skip global navigationCSUSM Library
  CSUSM | Courses/Web CT
home library catalog research databases aubject & course guides ask a librarian  
Home / Subject & Course Guides / Psychology
Finding tests and measures
This guide provides basic information on finding tests and measures for use in psychology, human development, kinesiology and nursing research.

 For further assistance, contact Yvonne Nalani Meulemans, Behavioral Sciences and Nursing Librarian.
 

 
Test collections & reviews
Start here
Searching in PsycINFO
Searching in the library
Searching the web
   
   

 

Click here for a brief introduction to finding tests and measures.

 

Test collections and reviews

Start here
Many students find what they are looking for in the books listed below. The items listed below are collections of measures and include information on scoring, validity, reliability, etc.

Measures for clinical practice : a sourcebook
BF 176 C66 2007 (available at Check Out Desk)
View Volume 1 Table of Contents
View Volume 2 Table of Contents

  • One of our most useful collections of measures.
  • Useful in clinical psychology with tests for children through adults
  • Specifically useful for marriage and family assessments.
  • Contains reviews of test and example tests.

Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes
BF 698.4 .M38 1990 (available at Check Out Desk)
View Table of Contents

  • One of our most useful collections of measures.
  • Provides a wide range of scales and measures used in the social sciences.
  • Focuses on attitude and personality scales for use in research and lab settings.
  • Includes the tests.

Rating scales in mental health
RC 473 .P78 S245 2003 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • Provides a wide range of scales and measures.

Measuring violence-related attitudes, behaviors, and influences among youths
A compendium of assessment tools
HE20.7952: V81/2005 US Gov Docs
View Table of Contents

  • One of our most useful collections of measures.
  • A wide ranging collection that has measures far beyond violence-related topics.

 

Measures included

Taking the measure of work: A guide to validated scales for organizational research and diagnosis
HM786 .F54 2002 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • Contains a wide variety of tests, despite the title.
  • Includes the tests.
  • Reviews reliability and validity.

Handbook of sexuality-related measures
HQ60 .H36 1998 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • A systematic review of sexuality-related measures.
  • Organized by topic and includes description, scoring, reliability, and validity.
  • Includes the tests.

Handbook of family measurement techniques
HQ728 .H267 2001 Reference
Volume 1 Table of Contents
Volume 2 Table of Contents
Volume 3 Table of Contents

  • While this source has many measures that may be of use, it can be confusing to navigate the this 3 volume set. Please contact Yvonne Meulemans if you need help.
  • Includes measures as well as detailed abstracts about the measures.

Measures of political attitudes
JA74.5 .M43 1999 Reference
View list of 149 instruments
View Table of Contents

  • Comprehensive collection of political attitude measures.
  • Includes measures of: liberalism and conservatism, economic values, racial attitudes, trust in government, and other related concepts.

Handbook of tests and measurements in education and the social sciences
LB3051 .L4543 2000 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • Provides a variety of measures that could be used in an educational setting. (e.g. Self-efficacy in teachers, Teacher burnout.)
  • Includes a very informative first chapter on data analysis.

Borg's perceived exertion and pain scales
QP321 .B69 2998 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • Includes actual scales and instructions for use

Measuring health
RA 408.5 .M38 2006 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • Provides measures on disability, psychological well-being, quality of life, and other aspects of health.
  • Includes validity, reliability and scoring parameters.

Handbook of psychiatric measures
RC 473 .P78 A46 2000 Reference
View Table of Contents

  • A collection of measures for the clinical setting.
  • Includes the tests and reviews.
  • Accompanying CD-ROM includes over 100 actual measures.

Assessing children's well-being : a handbook of measures
RJ50 .A835 2004 5th Floor Stacks
View Table of Contents

  • 20 measures of children's health, perceptions of health, and related issues.
  • Includes validity, reliability and scoring parameters.

Measurement of nursing outcomes
RT85.5 .M434 2001 Reference
Volume 1 Table of Contents
Volume 2 Table of Contents
Volume 3 Table of Contents

Handbook of community-based and home health nursing practice : tools for assessment, intervention, and education
RT98 .S782 2000  5th Floor Stacks
View Table of Contents

 

Assessing alcohol problems : a guide for clinicians and researchers
HE 20.8308/2:4/2003  US Gov Docs
View list of 53 instruments

 

Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research
Online

  • A collection of measures of religiosity and related areas.
  • Includes the tests, reviews, validity and reliability information.

 

Pereira, MA. FitzerGerald SF, Gregg EW, et. al. (1997). A collection of Physical Activity Questionnaires for health-related research. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29 (6 Supplement), S1-S205.
Journal’s call number: RC1200 .M44 

  • A collection of questionnaires to measure physical activity.

