The Visual Categorization of Handwritten Letters

Abstract

Handwriting is a ubiquitous form of visual communication. Most research into the perception of handwriting has investigated the role of motor production on the perception of handwritten stimuli. For example, previous research has found that motor production of straight letters (e.g. j, k, w) interferes with the visual perception of straight letters but not curvy letters, suggesting that these two classes of letters are categorically different. However, very little research has investigated the perception of handwriting from a purely visual perspective. For our research, we will measure visual thresholds for identifying male or female handwriting using a two-alternative force choice interval (2AFC) procedure. In order to determine if straight letters are perceived differently from curvy letters, we will measure thresholds separately for a stimuli composed mostly of curvy letters (e.g. obscured) vs stimuli composed mostly of straight-line letters (e.g. twilight). Furthermore, to investigate if local or global visual information contributes to thresholds, we will measure thresholds when stimuli are presented in both upright and inverted conditions. We will evaluate thresholds for all conditions in four to five participants. This study will help inform our understanding of how we perceive handwritten information as well as determine whether different forms of handwritten letters are classified separately.

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Nicole Anderson