Journal of Family Violence, VoL 5, No. 3, 1990 The Decision To Leave an Abusive Relationship: The Testing of an Alternative Methodological Approach Rebecca J. Erickson 1 and Cynthia K. Drenovsky 2 Most studies that consider the factors influencing the decision to leave an abusive relationship rely on retrospective, self-report data. In addition to the biased samples that are frequently obtained in such investigations, the methodological shortcomings of survey research limit its explanatory power, particularly when applied to such sensitive topics as family violence. This report introduces an alternative method for studying the decision to leave an abusive relationship. Forty-five men and 68 women were studied using an experimental computer game of an abuse-like relationship. The tendency to leave this relationship was measured under four differing conditions of severity and fre- quency of abuse. A logit analysis revealed that the frequency of abuse was more consequential to women's decisions to leave, while severity of abuse was more salient for men. In addition, the hypothesized model, including frequency of abuse, severity of abuse, and locus of control, fits well for women but not for men. The implications of these findings, as well as the validity and future application of experimental games, are discussed. KEY WORDS: abusive relationships; decision to leave; experimental computer game; experimental method; domestic violence. INTRODUCTION The past two decades have spawned increasing amounts of literature on abusive relationships. A great deal of this research attempts to answer such questions as when, where, and why abuse occurs. Further these investigations 1Department of Sociology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164. 2Department of Sociology, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402. 237 0885-7482/90]0900-0237506.00/0 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation