Article

Effects of Handwriting and Computer-Print on Composition Scores: A Follow-up to Powers, Fowles, Farnum, & Ramsey

---

Abstract

Powers, Fowles, Farnum, & Ramsey (1994) report that essays presented in handwritten form receive..higher scores than the same essays presented as computer-text. The study presented here partially..replicates the study conducted by Powers et al. In addition, this study explores the extent to which..several types of errors in student writing are more visible when essays are presented as computertext...The two experiments presented here partially confirm previous findings that essays presented in..computer print receive lower scores and that part of this effect may result from the increased visibility..of errors in computer-text. Through interviews with readers, this study also suggests that the higher..standards and expectations readers have for text presented as computer print and the ability of some..readers to identify with students and see their effort when they handwrite essays may impact the..scores they award. Unlike Powers et al, however, this study does not find evidence that altering the..spacing of essays presented in computer print in order to increase the perceived length consistently..reduces the presentation effect. Accessed 34,106 times on https://pareonline.net from January 20, 2004 to December 31, 2019. For downloads from January 1, 2020 forward, please click on the PlumX Metrics link to the right.

Keywords: Essay Tests, Test Construction, Writing Prompts, Computer Uses in Education, * Essays, * Handwriting, Interrater Reliability, * Scoring, * Word Processing, * Writing Evaluation

How to Cite:

Michael, R. & Tao, W., (2004) “Effects of Handwriting and Computer-Print on Composition Scores: A Follow-up to Powers, Fowles, Farnum, & Ramsey”, Practical Assessment, Research, and Evaluation 9(1): 1. doi: https://doi.org/10.7275/9g7k-yr32