In this chapter, I take a design approach to the study of marital argumentation. Two marriage education programs, the prevention and relationship enhancement program (PREP) and the practical application of intimate relationship skills (PAIRS) program are examined. Each curriculum presents communication tools/guides/procedures for either directly improving argumentation behavior or by indirectly improving arguments by enhancing the partners\u27 commitment and intimacy. After discussing specific communication tools from each program, I identify design hypotheses underlying the programs that can then be applied to more general issues related to argumentation theory
