The Oral History Rating Scale–Revised: Preliminary Evaluation of a Clinician-Rated Measure of Divorce Potential

ABSTRACT

This study was a preliminary psychometric investigation of the Oral History Rating Scale–Revised (OHRS–R), a therapist-rated measure of married couples' divorce potential based a 90-min oral history interview. Findings suggest the OHRS–R shows promise as a clinical tool. Therapist and observing raters' total OHRS–R scores demonstrated high interrater reliability and discriminated from client reports of psychological functioning (Outcome Questionnaire-45.2) and marital satisfaction (Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale). Therapist OHRS–R ratings showed evidence of construct validity. Convergence between therapist OHRS–R ratings and a client-reported measure of divorce risk (Marital Status Inventory) was relatively low. Longitudinal research is needed to confirm predictive validity.

KEYWORDS:

• Divorce risk
• marital dissolution
• couple clinical assessment
• oral history interview

Portions of this article were presented at the 2004 annual conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Atlanta, GA.