Overview
Overview
Tests and Measures are standardized instruments, including questionnaires, inventories and scales that are used to evaluate populations, individuals or processes.
For a comprehensive overview of testing and assessment, please refer to the APA Handbook of Testing and Assessment in Psychology. For guidance on testing in the United States and other countries, consult Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (a joint product of the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association (APA), and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME)).
You may want to consult the FAQ: Finding Information About Psychological Tests by the APA prior to using our guide.
Our guide will show you how to search for articles, tests, test reviews, descriptions and reproductions both online and in print.
What Do I Search For?
To get the best search results for your assignment, you need to consider the following questions:
- What type of resources do I need?
- Do I need test reviews, the actual instrument or both?
- Am I looking for a specific test, or for tests on a certain subject?
- Do I need research studies that have used specific tests?
- Where should I look?
- What database or other resources will have what I need?
- Am I looking for a test that has been commercially published?
- Is the test in print?
- What do I need the resources for?
- Will I need to use the tests on subjects? What permissions do I need to get?
Finding the Actual Test
The library offers print resources, databases, and links to online materials to help you locate these tests & measures
However, it is often difficult to find the actual testing instruments because of some or all of the following reasons:
- Many products are commercially created copyrighted material, requiring a fee for use.
- Credentials may be required to administer the test.
- Overexposure could familiarize test-takers with the material and make it less useful.
Responsibilities of Test Users
Anyone administering a test has several ethical responsibilities.
- For an un-published test, contact the test author (if possible) and request permission to use the test
- For copyrighted material, secure permission in writing
- For copyrighted material, secure permission in writing
- Contact Fairfield University's Office of Institutional Research and/or the Institutional Review Board to request approval.
Finding Articles and/or Tests
Selected Databases
Use library databases to find articles about tests and measures, and/or tests on your topic.
These databases are the best places to start:
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Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)Covers behavioral measurement tools used across professions and disciplines, including nursing, public health, psychology, social work, and more. Simultaneous user limit: 5.
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PsycTestsProduced by the American Psychological Association (APA), PsycTESTS provides access to ready-to-use instruments. Each record links to at least one addtional resource describing the development, review or use of the research instrument. For further information, consult the user guide compiled by APA.
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CINAHL Plus with Full TextFull text articles in nursing, allied health, and biomedicine literature.
Date coverage 1982 - Present
♦Search Tip: Scroll down under 'Select a Field' and select MH Exact Subject Heading. Type "Psychological Tests" in the search box to search for articles that specifically discuss tests and testing on your topic.
♦ Example: depression and MH "Psychological Tests"
♦Search Tip: Search for your topic and locate the "Limit by Source Type" box on the left. Select "Research Instruments", if you do not see "Research Instruments" click "Show More" below the listed source types. -
ERICAccess to journals and documents in the field of education.
Date coverage: 1982 to present
♦Search Tip: Under "Document Type" scroll down to 160 "tests/questionnaires" and check that off to limit to articles that specifically discuss tests and questionnaires on your topic.
♦Example:self esteem and document type: 160 tests/questionnaires -
PsycInfoAccess to journals, book chapters, and dissertations in the field of psychology.
Date coverage: 1872 to present
♦Search Tip: Use the classification code 2220 to search for articles that specifically discuss tests and testing on your topic.
♦Example: substance abuse and CC 2220
Test Reviews, Reproductions, & Descriptions
Test Reviews
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Mental Measurements YearbookContains descriptive reviews of testing instruments that are commercially available and published in English. Subject areas include business, education, leadership, and psychology. Covers all editions of the Yearbook from vol. 1 through present. Simultaneous user limit: 8.
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Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)Covers behavioral measurement tools used across professions and disciplines, including nursing, public health, psychology, social work, and more. Simultaneous user limit: 5.
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Rating Scales in Mental HealthPrint: Ref. RC473.P78 S245 2012
Reviews of rating scales for mental health measurement including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, global psychopathology, social and family functioning,often including sample questions or, in some cases, the full test and including references. -
Test CritiquesPrint: Ref. BF 176 T419 – 10 volumes
A collection of reviews on commercially available tests, generally the most frequently used tests. Significant duplication with MMY; should be used as a supplement. Cumulative index included. Please note that the last volume was published in 1994.
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Measures of Personality and Social Psychological ConstructsCall Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2014Identifies and reviews the best scales/measures for a variety of constructs. Authors have focused on the most often used and cited scales/measures, with a particular emphasis on those published in recent years. Each scale is identified and described, the sample on which it was developed is summarized, and reliability and validity data are presented, followed by presentation of the scale, in full or in part, where such permission has been obtained. Each scale has validity, reliability info, info on test bias, etc
Test Reproductions
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PsycTestsProduced by the American Psychological Association (APA), PsycTESTS provides access to ready-to-use instruments. Each record links to at least one addtional resource describing the development, review or use of the research instrument. For further information, consult the user guide compiled by APA.
