Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire (DQ)

Abstract

The Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire (DQ) is a brief, 10-item psychometric instrument designed primarily for assessing specific dynamics within a marital relationship. Its core purpose is to quantify two distinct dimensions: the actual level of discord or conflict experienced by the couple regarding key relational topics, and the subsequent degree of unhappiness or distress that results from this conflict. The instrument is notable for allowing researchers and clinicians to analyze these two related, yet separate, components of relational distress individually, thereby providing a more nuanced understanding of the couple’s relationship status.

Keywords

Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire, DQ, Marital conflict, relationship assessment, psychological scale, unhappiness, discord, marital communication, couples therapy, relationship distress.

Authors

Ernest G. Beier, Daniel P. Sternberg

Purpose

The principal objective of the Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire (DQ) is to provide a standardized measurement tool for evaluating the extent of marital conflict and the associated levels of unhappiness experienced by individual spouses. It serves as an investigative tool to pinpoint specific areas of disagreement that contribute significantly to relational strain.

The scale was developed from an extensive review of literature aimed at identifying common sources of marital disagreement, ensuring that the 10 selected items cover topics frequently recognized as major contributors to relational discord.

Construct

The DQ measures a two-dimensional construct related to relational well-being. The first dimension is the objective level of discord or conflict concerning specific topics within the marriage. The second, and equally critical, dimension is the subjective emotional reaction—the extent to which this conflict generates unhappiness for the respondent.

Respondents engage in a two-step evaluation process for each item: first rating the amount of conflict generated, and second, evaluating the emotional impact of that conflict. This dual scoring system allows for the differentiation between couples who may experience disagreement but manage it without significant emotional cost, and those for whom disagreement leads directly to severe distress.

Validity

While comprehensive psychometric data remains limited, the DQ has demonstrated several indicators of validity. It exhibits a degree of concurrent validity, evidenced by the significant correlation found between conflict ratings and reported unhappiness ratings across respondents. Furthermore, scores obtained on the DQ correlate positively with a range of ratings concerning intimate behavior, suggesting it accurately captures dimensions of relational quality.

The instrument also shows suggestive evidence of predictive validity, particularly among wives during the initial year of marriage. Longitudinal data revealed a significant change in total mean scores for wives, moving from 19 shortly after marriage to 25.33 one year later, indicating that the scale is sensitive to changes in relational discord over time.

Reliability

Information regarding the specific reliability measures of the Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire, such as internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) or test-retest reliability, is not available in the primary source documentation.

Factor Analysis

No information regarding the factor structure or exploratory/confirmatory factor analysis of the Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire is available in the source materials. The instrument is structured to measure two conceptual dimensions (conflict and resulting unhappiness) across 10 distinct items, which are typically scored individually.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report relationship inventory / Psychological scale

Format: 10 items, each rated on a dual 7-point scale.

Language Available: English (as per primary reference)

Population Group: Couples / Married individuals

Age Group: Adult

Population Details: Initial normative data was collected from newly married couples who were heterogeneous in background and assessed at two time points: shortly after marriage and one year later.

Test Methodology: Each item is scored separately using a 7-point scale. Respondents first score the level of disagreement (Scale 1: Degree of Agreement/Disagreement) and then the degree of unhappiness resulting from that disagreement (Scale 2: Results of Agreement or Disagreement).

Keywords

Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire, DQ, Marital conflict, relationship assessment, psychological scale, unhappiness, discord, marital communication, couples therapy, relationship distress.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not available in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not available in source content.

Correspondence Address: Dr. Daniel P. Sternberg, 150 S 600 E Ste 4C, Salt Lake City, UT 841021999

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1977 (Date of primary publication/instrument development).

Permissions: The instrument was reproduced with explicit permission from the authors, Ernest G. Beier and Daniel P. Sternberg.

Fee: Fee information is not available in the source content.

Reference’s

• Beier, E. G., and Sternberg, D. P. (1977). Marital communication, Journal of Communication, 27, 92–100.

Items of the Beier-Sternberg Discord Questionnaire (DQ)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

With these scales, we want to find out what you believe are the areas of agreement or disagreement in your marriage. We also want to find out if these areas of agreement and disagreement make you feel happy, sad, or indifferent. For example, if money is a topic of much disagreement in your marriage, you could make a mark in Scale 1: Degree of Agreement under the numbers 5, 6, or 7 depending on the extent of your disagreement. If you were to make a mark under the number 7, this would mean that you feel there is much disagreement about money in your marriage. If you were to mark under the number 5, this means you feel there is some disagreement about money. With Scale 1 we want to find out how you differ from your spouse in looking at things. In Scale 2 we want to find out how you feel about these differences. If, for example a disagreement were to make you very unhappy, as in the “Money” example given above, you would mark 6 or 7 on Scale 2: Results of Agreement or Disagreement . Please check each item in both scales. Remember, the higher the number the more disagreement or conflict over a particular topic, the lower the number, the more agreement.