The Assessment Experience: DiSC Classic vs. Everything DiSC
In the DiSC Classic assessment, participants are shown 28 boxes that contain four words each. In each box, they are asked to choose one that is most like them and one that is least like them (ipsative/forced-choice scale). Consequently, participants review a total of 112 words.
Example of Ipsative/Forced-Choice scale used in DiSC Classic assessments:
One of the original reasons for using the forced-choice measurement methodology is because it greatly reduced the social desirability of responses. That is, a participant can only choose one response as most like them even if all of the words are desirable and is forced to choose one as least like them even if it’s not very desirable.
In the Everything DiSC assessment, participants are shown 79 adjectives and asked to indicate on a five-point likert scale how frequently each adjective describes them. Because the Everything DiSC assessment is electronically scored, the computerized scoring algorithm automatically adjusts for the social desirability of responses. Consequently, participants are left with more freedom to answer the questions in a way that truly describes them. That is, they are not forced to select a response that does not feel optimal to them. For this reason, participants generally find it easier to respond to the Everything DiSC assessment than to the DiSC Classic assessment.
Example of Likert Scale used in Everything DiSC assessments:
In addition, because they are reviewing only 79 words, rather than 112 words, the assessment usually takes less time. After a participant has finished the assessment, the profile is scored. Each of the 79 adjectives is assigned to one of eight DiSC scales: D, Di, i, iS, S, SC, C, or CD. Although not reported in the actual profile, participants receive scores on each of these eight scales. Each of these eight scales is weighted according to its location on the DiSC circle, and a participant’s location in the DiSC circle is calculated.
Because the Everything DiSC assessment measures people on eight points around the DiSC circle rather than on four points, like the DiSC Classic assessment, it provides more precision about a participant’s true DiSC style. For instance, instead of simply measuring a person on the S and C scales, the Everything DiSC assessment measures a person on S, SC, and C scales. This precision gives us a better idea of where a person is located within the DiSC circle.
Thanks for the description of how the questions and choices in the two DiSC assessments are designed. I recently took a DiSC Classic version, and can honestly say that it was the hardest assessment I can remember ever taking! (Although the Kolbe was right up there.) I am a person who finds it relatively easy to gauge how often words describe me or my behavior on a continuum, as the “Everything DiSC” requires. The forced choices/rankings of the Classic design were difficult for me because sometimes I thought none of the words described me very well, while at other times, I thought 3 or even 4 of them were all about equally descriptive! One of these days, I think I’ll take the Everything just to see whether it is easier to take, and how my results come out.
Thanks for your comments, Marcy, and know that the difficulty you had with taking the forced-choice format (in DiSC Classic) is not uncommon! Like you, most people do find it easier to respond to a likert scale format, as they have the ability to identify with a range of behaviors.
Your Inscape Distributor can introduce you to the Everything DiSC assessments when you’re ready, and we’re very interested to hear what you think about your assessment experience!
Hi, I have also taken the DiSC classic but at my company we’re using the Everything DiSC now and I haven’t had a chance to take the new version yet. I was wondering, in the Everything DiSC model, do you still have the option of rolling over a word to view it’s description? Since Everything DiSC seems to just be in English, this would be helpful for our non-native English speaking employees.
Hi Christine!
Great question! Yes – you have the same ability with Everything DiSC as you do with DiSC Classic- just roll over a word to see the descriptions.
Keep us posted on your experience with Everything DiSC – we’d love to hear what you think!
Thank you for this simple, yet clear distinction between the two DiSC lines of assessments. I’ve found my clients overwhelming choose the Everything DiSC assessments when given the choices, even if they were using DiSC Classic for years. Not only do they like the increased accuracy and ease of assessment offered through Everything DiSC, the “end-user” participants love how easy it is to apply their learning to the “real-world”. Also, it is more intuitive for participants to learn and apply “people-reading” skills when using the circumplex Everything DiSC model. It is easier to see where everyone fits on the model and to understand shared and different characteristics.
Sharon Wingron, CPLP
Diamond Award Level Inscape Publishing Authorized Distributor
Order DiSC assessments securely online at http://store.developpeople.com
Hi all,
The content was really very interesting. Thanks for all your hard work and the info you give.
Interesting to read this blog. I have found that the Everything DiSC is great for team building in companies. However the developers/managers at our IT company overwhelmingly find the Classic 2.0 Plus to be much more accurate of their profiles, and find it very helpful. They take it with the word phrase preference. They do not like the Everything DiSC profile because it doesn’t seem accurate to them.
Hi Anna Marie! Thanks so much for sharing your perspective. DiSC Classic is a valuable, well-researched and accurate tool, and it continues to be popular in many organizations. As you can tell from the earlier comments on this post, many people find the Everything DiSC profiles more accurate and suited for their organizational needs. I guess it’s kind of like DiSC… it all depends on your preferences and priorities!