Research Guides: Tests & Measurements: Find a Test Using Databases

General

If you still cannot locate the test you need, use a subject-specific database to locate an abstract or full-text article that mentions the test. The article might identify the publisher or source of the test, which can then be searched. The test might be in an appendix of another article, or you may need to use a search engine to find the publisher's contact information. Use OAIster and WorldCat to identify research instruments found or mentioned in dissertations or theses.

Library Databases

CINAHL® Complete This link opens in a new window
CINAHL® with Full Text is the most comprehensive research reference tool for nursing & allied health professionals. It provides full text for more than 1,300 journals indexed in CINAHL. To identify tests and measurements in CINAHL, click on the link to the database, enter some keywords and then next to "Publication Type," scroll down and choose "Questionnaire/Scale" and/or "Research Instrument" and then click "Search." You can also search using the Field Code IN for Instrumentation from the basic search box. For example, entering IN coping will return results to articles that have information in them on specific coping instrumentations.
ERIC This link opens in a new window
ERIC®, the Education Resource Information Center, provides access to education literature and resources. The database provides access to information from journals included in the Current Index of Journals in Education and Resources in Education Index. ERIC contains more than 1.4 million records and links to more than 337,000 full-text documents from ERIC back to 1966. To identify tests and questionnaires in ERIC, click on the link to the database, enter some keywords and then next to "Publication Type," scroll down and choose "Texts/Questionnaires" and then click "Search."

OAIster
More than 50 million records representing digital resources from more than 1,100 contributors. Be sure to choose "thesis/dissertations" from the content type drop-down as they may contain or refer to instruments.

APA PsycInfo ® This link opens in a new window
Contains citations to journal articles, books, chapters in books, and dissertations published as far back as 1806, in the field of psychology, as well as related disciplines like education, medicine, psychiatry, law, and social work.

To identify tests and measures in PsycINFO, click on the link to the database, then click on "Advanced Search." Enter the name or type of one in the search box, then click "Search."

PubMed This link opens in a new window
Comprises more than 37 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Be sure to use this link to see full-text options available through Madigan Library.

Unfortunately, PubMed does not have a specific way to limit a search like CINAHL, ERIC, and PsycINFO do. In PubMed, enter your keywords in the search box and then add one (or more) of the following words to your search string: assessment, interview, inventory, measure, measurement, post-test, pre-test, questionnaire, rating, scale, sub-test, survey, test, tool.

Counseling Services

Counseling Services
Check with Counseling Services as they may have copies of some published tests available to peruse. These tests may include personality tests, standardized school entrance exams, aptitude tests, interests and skills assessments, and reading and study skills assessments.