Discrete-valued　belief　structures　(DBSs)　(known　as　discrete　belief　structures)　are　universal　in　real　life,　differ　from　precise-valued　belief　structures,　and　interval-valued　belief　structures　(IBSs).　However,　the　combination　of　different　discrete　belief　structures　presents　a　problem　that　has　yet　to　be　solved.　Therefore,　this　study　investigated　the　respective　counter-intuitive　types　of　behavior　associated　with　the　combination　of　discrete　belief　structures　within　the　frameworks　of　the　Dempster-Shafer　theory.　(DST)　evidential　reasoning　(ER)　for　the　purpose　of　constructing　a　more　general　method　for　the　combination　and　normalization　of　discrete　evidence.　Finally,　an　experimental　application　is　provided　to　indicate　that　the　proposed　method　is　suitable　for　combining　and　normalizing　conflict-free/conflicting　discrete　evidence,　and　can　effectively　solve　problems　involving　group　decision-making　(GDM)　with　uncertain　preference　ordinals,　such　as　in　a　software　selection　problem.　©　2020,　Springer　Science+Business　Media,　LLC,　part　of　Springer　Nature.