Before examining the specific primary and global scale scores in a 16PF profile, testing professionals are encouraged to look at broad trends within the profile.

Evaluate the Number of Extreme Scores

Extreme scores usually indicate an examinee's most distinctive traits. Thus, the greater the number of extreme scores, the more distinctive the personality expression is likely to be.

The majority of examinees (86.3%) obtain all average scores at the Global Factor level or are extreme on only one or two Global Factors. That an examinee would have extreme scores on four or all five Global Factors is rare. Only about 3.5% of the 16PF Fifth Edition American English norm sample had Global Factor scores that were so distinctive.

At the Primary Factor level, most profiles show extreme scores on two to six primary scales. If the number of extremes is eight or more, the examinee is among only about 5% of people whose profiles are this distinctive. If the number of extremes is below two, the examinee is among only about 8% of people whose profiles are this flat. An examinee not having at least one extreme score is a rare occurrence.

If the profile shows few extreme scores, the examinee possibly chose a large number of undecided (?) responses, indicating uncertainty about which response choice better described him or her. There are a number of reasons why a person might have chosen a large number of undecided (?) responses, including random responding, inability to decide, reactions to specific item content, reading or comprehension difficulties, or trying to avoid making the "wrong impression". The reasons for a flat profile can be pursued by the testing professional.

Remember the Primary Factor Scale Relationships

When interpreting a Global Factor score, the testing professional should identify 1) contributing primary scale scores that are in the expected direction for the Global Factor, and 2) primary scale scores that are in the opposite direction. With the knowledge that certain scales are expected to contribute to a given Global Factor, the professional can begin to identify unusual factor combinations and can form hypotheses about possible ways that conflicting scores might be expressed in an examinee's life.

For example, if an examinee is extraverted and all the related primary scale scores are in the extraverted direction, he or she probably moves toward other people in a consistent manner. On the other hand, if an examinee is extraverted on some relevant primary scales and introverted on others, he or she may experience conflict. That is, the examinee may be extraverted in some situations or ways but not in others, or may be ambivalent about how to or whether to move toward others.

Click here for a list of the Primary Factor scales that contribute to each Global Factor scale.

Portions of this site were extracted from the 16PF Fifth Edition Administrator's Manual authored by Mary T. Russell, M.S., and Darcie Karol, M.A.  Website definitions of the Primary Factors and Global Factors were authored by Mary T. Russell, M.S. and Heather E. P. Cattell, Ph.D.