Identify tests using the Library databases
Some databases will let you specify that you are searching for tests. For those that don't, you will need to use keywords to try to locate the information you need.
CINAHL Plus with Full Text
CINAHL is the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature. To find tests in the fields of nursing & allied health, enter your keyword(s) in the search boxes. In the area below the search boxes, look for the Publication Type box, then click on Questionnaire/Scale.
ERIC - Educational Resource Information Center
ERIC indexes journal articles, books, research reviews, conference papers, technical reports, policy papers and other education-related materials. To find education based tests, look for the Publication Type box in the area below the search boxes, then click on Tests/Questionnaires.
Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HaPI)
HaPI contains citations for unpublished and published tests. In the Source Code box in the area under the search boxes, select Publisher Catalog to find citations for published tests or select Primary Source to find original unpublished tests.
MEDLINE with Full Text
MEDLINE covers medicine, nursing, dentistry, veterinary medicine, the health care system, pre-clinical sciences, and much more.
Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print
The Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print (MMY) contains reviews of over 2,000 contemporary, published, testing instruments.
PsycINFO
PsycINFO is the largest resource devoted to peer-reviewed literature in behavioral science and mental health. It contains nearly three million citations and summaries dating as far back as the 1600s. To locate tests, enter the name of the test in the search box. To the right of the search box, click Select a field (optional) to see a drop-down menu, and then select TM Tests & Measures.
PsycTESTS
PsycTESTS contains access to unpublished (not commercially available) psychological tests, measures, scales, surveys, and other assessments. Each record contains reliability and validity, scope, implementation, and an overview when available. Many records also contain the full text of the instrument.
Find tests in dissertations
Full text of assessments can often be located in the appendices of dissertations. Finding the full text of an assessment does not mean that you have permission to use the assessment. You will still need to take appropriate steps to assure that you are allowed to use and publish the assessment.
From the Library home page, use the following steps to find assessments in dissertations.
- Click on the Dissertations button.
- Click ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global under All Dissertations.
You may need to log in with your MyWalden username and password if prompted. - In the top search box, enter the assessment name in quotation marks.
- To the right of the search box, change Anywhere to Document text - FT by using the drop-down menu.
- Click Search.
To view the dissertation click Full text - PDF. If the full assessment is available it is usually available in the appendix. You may need to view multiple dissertations in order to find the assessment you need.
Find tests on the Internet
The Internet contains a vast array of resources, making it difficult to know which of them are reputable and trustworthy. This is a list of websites recommended for identifying tests and measures.
- National Household Education Surveys Program (NHES) provides descriptive data on the educational activities of the U.S. population. NHES surveys cover learning at all ages, from early childhood to school age through adulthood.
- ETS Test Collection (ETS) is a database of more than 25,000 tests and other measurement devices, most of which were created by authors outside ETS. The tests in this collection were acquired from a variety of U.S. publishers and individual test authors. Over 1,000 tests are available for purchase online for a $25 fee.
- Rand Health contains surveys that are public documents, available without charge (for non-commercial purposes).
- National Quality Measures Clearinghouse provides the public an inventory of the measures that are currently being used by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) for quality measurement, improvement, and reporting.
- Social-Personality Psychology Questionnaire Instrument Compendium (QIC) is a collection of instruments and surveys that are listed and linked to available versions in the public domain.
- Tests and Measures in the Social Sciences: Tests available in compilation volumes is a searchable or browseable aid designed by the University of Texas, Arlington.