For all items, responses are given values on a 0 to 5 point scale with 0 = Not at all TRUE and 5 = Completely TRUE. The items (1-8) of the positive subscale are summed to create a total where higher scores indicate greater positive relationship qualities. The items (9-16) of the negative subscale are summed separately to create a total where higher scores reflect greater negative relationship qualities.
The Positive and Negative Relationship Quality scale (PN-RQ) is a measure of positive and negative relationship quality. The PN-RQ is a bidimensional construct in which the positive qualities of a relationship are treated as distinct from its negative qualities. The PN-RQ scales have the potential to advance both basic and applied research. They not only provide information that beyond that obtained from unidimensional relationship quality scales that dominate marital and close relationship research but they also provide highly precise measures. Finally, their demonstrated ability to detect change, even over relatively short periods, makes them well suited for use in intervention research.
