Brief Description

The Daily Interaction Questionnaire consists of 111 statements that record one partner’s perception of the other’s behavior during a specific period of time. The statements are divided into six categories: 20 statements on social activities, 25 on positive interaction, 32 on negative interaction, 13 on negative sexual interaction, 21 on positive sexual interaction, and statements referring to other forms of action. Each question is answered on a five-point scale indicating the frequency of the behavior.

Purpose

The purpose of the tool is to study how a spouse or partner perceives and records the other’s behaviors, in order to investigate the quality and nature of interaction within the relationship.

Scoring Method

Responses are recorded on a five-point scale, from “never” to “always,” depending on the frequency of the described behavior. Scores can be calculated either as a total or by behavioral category, with the aim of identifying patterns of positive and negative interaction.

Validity

The validity of the tool has been examined through pilot applications and comparisons with other measures of couple communication and relationship quality. Its thematic structure is based on research findings on daily communication and interaction in couples with and without relationship difficulties.

Reliability

The internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire is high, according to Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the individual categories. Test–retest reliability has also been confirmed in studies with a time interval between administrations.

Data Analysis and Use

Data are analyzed quantitatively by calculating means and standard deviations for each behavioral category, as well as correlations with indicators of relationship quality or psychological status. The results can be used in couple counseling, relationship therapy, and research studies examining the dynamics of daily communication.

References

Haintz, E. (1995). A new therapeutic approach to communication between spouses with marital problems. Doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Haintz, E. (1997). A different therapeutic approach to communication exercises between spouses with marital problems. Psychologia, 3, 86–105.