Assessing the effects of behavioral marital therapy: Assumptions and measurement strategies

An important consideration in examining the effects of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) is the measurement strategies that are used to assess treatment outcome. The present paper identifies and evaluates several important assumptions underlying the two primary means of assessing BMT outcome, viz., the use of self-report measures alone and the use of self-report measures in combination with behavioral observation. Based upon this analysis, it is concluded that (a) contrary to common practice, the use of both self-report and observational measures is the more appropriate of the two alternatives for assessing BMT outcome; (b) currently used self-report measures are not optimal for assessing marital satisfaction; and (c) greater attention should be given in future outcome research to assumptions and models underlying assessment strategies.