Resources for Identifying Assessments & Tests
Below you will find several different approaches for identifying assessment measurement instruments, tools or tests. I strongly encourage you to physically visit the West Library Reference Collection. Each of the relevant books will have either an index and/or a table of contents. You can learn the names of established tools from these sources.
Recommended Indexes Subject Headings Reference Collection Books Print Journals Free Websites
Recommended Journal Indexes/Databases
In order to take advantage of more than just the "Basic" keywording searching offered by the library's licensed journal indexes, examples of how to search for rating scale related to psychological depression are provided.
- Try to identify if the following terms are recognized by the databases as descriptors (DE) or subjects: assessment(s), instrument(s), measurement(s), rating scale(s), scales, tests, tests and scale, testing
Education Full Text
There is no available "Thesaurus" tab. However, after selecting the "Index" tab, you can use the drop-down arrow to change the index to search to "Subjects."
Relevant descriptors available in this database: measurement, rating scales, tests and scales
[for "tests and scales" there are numerous subheadings available; examples include: adminstration, construction, correlation, evaluation, interpretation, reliability and validity)]
Mark the various "subject" terms you want to use by clicking on the checkbox to the left of the term.
When you have identified all of the terms to use for the concept of assessments/measurements/tests, press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include at least one of the descriptors that you identified.
You are now ready to search for the other part of your research equation - depression
Again, using the "Index" tab, change the drop-down arrow so that index to search is "subjects"
Type the word "depression"
There is not an exact match, but "depression-mental" is clearly a relavant result. Click on its checkbox and press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
We are now ready to create a search that will produce results that indicate the relationship of: depression AND (measurement OR rating scales OR tests and scales).
Simply click on the "Search History" tab and then click the check boxes that express the two concepts involved in your research.
You want to join two distinct concepts together, so you will use the AND button
A new search set will be produced listing only those records that contain both the descriptors depression-major AND at least one of the following: measurement, rating scales, tests and scales
To view the matching results, simply click-on the icon of the paper and magnifying glass under the "display" column.
In this case we still are dealing with over 1,000 matching results. We can now take advantage of the database's search limits.
In the upper-right hand corner of the database interface is a message stating "no search limits set." Click on the "change" button.
You may want to set limits including one or more of the following: language, publication type, publication year, age group, document type, population location and population.
After selecting those limits that you wish to apply in order to reduce the number of matching results, press the "OK" button.
You will now have a smaller set of results to evaluate.
ERIC
This database does have a "thesaurus" available; click-on that tab.
Relevant descriptors in this database: measurement, rating scales, testing
Mark the various "subject" terms you want to use by clicking on the checkbox to the left of the term.
When you have identified all of the terms to use for the concept of measurement/rating scales/testing, press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include at least one of the descriptors that you identified.
You are now ready to search for the other part of your research equation - depression
Continuing to use the "thesaurus," enter the word "depression." You are directed to use Depression, Psychology.
Click on the check-box to the left of this descriptor and press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
We are now ready to create a search that will produce results that indicate the relationship of: depression, psychology AND (measurement OR rating scales OR testing).
Simply click on the "Search History" tab and then click the check boxes that express the two concepts involved in your research.
You want to join two distinct concepts together, so you will use the AND button
A new search set will be produced listing only those records that contain both the descriptors depression,psychology AND at least one of the following: measurement, rating scales, testing
To view the matching results, simply click-on the icon of the paper and magnifying glass under the "display" column.
Mental Measurements Yearbook
This database does not contain a "thesaurus." Nor does it use descriptors to describe the subject focus of indexed materials.
Simply using the default "Basic" keyword search tab will produce decent results (examples: enter 1) depression and measurement; 2) depression and inventory
A much better strategy, however, is to select the "Index" tab and then using the drop-down menu to pick "test name."
Type the word depression and then press the "go to term" button.
If there is a matching result, click on the check-box to the left of the term and press the "search marked" button.
PsycINFO
This database does have a "thesaurus" available; click-on that tab.
When you type assessment the thesaurus instructs you to use the term "measurement." If you were to enter the word "tests" you would likewise be instructed to use "measurement" instead.
This is what the "thesaurus does - it is a listing of all the approved/available descriptors for the database.
Relevant descriptors in this database: measurement, rating scales
Still using the "thesaurus" tab, enter the word "depression"
Because this is the premier psychology database it is not surprising that there numerous different types of depression returned by the "thesaurus."
Select appropriate descriptor(s) - example: major depression - by clicking on the appropriate check box(es), and then press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
We are now ready to create a search that will produce results that indicate the relationship of: major depression AND (measurement OR rating scales).
