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Tests & Measures (General): Start Here

Find information and sources about standardized tests and measurements that are used for diagnosis, research, or assessment.

About Tests & Measures

The aim of this guide is to help you locate unpublished tests and commercial tests and find information about the validity of tests.

Tests and measuring instruments are an important part of research and practice in the fields of psychology, education, health, and social work. They are used for diagnosing, researching, and assessing. They can be questionnaires, assessments, interviews, ratings, inventories, scales, measurements, surveys, measures, and tests. Instruments are either published or unpublished. They can be found in books, journal articles, and on the Internet.

Research Approach

The research approach for defining tests and measures is an iterative process. There is no single approach to this task but requires critical thinking and close reading of information to make informed decisions about the proper use of tests and measures. The general process is outlined below:

 

Published and Unpublished Tests

Published

Published tests are owned by and available through commercial publishers. The library does not carry copies of most of these tests because most publishers do not sell them to libraries. These tests need to be purchased directly from the publisher, and often require the buyer to have certain credentials of authority. The library has a small collection of commercial tests that may be used for educational purposes.

Unpublished

Unpublished tests are found in the scholarly literature and are usually developed by university researchers or other professionals, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations. Unpublished tests are not obtained by a publisher but are usually found in journal articles appendices, dissertations, books, and other research reports. While access to these tests is not restricted, ethical conduct requires that these tests should be used only with the permission of the instrument's author.