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Estimating the Validity and Reliability of Gottman Questionnaires of “Couple Trust Measurement”

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Abstract

Despite the efficacy and the recognition in the field of couple therapy, there is little in the literature that discusses the integration of couple therapy. The purpose of this study was estimating the validity and reliability of “Couple Trust Measurement” questionnaire, designed by John Gottman. The statistical population was all the married couples of Bojnourd, and the study sample was consisted of two groups of married men and women (278 and 308) who were selected by using cluster random sampling. To estimate the questionnaire validity, different methods were used; calculating the correlation of the score of each item with the total score, Cronbach’s alpha, and the split-half coefficient. To investigate the scale reliability, these methods were performed; exploratory factor analysis, principal components, confirmatory factor analysis, maximum likelihood. The convergent reliability was investigated by calculating the Pearson correlation between the couple’s trust measurement scale and the perceived relationship quality components inventory (PRQC) and Thompson and Walker’s marital intimacy scale 1983 (MIS). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze the scale reliability based on the gender and the number of marital years. SPSS 17 and AMOS.20 software was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that “Couple Trust Measurement” questionnaire has high reliability and validity, thus it can be used as reliable and valid tools to measure the couple trust in Iran.

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Notes

  1. Goodness of Fit Index (GFI).

  2. Adjusted Goodness of Fit Index (AGFI).

  3. Normed Fit Index (NFI).

  4. Comparative Fit Index (CFI).

  5. Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA).

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the all offices in Bojnourd city for allowing us to carry out this research. We are also thankful to the all participant couples in the various offices for making the data available for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Mashhad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

    M. Shirdel & M. R. Safarian

  2. Department of Education and Psychology, Professor of Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran

    S. Hosseinian

  3. Department of Education Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

    S. A. Kimiaei

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  1. M. Shirdel
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  2. S. Hosseinian
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  3. S. A. Kimiaei
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  4. M. R. Safarian
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Correspondence to S. Hosseinian.

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Shirdel, M., Hosseinian, S., Kimiaei, S.A. et al. Estimating the Validity and Reliability of Gottman Questionnaires of “Couple Trust Measurement”. Contemp Fam Ther 41, 37–46 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-018-9470-1

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