Simply click on the "Search History" tab and then click the check boxes that express the two concepts involved in your research.
You want to join two distinct concepts together, so you will use the AND button
A new search set will be produced listing only those records that contain both the descriptors depression-major AND at least one of the following: measurement, rating scales
To view the matching results, simply click-on the icon of the paper and magnifying glass under the "display" column.
Social Sciences Full Text
This database does not have a "thesaurus" available.
Click on the "Index" tab and using the drop-down menu select the "subject" search.
Relevant descriptors in this database: assessment, measurement, rating scales, testing
Mark the various "subject" terms you want to use by clicking on the checkbox to the left of the term.
When you have identified all of the terms to use for the concept of assessment/measurement/rating scales/testing, press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include at least one of the descriptors that you identified.
You are now ready to search for the other part of your research equation - depression
Still using the subject search from the "Index" tab, type the word "depression" and press the "go to term" button.
The most relevant subject heading for this concept is depression-mental.
Click the check box to the left of the "depression-mental" subject and press the "search marked" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in this database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
We are now ready to create a search that will produce results that indicate the relationship of: depression-mental AND (assessment OR measurement OR rating scales OR testing).
Simply click on the "Search History" tab and then click the check boxes that express the two concepts involved in your research.
You want to join two distinct concepts together, so you will use the AND button
A new search set will be produced listing only those records that contain both the descriptors depression-major AND at least one of the following: measurement, rating scales
To view the matching results, simply click-on the icon of the paper and magnifying glass under the "display" column.
Social Services Abstracts
Note: This database uses an interface that is much different from WebSPIRS.
The database does have a "thesaurus search" available.
Relevant descriptors in this database: measures (instruments), tests
Press the "thesaurus search" button, type the phrase "measures (instruments)" and then press the "display" button.
Click the check-box to the left of the resulting entry and then press the blue "Search" button.
You will be presented with a list of all the records in the database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
If you are interested in broadening your search (to identify more scales), click the "thesaurus search" button again. Enter the term "tests" and press the "display" button.
Click the check-box to the left of the resulting entry and then press the blue "Search" button.
You will again be presented with a list of all the records in the database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
To join measures (instruments) with tests you will need to OR them together.
Do this by clicking on the blue "Search history/alerts" button.
Click the check boxes that represent your two search strategies and then change the combine marked strategies option to Use OR to broaden.
Now press the blue "search again" button. You will be presented with the first page of results that contain either "measures (instruments)" OR "tests" in the descriptor field.
The descriptor for depression in this database is Depression (psychology)
Click on the blue "Thesaurus search" button, type the phrase "depression (psychology)" and press the "display" button.
Click the check-box to the left of the resulting entry and then press the blue "Search" button.
You will now be presented with a list of all the records in the database that include this phrase in their descriptors field.
We are now ready to combine our two concepts.
Click on the blue "Search history/alerts" button.
Check the boxes to the left of the appropriate search strategies (de=tests or de=measures instruments) AND (de=depression psychology) and leave the default "combine marked strategies" option - Use AND to narrow.
Press the blue "Search again" button.
You will now be presented with a narrowed set of matching results.
Social Work Abstracts
This database does not have an available "thesaurus" tab.
Click on the "Index" tab and using the drop-down arrow select descriptors.
Relevant descriptors in this database: assessment, instruments, measurements, rating scales, tests
Still using the "index" tab, enter the word "depression"
Click the check box to the left of the "depression" descriptor and press the "search marked" button.
We are now ready to create a search that will produce results that indicate the relationship of: depression AND (assement OR instruments OR measurements OR rating scales OR tests).
Simply click on the "Search History" tab and then click the check boxes that express the two concepts involved in your research.
You want to join two distinct concepts together, so you will use the AND button
A new search set will be produced listing only those records that contain both the descriptors depression AND at least one of the following: assessment, measurements, rating scales, tests
To view the matching results, simply click-on the icon of the paper and magnifying glass under the "display" column.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
The following is a list of recommended subject headings to use when searching the ASU Libraries' Catalog (or any catalog using the Library of Congress Classification System).
- To identify ASU Libraries' resources that have been assigned these subject headings, from the list simply click the appropriate hyperlink.
Ability testing
Achievement tests
Educational tests and measurements
Examinations
Intelligence tests
Occupational aptitude tests
Personality assessment
Personality tests
Psychological tests
Psychological tests for children
Psychometrics
Reference Collection Books
Below is a list of the most frequently used research tools in the Fletcher Library's Reference Collection for identifying tests, assessment measures and other related instruments.
