CHA Professional Standards & Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A handwriting analyst is asked by a divorce attorney to provide an analysis that supports their client's position rather than an objective assessment. The analyst should:
- Comply since the attorney is paying for the service
- Decline and explain that analyses must remain objective and unbiased (Correct answer)
- Provide two versions — one objective and one for the attorney
- Ask the opposing attorney for equal payment before proceeding
Correct answer: Decline and explain that analyses must remain objective and unbiased
Professional handwriting analysts must maintain objectivity regardless of who is paying for the service.
Question 2: When a CHA analyst discovers mid-analysis that the handwriting sample belongs to a close personal friend, the most ethical action is to:
- Complete the analysis but note the personal connection in the report
- Withdraw from the case and disclose the conflict of interest (Correct answer)
- Proceed without disclosure since friendship does not affect expertise
- Ask a colleague to review only the controversial findings
Correct answer: Withdraw from the case and disclose the conflict of interest
Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and the analyst should withdraw to preserve the integrity of the analysis.
Question 3: Under CHA professional standards, a written report of handwriting analysis findings should always include:
- A guaranteed conclusion about the writer's personality
- Qualifications of the analyst and limitations of the analysis (Correct answer)
- The client's desired outcome to show the analysis was client-focused
- Predictions about the subject's future behavior
Correct answer: Qualifications of the analyst and limitations of the analysis
Professional reports must disclose the analyst's credentials and any limitations that may affect the conclusions.
Question 4: A handwriting analyst is subpoenaed to testify in court about an analysis they performed. Which ethical principle applies?
- Refuse to testify to protect client confidentiality at all costs
- Testify truthfully and completely even if it harms the client who hired them (Correct answer)
- Only disclose findings favorable to the hiring client
- Request additional fees before testifying in court
Correct answer: Testify truthfully and completely even if it harms the client who hired them
Legal testimony requires full truthfulness, which supersedes loyalty to the client who commissioned the analysis.
Question 5: Which of the following statements about advertising CHA services is most consistent with professional ethics?
- Analysts may claim to predict criminal behavior to attract law enforcement clients
- Analysts must only make claims that are supported by their training and recognized research (Correct answer)
- Analysts should advertise guaranteed accuracy rates to build client confidence
- Analysts can claim court-admissible results without specifying the jurisdiction
Correct answer: Analysts must only make claims that are supported by their training and recognized research
Ethical advertising requires that all claims about capabilities be truthful and grounded in actual training and research.
Question 6: A CHA analyst receives a request to analyze handwriting samples obtained without the subject's knowledge from a private investigator. The ethical response is to:
- Proceed since the analyst is not responsible for how samples were obtained
- Inquire into how samples were obtained and decline if obtained through illegal means (Correct answer)
- Always refuse anonymous sample requests regardless of legality
- Request a written indemnification from the investigator before proceeding
Correct answer: Inquire into how samples were obtained and decline if obtained through illegal means
Analysts bear ethical responsibility for ensuring the samples they analyze were obtained lawfully.
Question 7: When presenting findings to a non-expert audience, a professional handwriting analyst should:
- Use technical jargon to reinforce expertise and credibility
- Simplify language while accurately representing the findings without overstating certainty (Correct answer)
- Omit limitations so the audience is not confused by caveats
- Present only the most dramatic findings to maintain audience engagement
Correct answer: Simplify language while accurately representing the findings without overstating certainty
Clear, accurate communication that preserves the integrity of findings is required even when simplifying for lay audiences.
CHA Professional Standards & Ethics 2
A handwriting analyst is asked by a divorce attorney to provide an analysis that supports their client's position rather than an objective assessment.
The analyst should: