Coding conversation between intimates: A validation study of the intimate negotiation coding system (INCS)

This study develops a new interaction coding system, the Intimate Negotiation Coding System, for assessing verbal negotiation behaviors used by persons in intimate relationships. It seeks reliability and validity measures for the coding system when applied to the verbal interaction of married couples. Results indicated that the intercoder and across‐time reliability measures were high and satisfactory. Construct validity of the new instrument was demonstrated through the statistically significant relationships between the three classes of INCS coded behaviors with the conceptually‐related external variable, marital satisfaction.