A New Approach for Objective Evaluation of Writing Quality

The approach to evaluate handwriting quality is usually based on the use of check-lists and scales regarding qualitative, postural and pen grasp aspects that are detected during task execution and through a visual analysis of written texts. Nevertheless, this approach lacks of objectivity and all the parameters have the same weight. On the other hand, objective evaluation methods focusing on the qualitative approach are available in the literature. For example, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is a technique that allows to organise complex relationships between elements into a system based on subjective judgements. In this paper we present an innovative evaluation scale, based on a new neuromotor model of handwriting production, which associates a specific weight to each parameter during the calculation of a quality score. The scale allows teachers, speech therapists and all those interested in diagnostic and rehabilitative phase to identify subjects who show some handwriting difficulties compared to the average performance of their peers. The new approach was applied to two groups of students, following different teaching methods, in order to evaluate suitably weighted aspects of handwriting quality.