Research Guides: Finding Psychosocial and Educational Tests and Measures: Where to Search

Video Demonstration

Quantitative Measurement chapter
From Graduate research methods in social work: A project-based approach, created by Matthew DeCarlo, Cory Cummings, and Kate Agnelli.

If you don't already know of a specific instrument and want to find one that fits your research need:

PsycTESTS
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Start with a keyword search in PsycTESTS. This is the only database that contains PDFs of tests and measures.
Health & Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
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Do a keyword search in HaPI. Limit your search results to primary sources.
TestLink This link opens in a new window
Do a keyword search in ETS Test Link, then look up the citation under "source" in Tripod.
PsycINFO
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Do a literature search in PsycINFO and look under the Test and measure field in an article record to see what was used in the study. Then follow the steps for finding a KNOWN test (below).
Includes PsycARTICLES journals.

Tripod
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Browse a reference book or website that contains tests on a particular subject (see the "select books and websites with tests" section of this guide).

If you have the name of an instrument in mind (perhaps one you found in an empirical research study):

PsycTESTS
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Search by Test Name. Most records in PsycTESTS contain a PDF of the test.
Health & Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
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Search by Title and limit your results to primary sources. If you find an article that uses the test, click the Find It button to search for the full-text of that article.
TestLink This link opens in a new window
Search by Title for a citation or publisher for the test. Then search Tripod for the journal or book that might contain the test. If the TestLink record lists a corporate address, it is a commercial test.

Tripod
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Search for the name of a test as a keyword in the Books & More tab.
Google
See if the test is available somewhere online for free.

APA guide to finding information about psychological tests
Describes the differences between published (commercial) and unpublished tests, and gives specific hints on which reference tool might be most useful for your need; also provides advice on identifying and obtaining tests
Penn State guide to finding psychological and educational tests and instruments
An intuitively worded FAQ that answers basic questions concerning finding tests and measurement instruments
How to Cite a Psychological Test in APA Style
Authoritative instructions on citing tests and measures from the APA Style blog.