 

 

Lists, descriptions, and references to measures

Buros mental measurements yearbook
Z5814.P8 B932 Reference and 5th Floor Stacks

  • The comprehensive source for test reviews.
  • Organized alphabetically by measure title.
  • Indexes measures by title, title acronym, subject, and authors.

Tests in Print
Z5814.E9 T47 Reference

  • Describes what the test is useful for
  • Provides information on how to acquire the test
  • Indexes test by titles, subject, author, acronyms

Tests: a comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education, and business
BF176 .T43 Reference

  • For use by experimental and clinical psychologists, business administration, and educational professionals.
  • Indexed by test title, author, publisher, as well as by tests for the hearing impaired.
  • Great book for general review of psychology, education, business.

Test Critiques
BF176 .T418 Reference

  • Indexed by author, publisher, subject.
  • Had reliability and validity information, and a critique of the test.
  • Does not include the test.

Handbook of multicultural assessment
BF176 .H36 2001 Reference

  • Useful when studying cultural differences or cultural biases.
  • Categorized by type of assessment test (i.e. personality, cognitive abilities).
  • Includes a review of the test with samples questions, but not the actual test.

Directory of unpublished experimental mental measures
BF431 .G625 Reference

  • Focuses on unpublished, non-copyrighted tests.
  • Lists tests in behavior, creativity, perception, achievement, aptitude, communication, development, interest, and motivation.
  • Tests not included.

Gender roles: a handbook for tests and measures
HM253 .B43 Reference

  • A comprehensive listing of sex/gender role measures.
  • Includes complete list of references that have used measure.
  • A similar publication is Handbook of sexuality-related measures. (see above)
     

 

Directory of psychological tests in the sport and exercise sciences
GV706.4 .D57 2002 Reference

  • Chapters organized by general areas of study.
  • Includes reliability and validity information.
  • Indexing by subject and author.

The Survey Kit
HN29 .S724 2003 v.1-10

  • Enables reader to prepare and conduct surveys in addition to evaluating survey results.
  • Useful to those who must create a survey not already in use.
  • No sample tests included.

Assessment of family violence : a handbook for researchers and practitioners
HV6626 .F45 2003 4th Floor Stacks

  • Provides in-depth information on a variety of measures of partner violence.
  • Provides primary reference for each measure.
  • Organized by measure name with good subject index. 

Assessment of partner violence : a handbook for researchers and practitioners
RC560.S44 R38 2004 5th Floor Stacks

  • Provides in-depth information on a variety of measures of partner violence.
  • Provides primary reference for each measure.
  • Organized by measure name with good subject index. 

The ETS Test Collection catalog
LB3051 .E79 1986- Reference

  • Contains over 18,000 published and unpublished tests.
  • A multiple volume set.
  • Does not contain the actual test.
 

Searching in PsycINFO

When searching in PsycINFO, if you know of a specific article that uses a particular test or measure, authors are supposed to include the information needed to acquire it. There are some instances when the authors include the test or measure in the article itself.

When you know the measure's name

Browse the index

  • In Advanced Search, click on Indexes
  • Use the drop down menu Browse an Index and select Tests & Measures.
  • This creates a list of all tests or measures cited by articles in PsycInfo.
  • Check the box next to the  tests or measures you are interested in and click  

When you need a type of measure

Identify different types of measures

  • In Advanced Search click on Indexes
  • Under Browse An Index, select Tests & Measures.
  • Browse this list for terms to use in your search as well as to combine with other keywords.
     

Search by combining keywords

  • In Advanced Search type keywords or thesaurus terms into the first search box.
  • In the search box below, enter "test* or measure* or survey* or inventor*"
  • This will require that your search finds materials that have some mention of a measurement tool.
  • The asterisk will retrieve word variations: test* retrieves test or test or testing.
            
    
    

 
 

Searching the library

Books on psychological testing and measurement often given in-depth information about a type of test or measuring/assessing a particular population. Search the library catalog with some of these formal subject headings. Click on each subject heading to do a search. For some of these subject headings, trying searching in The Circuit if you don't find what you are looking for.

Some subject headings below can be considered insensitive or out-dated. They are NOT determined by the librarian, but are the standard Library of Congress Subject Headings.

Subjects by type of test

Subjects by population measured

 
 

Searching the web

Web sites with tests and measures that are worth using in your research are rare. The web sites below are the best places to search for tests and measures. Most often, your result list will direct you back to the professional literature or provide test publisher information.
 

ERIC/AE Test Collection

  • The world's largest test collection database.
  • Provides primary reference as well as further information on how to get test.

Buros Institute of Mental Measurements

  • An online version of Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook.
  • Provides test reviews and references to tests.

Finding Psychological Tests

  • From the APA web site.
  • Provides basic guidelines to finding tests.

 
 
 
Cal State San Marcos California State University San Marcos Library
Send comments to Library Webmaster