A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)

The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the Conflict Tactics Scales-2, a measure used worldwide for research and clinical practices. The reliability, validity and normative samples of the CTS-2 are considered and compared with similar psychometric measures. The limitations of the origin...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jones, Richard Toby, Browne, Kevin, Chou, Shihning
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier Masson 2017
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45396/
_version_ 1848797122635235328
author Jones, Richard Toby
Browne, Kevin
Chou, Shihning
author_facet Jones, Richard Toby
Browne, Kevin
Chou, Shihning
author_sort Jones, Richard Toby
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the Conflict Tactics Scales-2, a measure used worldwide for research and clinical practices. The reliability, validity and normative samples of the CTS-2 are considered and compared with similar psychometric measures. The limitations of the original CTS have been discussed alongside the CTS-2. Reliability is considered to be good to excellent by alpha coefficient and the variance explained by differing samples or methods of administration. Caution is recommended when interpreting the CTS-2 in clinical settings. Researchers point toward a five-factor structure to the CTS-2. The importance of appropriate norms is discussed and considered crucial when using the tool in settings where reporting patterns may differ. Difficulties in comparing CTS-2 scores across samples, cultures and countries are highlighted. Overall, the CTS-2 is a robust psychometric measure, although it holds limited clinical utility if it is used separately from other sources of information gathering (i.e. psychometric measures or interview). In order to enhance clinical utility, it should be administered alongside measures or clinical interviews that can provide added context regarding violence in the family. More research is required in diverse population samples, cultures/countries and languages.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T19:58:52Z
format Article
id nottingham-45396
institution University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T19:58:52Z
publishDate 2017
publisher Elsevier Masson
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling nottingham-453962020-05-04T19:04:27Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45396/ A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2) Jones, Richard Toby Browne, Kevin Chou, Shihning The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the Conflict Tactics Scales-2, a measure used worldwide for research and clinical practices. The reliability, validity and normative samples of the CTS-2 are considered and compared with similar psychometric measures. The limitations of the original CTS have been discussed alongside the CTS-2. Reliability is considered to be good to excellent by alpha coefficient and the variance explained by differing samples or methods of administration. Caution is recommended when interpreting the CTS-2 in clinical settings. Researchers point toward a five-factor structure to the CTS-2. The importance of appropriate norms is discussed and considered crucial when using the tool in settings where reporting patterns may differ. Difficulties in comparing CTS-2 scores across samples, cultures and countries are highlighted. Overall, the CTS-2 is a robust psychometric measure, although it holds limited clinical utility if it is used separately from other sources of information gathering (i.e. psychometric measures or interview). In order to enhance clinical utility, it should be administered alongside measures or clinical interviews that can provide added context regarding violence in the family. More research is required in diverse population samples, cultures/countries and languages. Elsevier Masson 2017-09-05 Article PeerReviewed Jones, Richard Toby, Browne, Kevin and Chou, Shihning (2017) A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2). Aggression and Violent Behavior, 37 . pp. 83-90. ISSN 1359-1789 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178917301982 doi:10.1016/j.avb.2017.08.005 doi:10.1016/j.avb.2017.08.005
spellingShingle Jones, Richard Toby
Browne, Kevin
Chou, Shihning
A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title_full A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title_fullStr A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title_full_unstemmed A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title_short A critique of the revised Conflict Tactics Scales-2 (CTS-2)
title_sort critique of the revised conflict tactics scales-2 (cts-2)
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45396/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45396/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/45396/