Investigating the handwriting experiences of left-handed primary-school students

Research has indicated a history of discrimination against left-handedness, with evidence that many left-handers gave in to social pressure or were forced to use their right hand for certain activities such as writing at school. While attitudes to left-handers appear to have improved in developed countries such as Australia, it is unknown whether left-handers have any difficulties in school due to their handedness while learning in a predominantly right-handed environment. This thesis reports the findings of a qualitative study which explored the handwriting experiences of primary school (Kindergarten to Year 6) left-handed students, and determined the opinions of teachers on handwriting and left-handed writers in the primary school classroom. Left-handed students and teachers from primary schools were interviewed with results indicating a number of issues relating to handwriting for left-handers including smudging, sore hand and muscle strain, legibility issues and pencil grip discrepancies. Suggestions for educational practices and further research in the area of left-handedness and handwriting are discussed.