- All of these items are shelved in West Reference, meaning that they can not be checked-out.
Measures for clinical practice: a sourcebook, 3rd ed. [2000]
BF176 .C66 2000 v.1-2 West Reference
"The purpose of this book...is to provide practioners and students with a number of instruments that they can use to help them monitor and evaluate their practice."(liii)
Vol. 1: Couples, Families, and Children
List of Instruments for Couples; List of Instruments for Families; List of Instruments for Children; List of Instruments for Adults (vol. 2); List of Instruments Cross-Indexed by Problem Area (vols. 1-2)
Part I Measurement and Practice (Introduction; Basic Principles of Measurement; Types of Measurement Tools; Advantages and Disadvantages of Rapid Assessment Instruments; Selecting Measures for Practice; Administering the Instruments)
Part II Instruments For Practice
Vol. 2: Adults
List of Instruments for Adults; List of Instruments for Couples (vol. 1); List of Instruments for Families (vol. 1); List of Instruments for Children (vol. 1); List of Instruments Cross-Indexed by Problem Area (vols. 1-2) (catalog record)
Handbook of Psychological Assessment [1997]
BF176 .G76 1997 West Reference
Chapters: 1) Introduction; 2) The Context of Clinical Assessment; 3) The Assessment Interview; 4) Behavioral Assessment; 5) The Wechsler Intelligence Scales; 6) The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory; 7) Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory; 8) The California Psychological Inventory; 9) The Rorschach; 10) The Thematic Apperception Test; 11) Projective Drawings; 12) Screening and Assessing for Neuropsychological Impairment; 13) Psychological Assessment and Treatment Planning; 14) The Psychological Report (catalog record)
Test critiques [1984-1994]
BF176 .T418 v. 1-10 West Reference
"The 10 volumes of Test Critiques provide both the professional and the nonprofessional with in-depth, evaluative studies of more than 800 of the most widely used of these assessment instruments. The critiques offer the reader crucial information on each individual test, such as practical applications and uses, settings in which the test is used, appropriate as well as inappropriate subjects, and guidelines for administration, scoring, and interpretation. They cite normative data and validity and reliability information, as well as what other experts have said about the test. Each critique is prepared by an experienced assessment professional to deliver practical user-oriented information, and each critique, while maintaining the highest standard of scholarship, is written in a manner meaningful to readers at all levels." (source)
Contents: Introduction; Test Critiques; Index of Test Titles; Index of Test Publishers; Index of Test Authors/Reviewers; Subject Index (catalog record)
Tests: a comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education, and business, 3rd ed. [1991]
BF176 .T43 1991 West Reference
Psychology Instruments:
Behavioral Medicine; Child and Child Development; Geropsychology; Intelligence and Related; Marriage and Family; Neuropsychology and Related; Personality: Normal and Abnormal, Assessment and Treatment; Research
Education Instruments:
Academic Subjects; Academic Achievement and Aptitude; Achievement in Health-Related Curricula; Driving and Safety Education; Education Development and School Readiness; English as a Second Language and Bilingualism; Intelligence and Related; School and Institutional Environments; Sensorimotor Skills; Special Education; Speech, Hearing, and Visual (Sensory); Student Evaluation and Counseling; Teacher Evaluation
Business and Industry Instruments:
Aptitude and Skills Screening; Clerical; Computer; Engineering; Health Services; Intelligence and Related; Interests; Interpersonal Skills and Attitudes; Management and Supervision; Mechanical Abilities and Manual Dexterity; Municipal Services; Sales; Teachers (catalog record)
Tests: a comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education, and business, 4th ed. [1997]
BF176 .T43 1997 West Reference
Psychology Instruments:
Attention Defecit; Drug Knowledge; Family; Geropsychology; Illness; Intelligence; Marital; Neuropsychology; Pain; Personality; Research; Stress; Wellness
Education Instruments:
Academic Achievement; Academic Aptitude; Auditory; Behavior and Counseling; Business Education; Development and Readiness; Driver's Education; English as a Second Language and Bilingual Education; Fine Arts; Foreign Language; Guidance; Health Education; Industrial Arts; Library Skills; Math; Motor Skills; Reading, Language Arts, and English; Religiou; Speech and Language; School and Environmental Environments; School Leadership Aptitude; Science; Special Education; Social Studies; Student Opinion; Teacher Attitude; Visual Processing
Business Instruments:
General Aptitude; General Skills; Attitudes; Interests; Management; Personality; Team Skills; Work Environment; Aptitudes and Skills (catalog record)
