Based on our full-length guide, Measuring parental conflict and its impact on child outcomes, this briefing sets out some rules of thumb for using outcomes measures appropriately – including:

Selecting outcome measures

• Select a measurement tool based on anticipated outcomes.
• Consider measurement tools that are appropriate for your target participants.
• Select a number and combination of measures that ‘fit’ together as a whole.
• Conduct further due diligence to finalise your selection of measures.

Using outcome measures

• Consider research ethics, including informed consent and data protection.
• Measures should be used in their entirety.
• Measures should be administered in the same way every time and for each group.
• Be aware of the strengths and limitations of the measures you are using.

Managing challenges – what to do if:

• The measure you would like to use is too long.
• The selected measure needs to be adapted to the context.
• Some of the questions you would like to assess are not included in the measure.