The Majors PTI is web-based for ease of access and accuracy. The Majors PTI uses newer methods of asking and weighting the questions, which result in improved accuracy with fewer questions than standard measures of psychological type—only 52 basic items and the innovative Type Precision Module (a form of computer adaptive assessment) for even greater accuracy. This dynamic process can add up to 20 additional items (5 per dichotomy as necessary), which helps to boost instrument validity/accuracy for a wide range of clients.
Majors Personality Type Inventory (Majors PTI)
Although it produces the four-letter personality type code that the MBTI® is known for, the code used by counselors and organizations worldwide, it does so via a radically different route than the MBTI®.
Differential Intensity Weighting
The Majors PTI™ was created to take advantage of recent advances in the field of psychometric and theoretical thought about personality type. These advances include using a non-forced choice format and respondent-based weighting methods. The purpose of using these new measurement techniques is to create an instrument that more accurately determines Jungian type, as identified by the standard (Myers) four-letter type code; as well as provide a direct accurate scoring of the 8 Jungian mental functions (Majors/Jungian 8-Process Scores).
The Majors PTI™ uses levels of similarity to provide clarity of results and increased precision. By using graduated response scales (somewhat like me, very like me), not only do you receive information about a choice decision (direction), but you also have knowledge of the level of similarity between the person and the response (intensity). This new form of scoring is called Differential Intensity Weighting. The addition of levels in the response format, and the corresponding Differential Intensity Weighting scoring, adds new information that improves the precision of identifying the individual’s natural preference.
The 4-Letter Type Code
The Majors Personality Type Inventory™ (PTI™) is an instrument designed to help your clients learn valuable information about how they direct their energy, take in information, make decisions, and how they orient themselves to their environment. The result is the popular 4-letter personality type code that is based on Jungian Type Theory (16 Personality Types).
Personality type theory can help individuals understand why some situations are enjoyable and energizing, while others are uncomfortable and draining. Developed by Dr. Mark Majors, the Majors PTI™ is intended to help individuals in the process of self-understanding and continued personal and professional growth.
Developed by Mark Majors, Ph.D.
Dr. Mark S. Majors is a counseling psychologist with extensive psychometric experience that includes data analysis on the 1994 Strong Interest Inventory and the MBTI® Form M, as well as the development of the IRT scoring. He was coauthor for the MBTI® Form Q Manual. Mark is also the developer of the Majors Elements of Personality (Majors Elements) and the Majors Occupational Environment Measure (Majors OEM).
Key Features:
- Less expensive than other psychological type instruments.
- Shorter, but more accurate, instrument with only 51 Questions
- Differential Intensity Weighting – this allows the individual to both choose the response that is most natural for them and rate how similar the choice is to them.
- The Neutral Response – the use of a neutral response removes the measurement error that is found in other forced choice psychological type assessments.
- The Type Precision Module – is a form of Computer Adaptive Assessment that adapts the scoring method based upon the individual’s responses.
Type Precision Module
In addition to the unique scoring method, the Majors PTI introduced the Type Precision Module—a clarification step, when necessary, to ensure the accuracy of the instrument and to further help your clients get to best-fit-type. If a client’s preferences are still unclear as reported by the instrument, a second “also read” type will be created for the client to explore.
Restricted Assessment
The Majors PTI™ requires training to administer professionally. People who have a degree in psychology or counseling, and have had psychometric coursework are qualified to use the Majors PTI™. People who have been trained to use the MBTI® instrument, Golden™ Personality Type Profiler, or other instruments where the coursework included training in psychometrics and test interpretation are qualified to use the Majors PTI™.
Comparing the Majors PTI to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator®
| Characteristic | Majors PTI™ | MBTI® |
| Version | Personal Discovery Report | Form M |
| Number of items | 51 items | 93 items |
| Time | 7-9 minutes | 15-25 minutes |
| Basic Report | 10 pages | 3 pages |
| Number of Scales | 4-letter type | 4-letter type |
| Reliability (ranges) |
Alpha: .89-.95 Test-Retest: .88-.92 |
Alpha: .89-.93 Test-Retest: .83-.93 |
| Validity (methods) | Correlations with other tools such as the MBTI® assessment. | Correlations with other tools; factor analytic studies; experimental studies. |
| Administration System | Shift Platform™: Free for Qualified Practitioners | Elevate®: $195 annual license fee, plus per administration fee. |
| Instrument Cost |
$18.95 (1-99) $16.11 (100-499) – 15% off $13.27 (500+) – 30% off |
$24.95 (1-99) $23.08 (100-499) $21.21 (500+) |
| Other | Professional receives scores for eight mental processes. | Interpretative Booklets available from the publisher, The Myers-Briggs Company. |
Special Report
Written by Mark Majors, PhD, developer of the Majors Assessments
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Myers Briggs, MBTI, the MBTI logo, Step I, Step II, Step III and Introduction to Type are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Myers & Briggs Foundation in the United States and other countries. Elevate is a registered trademark of The Myers-Briggs Company.