Marital Interaction and Marital Conflict: A Critical Evaluation of Current Research Strategies

Abstract

Methods currently used to investigate interaction during marital conflict limit the validity and generalizability qf findings concerning the determinants and consequences of couples' interaction styles. The respective advantages and limitations of two research strategies-the questionnaire and simulation strategiesare critically evaluated. The assumptions made by each approach concerning the nature of interaction and the implications of such assumptions for studying how couples cope with conflict are discussed in detail. Several methodological guidelines for developing future research are suggested.