The Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS) is the most widely used instrument for measuring the tactics used by members of a family in a conflict situation. It is intended to measure the extent to which family members use reasoning, verbal aggression, and physical aggression. Focus is on: (1) bringing together and evaluating criticisms of the CTS so that users can be informed of problems and limitations of the instrument; (2) describing revisions and supplementary questions that were introduced in the 1985 National Family Violence Resurvey to deal with some of the criticisms; and (3) presenting new data on the factor structure, reliability, and validity of the CTS based on the 1985 Resurvey and on data reported by several other investigators who have used the CTS. The most unique aspect of the CTS is the measurement of physical violence in the family (child and spouse abuse); the CTS has the most serious deficiencies in this area. Evidence of a stable factor structure, moderate reliability, and concurrent validity; and strong evidence supporting construct validity suggest that the CTS is the best available instrument for measuring intra-family violence. (TJH)