 Searching for Test Instruments
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Be forewarned: many tests are copyrighted. You may have to purchase the instrument directly from the author or publisher.
Even if it appears freely available, you must first contact the author or publisher for permission to use it for research or publication purposes.
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There are few constants when searching for a test instrument. Searching skills will be challenged.
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- Some tests are easily found.
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- You may have to pay for it. Some must be purchased from the copyright holder (usually the author or publisher).
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- Some instruments may be found within a journal article or its appendix.
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- You may locate an earlier instrument that you can photocopy from a journal article, but the revised edition may be the one that is in current use and available only for a fee from the copyright holder.
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- Resources may give descriptive information about the instrument, including author or publisher contact information, as well as a review of the test, but not the instrument itself.
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- Even author or publisher contact information may be elusive.
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Finding a Test Instrument often requires searching several sources.
Following the suggested steps below may help you locate either:
your instrument
a review of the instrument |
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Internet Sites for Test Instruments |
Step 1. Quick Start |
Google |
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- Be sure that you have the correct title for the instrument (i.e. Dichotic Listening Test rather than Dichotomous Listening Test).
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- You may find a site that will define the test and give information about purchasing copies of the test, or, with great good luck, will find the test itself freely available online.
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- The search below locates a site that offers the test for sale.
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Google search for Dichotic Listening Test |
| http://web.uvic.ca/psyc/testsale/index.html |
Test Material Sales Office
Department of Psychology
University of Victoria |
| PDF order form and pricing information |
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Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI) Database |
Step 2-Search for evidence: Use Primary Source Limit in HAPI |
- Enter HAPI EBSCO through the LHL Databases and Resources page.
Remote access to EBSCO databases is UAB Blazer ID and Password restricted.
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- Search for articles on evaluation and measurement tools, questionnaires, and test instruments.
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- The search below locates a questionnaire in a journal article that Lister Hill Library owns.
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Finding the McGill Pain Questionnaire |
Starting in Advanced Search
Enter a test name in the search box: McGill Pain Questionnaire.
In the Source Code menu Choose: Primary Source (PS).
Note: Limiting to Secondary Source (SS) gives information about the test, rather than directing you to the test itself.
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The search limited to Primary Source locates, among other less relevant articles, the primary article: The Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. By: Melzack, R.. Vol. 30 (2) 1987; p191-197, 7p
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Luckily, Lister Hill Library has a print copy of the article you need: the 1987 issue of the journal Pain.
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Using the citation you found in HAPI, locate Pain in the LHL Basement journal shelves.
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The article, containing the questionnaire and crucial information: (1) scoring methods (2) how to administer the test--can be photocopied or scanned.
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- You may not always be so fortunate to find the questionnaire you need within a journal article which Lister Hill Library owns.
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You may choose BMDS Availability as a limit for your search. Behavioral Measurement Database Services (BMDS), the owner of HAPI, provides copies of some instruments for a fee. BMDS contact information is listed within the instrument record.
It can usually be found at the end of the abstract for the primary source citation.
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CINAHL |
Step 3--Search for evidence: Is the instrument in Nursing or Allied Health, or psychological or social areas?
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Good lead : CINAHL contains the full text of some tests! |
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Enter CINAHL Plus with Full Text through LHL Quick Links. Remote access to CINAHL is UAB Blazer ID and Password restricted.
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- The search below locates contact information only for the revised edition of an instrument. The original instrument, which can be found in a journal (1961 Archives of General Psychiatry) article that Lister Hill Library owns,
is cited.
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Searching for Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) |
Enter Beck Depression Inventory in the CINAHL search box. |
Beck Depression Inventory, Revised Edition is a CINAHL Subject heading. |
From the results, choose
Beck AT. Steer RA. Beck Depression Inventory, Revised Edition (BDI). [Research Instrument] The Psychological Corporation, 555 Academic Court, San Antonio, TX 78204, 1971. (3 ref) • |
Although the test itself is not included, the description of the instrument includes telephone, fax, and mailing address for ordering BDI from
The Psychological Corporation (the copyright owner).
Obtain BDI pricing by contacting The Psychological Corporation.
This is the revised instrument in current use and available for a fee. |
The Citations field for this CINAHL entry lists:
Beck AT, Ward CH, Mendelson M, Mock J, Erbaugh J: An inventory for measuring depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry 1961; 4:561–571.
Lister Hill Library has a copy of this original journal article by Beck et al. on depression inventory.
Check the LHL Basement journal title Archives of General Psychiatry for 1961. The article may be photocopied or scanned. |
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Clues: |
- If you are looking for test names by category, try CINAHL subject headings:
Descriptive Statistics--Field Studies-- Functional Assessment-- Health Screening--
Instrument Scaling--Instrument Validation--Patient History-Taking--Psychological Tests--Questionnaires--Scales.
For example, combine the CINAHL Headings Autistic Disorder AND Instrument Validation.
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- Use a subheading, such as "evaluation," with a subject heading such as Child Health:
child health/ev.
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- Limit a subject search to Publication Type; choose Questionnaire/Scale.
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- Use the textword "reliability;" combine with the test name for reliability studies.
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Mental Measurements Yearbook Test Reviews Online |
Step 4--Gather background information.
Don't expect to find the instrument here.
These are tests that are commerically available.
But you may find valuable
contact information as well as
information about an instrument
and
reviews of psychological, educational or vocational instruments.
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- Produced by the Buros Institute at the University of Nebraska, MMY contains reviews of English-language standardized tests covering educational skills, personality, vocational aptitude, psychology, and related areas as included in the printed Mental Measurements Yearbooks. This database contains data from Yearbooks 9 through the present.
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- Use Mental Measurements Yearbook to find information about the test, including reviews, but not the test itself. MMY may lead you to contact information that will be helpful in obtaining the test.
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- Print Mental Measurements Yearbooks are on the Lister Hill Library Reference shelves, first floor of the library. Call number: Z 5814 B937m
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