Dictionary of Behavioral Assessment Techniques [1988]
BF176.5.D53 1988 West Reference
Each entry includes: Description, Purpose, Development, Psychometric Characteristics, Clinical Use, Future Directions, and References. (catalog record)
Mental Measurements Yearbook [1949-1998]
BF431 .B799x v.3-14 West Reference
Online access
Each new print edition includes new or revised commerically available English-language tests. (catalog record)
Title index for the Directory of unpublished experimental mental measures: volumes 1-7 [2001]
BF431 .J29 2001 West Reference
"This is a cumulative title index to volumes one through seven of the Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental Measures. Its purpose is to enable access, by title and entry number, to the testing instruments cited in the Directory volumes."(iii) (catalog record)
The Intelligence Test Desk Reference (ITDR): Gf-Gc Cross-Battery Assessment
BF431 .M3514 1998 West Reference
"This book is intended for scholars, researchers, and practitioners who seek to narrow the intelligence theory-practice gap in their work. It is intended for practitioners, university trainers, researchers, students, and other professionals in school, clinical, counseling, and educational psychology who are involved in the development and/or use and interpretation of individually administered intelligence batteries."(xvii)
Part I: Intelligence Tests and Gf-Gc Theory
Part II: The Itelligence TEst Desk Reference (ITDR): Psychometric, Theoretical, and Qualitative Descriptions and Evaluations
Part III: The Gf0Gc Cross-Battery Approach to Assessing and Interpreting Cognitive Abilities (catalog record)
Sex and gender issues: a handbook of tests and measures [1990]
BF692 .B38 1990 West Reference
Contents: 1) Introduction 2) Heterosocial Relations 3) Sexuality 4) Contraception and Abortion 5) Pregnancy and Childbirth 6) Somatic Issues 7) Homosexuality 8) Rape and Sexual Coercion 9) Family Violence 10) Body Image and Appearance 11) Eating Disorders 12) Other Scales
Each scale is organized in the following way: Title; Authors; Date; Variable; Type of Instrument; Description; Sample Items; Previous Subjects; Appropriate For; Administration; Scoring; Development; Reliability; Validity; Available From; Used In; and Bibliography. (catalog record)
Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes
BF698.4 .M38 1991 West Reference
Chapters: 1: Criteria for Scale Selection and Evaluation; 2: Measurement and Control of Response Bias; 3: Measures of Subjective Well-Being; 4: Measures of Self-Esteem; 5: Social Anxiety, Shyness, and Related Constructs; 6: Measures of Depression and Loneliness; 7: Alienation and Anomie; 8: Interpersonal Trust and Attitudes Toward Human Nature; 9: Locus of Control; 10: Authoritarianism and Related Constructs; 11: Sex Roles: The Measurement of Masculinity, Feminity, and Androgyny; 12: Values (catalog record)
Buros desk reference: psychological assessment in the schools [1994]
BF722 .B876x 1994 West Reference
"This book deals with instruments that are widely used by school psychologists (and others whose interests are primarily with children and adolescents)."(vii) (catalog record)
Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children: intelligence, aptitude, and achievement [2003]
BF722 .H33 2003 West Reference
(catalog record)
Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children: personality, behavior, and context [2003]
BF722 .H33 2003b West Reference
(catalog record)
Handbook of psychological and educational assessment of children [1990]
BF722 .R49 1990 v.1-2 West Reference
Parts of Volume I: Intelligence & Achievement
I: General Issues
II: Assessment of Intelligence, Learning Styles, and Learning Strategies
III: Assessment of Academic Skill
IV: Special Topics in Mental Testing
V: Assessment of Special Populations
Parts of Volume I: Personality, Behavior & Context
I: General Issues
II: Models and Methods of Personality Assessment: Projective Testing
III: Models and Methods of Personality Assessment: Objective Evaluation of Children's Personality
IV: Assessment of Social Skills, Status, and Maturity
V: Special Topics in Childhood Personality Assessment (catalog record)
Gender roles: a handbook of tests and measures
HM253 .B43 1990 West Reference
Introduction
Chapter 1: Evolution of the Family Field: Measurement Principles and Techniques
Chapter 2: Dimensions of Marital and Family Interaction
Chapter 3: Intimacy and Family Values
Chapter 4: Parenthood
Chapter 5: Roles and Power
Chapter 6: Adjustment
Abbreviated Abstracts of Instruments; Author Index; Title Index; Classification Index (catalog record)
Handbook of family measurement techniques
HQ728 .T68 1990 West Reference
(catalog record)
A guide to 75 tests for special education
LB1131 .C5416 1984 West Reference
(catalog record)
A guide to 100 tests for special education, 2nd ed.
