Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2)
The Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2) was developed by Murray A. Straus and colleagues in 1996 as a revision of the original CTS to address criticisms and expand its scope. It is a self-report instrument that measures how individuals manage conflict in intimate relationships, including negotiation, psychological aggression, physical assault, sexual coercion, and resulting injuries. The CTS2 includes 39 items (asked about both the respondent and their partner) and captures both constructive and destructive behaviors during conflict. It is designed for use with adolescents and adults in dating, cohabiting, or married relationships.
Who Can Use?
The Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2) can be administered by professionals who meet certain educational and training criteria. Specifically, it is intended for use by individuals who have:
A Master’s degree (e.g., MA, MS, MSW, CAGS) in fields such as psychology, counseling, social work, education, or related disciplines, or a Bachelor’s degree (e.g., BA, BS) in those same fields plus a license or certification from an agency that requires training and experience in assessment. The CTS2 can be administered as a self-report questionnaire or through an interview format, making it accessible for use in clinical, research, and social service settings.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
The Conflict Tactics Scale 2 (CTS2) is available for a fee from the publisher at the following link: https://www.wpspublish.com/cts-conflict-tactics-scales
Citation
Straus, M.A. (1979). “Measuring Intrafamily Conflict and Violence: The Conflict Tactics (CT) scales.” Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75-88.
Straus, M. A., & Hamby, S. L. (1996). The Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). JOURNALOF FAMILY ISSUES, 17(3).
Straus, M. A. (2004). Cross-cultural reliability and validity of the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales: A study of university student dating couples in 17 nations. Cross-Cultural Research, 38(4), 407–432. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069397104269543.
Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS)
The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) was developed in 1976 by Graham B. Spanier to assess the quality of adjustment in romantic relationships, particularly among couples. It measures four key dimensions of relationship functioning: dyadic consensus, dyadic satisfaction, dyadic cohesion and affectual expression. The DAS is primarily designed for adults in romantic relationships, typically targeting individuals aged 18 and older. It is widely used in both clinical and research settings to evaluate relationship satisfaction and identify areas of conflict or distress.
Who can Use?
The Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) can be administered by a variety of professionals, including:
Licensed mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, marriage and family therapists, counselors)
Researchers in psychology, sociology, or related fields studying relationship dynamics
Graduate students or trainees under supervision in clinical or research settings
While the DAS is relatively straightforward to administer and score, interpretation of the results—especially in clinical contexts—should ideally be done by someone with training in relationship assessment or psychological testing to ensure accurate and ethical use.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
A copy of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale can be found on the University of Wisconsin – Madison Addiction Reasearch Center webpage at: https://arc.psych.wisc.edu/self-report/dyadic-adjustment-scale-das/
Citations
Spanier, G. B. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15–28.
Spanier, G. B., & Thompson, L.. (1982). A Confirmatory Analysis of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Journal of Marriage and Family, 44(3), 731–738.
Gottman Relationship Check-up
The Gottman Relationship Checkup was created by Drs. John and Julie Gottman in collaboration with The Gottman Institute. The first version was released around 2015. It is an online assessment tool that evaluates a couple’s relationship across multiple domains, including friendship, intimacy, conflict management, trust, shared values, parenting and more using research-based algorithms. The assessment is designed for adult couples, typically aged 18 and older, who are in committed relationships and seeking to understand or improve their relational dynamics. It is widely used by clinicians to generate personalized feedback and treatment recommendations based on over 40 years of research on what makes relationships succeed or fail.
Who can Use?
The Gottman Relationship Checkup can be administered by licensed clinical professionals who work with couples, such as psychologists, marriage and family therapists, counselors, and social workers. To use the tool, professionals must register and be approved through the Gottman Connect platform, which involves a simple, free application process. Once approved, clinicians can invite couples to complete the assessment and receive detailed reports with personalized feedback and treatment recommendations. While training in the Gottman Method is not strictly required, it is highly recommended for effective interpretation and application of the results.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
https://gottmanconnect.com/checkup/professionals
Citations
Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (2015). Gottman couple therapy. In A. S. Gurman, J. L. Lebow, & D. K. Snyder (Eds.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (5th ed., pp. 129–157). The Guilford Press.
Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. S. (2008). Gottman method couple therapy. In A. S. Gurman (Ed.), Clinical handbook of couple therapy (4th ed., pp. 138–164). The Guilford Press.
Relationship Check-In
The Relationship Check-In Assessment from Therapist Aid is a brief worksheet designed to help couples evaluate and discuss various aspects of their relationship, including communication, intimacy, finances, and shared values. It encourages partners to rate their satisfaction in each category and identify areas they wish to prioritize for improvement, fostering open dialogue and teamwork. The assessment is intended for adult couples and is especially useful at the start of therapy or after major life events. While the exact year of creation and author are not publicly listed on the Therapist Aid website, the tool is part of their broader collection of resources informed by relationship research and therapeutic practices.
Who can Use?
The Relationship Check-In Assessment from Therapist Aid is designed for adult couples who want to reflect on and improve their relationship. It can be used by individuals independently or with their partner, and is especially helpful when starting therapy or after significant life changes. The tool is commonly used by therapists, counselors, and relationship coaches to facilitate communication and identify areas for growth. While it’s tailored for romantic relationships, its structure may also be adapted for other close interpersonal relationships with guidance from a professional.
https://www.therapistaid.com/therapy-worksheet/relationship-check-in
References
Please note that in most entries on this website, this section is reserved for citations. In this particular case, what is listed below are references which were used by Therapist Aid to develop the above-mentioned assessment. So, this particular assessment was not validated in a peer reviewed journal.
Ditzen, B., Hahlweg, K., Fehm-Wolfsdorf, G., & Baucom, D. (2011). Assisting couples to develop healthy relationships: Effects of couples relationship education on cortisol. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 36(5), 597-607.
Frei, J. R., & Shaver, P. R. (2002). Respect in close relationships: Prototype definition, self‐report assessment, and initial correlates. Personal relationships, 9(2), 121-139.
Gottman, J. M. (2008). Gottman method couple therapy. Clinical handbook of couple therapy, 4(8), 138-164.
Shipley, M., Holden, C., McNeill, E. B., Fehr, S., & Wilson, K. (2018). Piecing together behaviors of healthy relationships. Health Educator, 50(1), 24-29.