Wordprint Studies? Why aren't more around?

[jinc1019]

After doing a little more digging about the Book of Mormon, I came across a 2002 study that seemed to claim, based on a wordprint study (which analyzes the likelihood that various authors actually wrote particular material), that Joseph Smith, Oliver C., and Sidney Ringdon absolutely did not write the Book of Mormon. However, a Stanford test by three professors, the lead author's name was Jokers, seemed to suggest that Ringdon was definitely the author based on a statistical model in 2008. A BYU study then later debunked this quite successfully in my opinion, but all of these studies leads me to my question:

Why the heck aren't there a lot more wordprint studies? It seems to me this would definitely help resolve any questions about the Book of Mormon, Book of Abraham, etc.

Here is a FAIR Mormon article on wordprint studies and the 2002 study that favors the Mormon position nicely: Book of Mormon/Wordprint studies - FairMormon

[livy111us]

Matthew Roper has co-authored a few since then.

Wordprint Analysis and Joseph Smith's Role as Editor of the Times and Seasons - Matthew Roper, Paul J. Fields, and Atul Nepal - Insights - Volume 30 - Issue 6

his reviews against the Jocker's et. al. study in 2011

The Historical Case against Sidney Rigdon's Authorship of the Book of Mormon - Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

Examining a Misapplication of Nearest Shrunken Centroid Classification to Investigate Book of Mormon Authorship - G. Bruce Schaalje, Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

[mnn727]

I have a friend that is dyslexic, he gets comfortable with a certain authors writing style and can anticipate the words an author will use which helps him in his reading. He can tell when a different author takes over due to their use of different words. The Book of Mormon passes his test for multiple authors.

BTW its Rigdon, not Ringdon.

[applepansy]

Isn't depending on studies making it easier to not rely on the Spirit? The arm of flesh thing. :)

[Vort]

I agree with applepansy. The bottom line is that "word print" is an interesting and fallible technique that might provide a few insights into the Book of Mormon, but in the end won't tell you anything of any real importance. That comes only through the Spirit.

[jinc1019]

I have a friend that is dyslexic, he gets comfortable with a certain authors writing style and can anticipate the words an author will use which helps him in his reading. He can tell when a different author takes over due to their use of different words. The Book of Mormon passes his test for multiple authors.

BTW its Rigdon, not Ringdon.

Sorry, it was a typo.

[jinc1019]

I agree with applepansy. The bottom line is that "word print" is an interesting and fallible technique that might provide a few insights into the Book of Mormon, but in the end won't tell you anything of any real importance. That comes only through the Spirit.

Unlike many of you, I have yet to be blessed with the certainty of the Spirit. As such, I try to rely on whatever hard evidence I can find, even if it is, like all human things, fallible.

[jinc1019]

Matthew Roper has co-authored a few since then.

Wordprint Analysis and Joseph Smith's Role as Editor of the Times and Seasons - Matthew Roper, Paul J. Fields, and Atul Nepal - Insights - Volume 30 - Issue 6

his reviews against the Jocker's et. al. study in 2011

The Historical Case against Sidney Rigdon's Authorship of the Book of Mormon - Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

Examining a Misapplication of Nearest Shrunken Centroid Classification to Investigate Book of Mormon Authorship - G. Bruce Schaalje, Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

Thank you for these studies. I was aware of those that reject the Jocker's study but not the others.

[jinc1019]

Matthew Roper has co-authored a few since then.

Wordprint Analysis and Joseph Smith's Role as Editor of the Times and Seasons - Matthew Roper, Paul J. Fields, and Atul Nepal - Insights - Volume 30 - Issue 6

his reviews against the Jocker's et. al. study in 2011

The Historical Case against Sidney Rigdon's Authorship of the Book of Mormon - Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

Examining a Misapplication of Nearest Shrunken Centroid Classification to Investigate Book of Mormon Authorship - G. Bruce Schaalje, Matthew Roper, and Paul J. Fields - FARMS Review - Volume 23 - Issue 1

Just as a note though, the first study by Roper is about determining the editor of Times and Seasons, not the Book of Mormon or any other alleged scripture.