LB1131 .C5416 1996 West Reference
(catalog record)
Standards for educational and psychological testing
LB3051 .A693 1985 West Reference & West Stacks
(catalog record)
Directory of selected national testing programs
LB3051 .D56 1987 West Reference
(catalog record)
The ETS Test Collection catalog
LB3051 .E79 1986 v.1-6 West Reference
(catalog record)
The ETS Test Collection catalog, 2nd ed.
LB3051 .E79 1993 v.1-2 West Reference
(catalog record)
Index to tests used in educational dissertations
LB3051 .F3 1989 West Reference
(catalog record)
Cummulative index to Tests in microfiche, 1975-1987
LB3051 .T449 Index West Reference
(catalog record)
ETS test collection cumulative index to Tests in microfiche, 1975-2000
LB3051 .T449 1975-2000 Cum Index West Reference
(catalog record)
Tests in microfiche: annotated index
LB 3051 .T45 West Reference
(catalog record)
Tests in print III: an index to tests, test reviews, and the literature on specific tests
LB3051 .T455x 1983 West Reference
(catalog record)
Tests in print IV: an index to tests, test reviews, and the literature on specific tests
LB3051 .T455x 1994 v.1-2 West Reference
(catalog record)
Tests in print V: an index to tests, test reviews, and the literature on specific tests
LB3051 .T456x 1999 v.1-2 West Reference
(catalog record)
The achievement test desk reference (ATDR): comprehensive assessment and learning disabilities [2002]
LB3060.3 .A28 2002 West Reference
(catalog record)
A Consumer's guide to tests in print, 2nd ed. [1992]
LB3060.32 .N67 H36 1992 West Reference
(catalog record)
Test construction: a bibliography of selected resources
LB3060.65 .O18x 1988 West Reference
(catalog record)
Special educator's complete guide to 109 diagnostic tests
LC4019 .P53 1998 West Reference
(catalog record)
Tests in print II: an index to tests, test reviews, and the literature on specific tests
Z5814 .E9 B8 1974 West Reference
(catalog record)
West Journals
Educational and psychological measurement (full text access)
BF1 .E3 West Journals [paper & fiche]
(catalog record)
Journal of educational measurement
LB1131 .A1 N32 West Journals [paper & fiche]
(catalog record)
Applied measurement in education (full text access)
LB3050 .A66x West Journals
(catalog record)
News on tests
LB3050 .N48x West Journals [paper & fiche]
(catalog record)
Tests in microfiche
LB3051 .T449 FICHE West Journals
(catalog record)
Studies in education evaluation
LB1570 .S8424 West Journals
(catalog record)
Recommended "Free" Websites
AGS Publishing (American Guidance Service Online)
http://www.agsnet.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
American Psychological Association: Testing and Assessment
http://www.apa.org/science/testing.html
Association of Test Publishers
http://www.testpublishers.org/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
The British Psychological Society - Psychological Testing Centre
http://www.psychtesting.org.uk/
Buros Institute
http://www.unl.edu/buros/
Consortium for Equity in Standards and Testing
http://www.bc.edu/research/csteep/CTESTWEB/start.html
CTB McGraw-Hill
http://www.ctb.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
Educational Testing Service (ETS)
http://www.ets.org/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
ETS Test Collection
http://www.ets.org/testcoll/
Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing
http://www.fairtest.org/
Harcourt Assessment
http://harcourtassessment.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
The National Assessment Governing Board
http://www.nagb.org/
National Association of Test Directors
http://www.natd.org/
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST)
http://www.cse.ucla.edu/
Nursing & Allied Health: Index to Measurements & Assessment Tools/Instruments & Questionnaires
http://library.csus.edu/guides/rogenmoserd/heas/nursing2004.pdf
Compiled by Eileen Heaser, this, the 4th edition, contains 914 entries.
Pearson Assessments
http://www.pearsonassessments.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
PRO-ED, Inc.
http://proedinc.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
PRO-ED will provide a single complimentary copy of a test for students working on a master's thesis or doctoral dissertation.
Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.
http://www.parinc.com/index.cfm
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
Riverside Publishing
http://www.riverpub.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
Tests and Measures in the Social Sciences
http://libraries.uta.edu/helen/test&meas/testframed.htm
This site was compiled by and is maintained by Helen Hough, Health Sciences Librarian, University of Texas at Arlington
Western Psychological Service
http://www.wpspublish.com/
This is a commercial publisher of assessment measures.
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