All research

Method · 2026-06-01

Why four-letter results change between sittings

A dichotomy test asks you to compare yourself to an average person. An average person is not a fixed reference, so your answer moves with your mood, your week, and the comparison you happen to be holding in mind. Function-level questions ask about behaviour you can actually recall, which is far more stable.

Key points

  • Dichotomy items are comparative ("are you more outgoing than others?"), and the comparison standard drifts.
  • Function items are behavioural ("I notice immediately when something in a familiar environment has changed"), which is verifiable against memory.
  • A single flipped letter is usually one axis sitting near the midpoint — not two different personalities.

More research

Keep reading