Ipsative vs. Normative Scoring
Two scoring approaches: ipsative compares your traits to each other (within-person); normative compares your traits to a population. Each answers a different question.
Normative scoring places you on a population distribution — "your Extraversion is at the 72nd percentile compared to other adults." This answers: "How extraverted am I compared to people in general?"
Ipsative scoring compares your own traits to each other — "Extraversion is your second-strongest trait after Conscientiousness." This answers: "Which of my traits is most dominant within me?"
Forced-choice tests (like DISC and some Big Five formats) produce ipsative scores; Likert-scale tests typically produce normative scores. They serve different purposes: hiring decisions need normative scoring (comparison to other candidates); personal development often uses ipsative (knowing your own profile shape).
Mistake to avoid: ipsative scores cannot be statistically compared between people. "My top trait is Extraversion" and "your top trait is Extraversion" tells you nothing about who is more extraverted in absolute terms.
Source: Cattell (1944). Psychological measurement: normative, ipsative, interactive. Psychological Review.