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Measures for Clinical Practice: A SourcebookPrint: Ref. BF 176 .C66 2013 – 2 volumes 5th edition
4th edition available in the circulating stacks: BF 176 .C66 2007
A collection of actual instruments, specifically selected because they measure the most common problems seen in clinical practice. -
Handbook of Psychiatric MeasuresPrint: Stacks Upper Level RC473.P78 A46 2008
Each measure included in this volume lists its goals, description, practical issues, psychometric properties, clinical utility, and references to suggested readings. Accompanying CD-ROM available at the Circulation desk includes complete copies of measures that are in the public domain, or for which copyright was granted. -
A Compendium of Neuropsychological TestsPrint: Circulating Stacks: RC386.6.N48 S67 2006
Contents include 80 tests and subtests that can be individually administered. Each test is described according to its purpose, source, method, and duration of administration, scoring, and normative data. -
Rating Scales in Mental HealthPrint: Ref. RC473.P78 S245 2012
Reviews of rating scales for mental health measurement including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, global psychopathology, social and family functioning,often including sample questions or, in some cases, the full test and including references.
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Measures of Personality and Social Psychological ConstructsCall Number: OnlinePublication Date: 2014Identifies and reviews the best scales/measures for a variety of constructs. Authors have focused on the most often used and cited scales/measures, with a particular emphasis on those published in recent years. Each scale is identified and described, the sample on which it was developed is summarized, and reliability and validity data are presented, followed by presentation of the scale, in full or in part, where such permission has been obtained. Each scale has validity, reliability info, info on test bias, etc
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Handbook of Clinical Rating Scales and Assessment in Psychiatry and Mental HealthCall Number: OnlineISBN: 9781588299666Publication Date: 2009Measurement issues related to psychiatric disorders, along with recommendations on which dimensions to measure - and when are covered. Also includes reproductions of measurements, along with scoring keys and links to websites containing on-line versions.
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USF Test & Measures CollectionIndexes some instruments, questionnaires, surveys, or tests that are contained in various books held in libraries. Click "full record" for the test, you will find annotated details about the instrument.
♦Search Note: Click on the title to get WorldCat information about the book that contains the instrument. In WorldCat check if Fairfield U holds a copy, or request the book through interlibrary loan.
Test Descriptions
The following print and online materials provide access to test descriptions.
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ETS Test LinkDescriptive records on over 25,000 tests in the ETS Test Collection. Provides descriptive information about a test such as author, publisher, scores, and number of items.
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Dictionary of Behavioral Assessment TechniquesPrint: Ref. BF 176.5 .D53 2002
Critical, evaluative essays, averaging three pages in length, on measurement techniques and measurement tools. Essays include description and purpose, development and psychometric characteristics, clinical use, future directions, and list of references. -
Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental MeasuresPrint: Ref. BF 431 .G624, Title Index: Ref. BF 431 .J29
A directory of experimental noncommercial test instruments found in relevant professional journals. Entries include purpose, format, reliability, validity, and related research. -
Handbook of Family Measurement TechniquesPrint: Stacks Upper Level HQ728 .H267 2001
A valuable measurement guide on family-related topics. Almost 1,000 tests from the past 50 years are described, half have been used in published reports since 1975. -
Tests: A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education, and BusinessPrint: Ref. BF 176 .T43 2008 – 6th edition
Provides concise descriptions of commercially available tests. Information includes population, purpose, description, scoring, cost, and publisher. Does not attempt to review or evaluate tests. -
Rating Scales in Mental HealthPrint: Ref. RC473.P78 S245 2012
Reviews of rating scales for mental health measurement including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, psychosis, global psychopathology, social and family functioning,often including sample questions or, in some cases, the full test and including references.
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Handbook of Multicultural MeasuresCall Number: Online and Reference Main Level HM1271 .G36 2011ISBN: 9781412978835Publication Date: 2010Provides details on multicultural instrumentation, theories, and research in the social, behavioral, and health-related fields, with extensive coverage of empirically-supported multicultural measurement instruments that span a wide variety of subject areas such as ethnic and racial identity, racism, disability, and gender roles.
For even more resources, visit ASU Library's Tests and Psychological Measures guide.
Finding Additional Books & Media
Library Catalog
Suggested search terms
Search the Library Catalog
The following Library of Congress Subject Headings will guide you to many books about tests and measures.
While some books will only have information about the test, some will contain the actual test. You can also do a search by the name of a specific test.
| Tests for certain characteristics/situations | Tests for specific populations |
|---|---|
| psychological tests | minorities -- psychological testing |
| testing | Hispanic Americans -- psychological testing |
| substance abuse detection | family assessment |
| intelligence tests | family -- testing |
| psychometrics | psychotherapy patients -- psychological testing |
| personality tests | handicapped youth -- psychological testing |
| personality assessments | aged -- psychological testing |
| anxiety -- testing | problem youth -- psychological testing |
| attitude (psychology) -- testing | child development -- testing |
| reading -- ability testing | behavioral assessment of teenagers |
| love -- testing | behavioral assessment of children |
| ability -- testing | |
| validity | |
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aggressiveness (psychology) -- testing |
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| aptitude tests | |
| stress (psychology) -- testing |
Citing Your Sources
Citing Your Sources
The links below point to brief informational guides for creating accurate citations. For more complete information, consult the original books at the library (see call numbers below) or contact a librarian.
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Chicago:
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Ref. LB2369.G53 2016 |
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Ref. Z 253.U69 2017
Questions about Citations? Save time, ask a Librarian!
Citation Managers
RefWorks is an online citation management tool that allows you to organize your citations and quickly create bibliographies without having to type a word. Click the logo for more info!
Zotero (pronounced "zoh-TAIR-oh") is a standalone application that uses browser connectors to save full text, organize sources, and create citations. Click the logo to see more info!
Contact Info
Research Librarians
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