Psychometric Tests and Measurements
These tools measure psychological dimensions like depression, anxiety, job satisfaction, or self-esteem. They are typically developed by mental and behavioral health researchers. USC subscribes to a database, PsycTESTS, that provides full-text access to some tests and measurements. PsycTESTS can be searched by keyword, test name, or topic. Your results can then be narrowed by age group, instrument type (scale, survey, etc.), and other refinements.
[Screenshot of search results and three different arrows indicating which items include test results]
In your list of results some will have full text PDFs on the tests while others will only provide summaries and additional information on ordering the test, contacting the publisher, or contacting the author for additional information.
Similarly, Mental Measurements Yearbook is a service that provides reviews of the tests and measurements, but not the test/measurement itself. Use it to research important traits of a test/measurement, like its Crohnbach’s alpha and other measures of reliability and validity.
You can find other helpful information on psychometic tests and measurements for social work and psychology in the Tests and Measurements page of the social work research guide. https://libguides.usc.edu/socialwork/measurements
Education Tests and Measurements
You'll find many educational tests and measurements within PsycTESTS and Mental Measurements Yearbook; however, an additional place to search is ERIC, a core database in Education that covers research literature and contains some instruments. To find a test, use the advanced search option and narrow "Publication Type" to "Tests/Questionnaires." This will find many journal articles that include the test instrument in the appendix of the article, as well as standalone tests and measurements.
Health Tests and Measurements
CINAHL features a similar advanced search option as ERIC to find tests within the body of journal article or appendices. Here, use the advanced search option and narrow Publication Type to Questionnaire/Scale. HAPI, which stands for Health & Psychosocial Instruments, is another health focused test database. Access is provided through OVID—so after clicking on HAPI you will have to check one more box specifying Health & Psychosocial Instruments.
Finally, if you're still on the hunt for that perfect test or measurement, we suggest searching journal articles or dissertations in the database of your choosing using these keywords in combination with your topic: scale, instrument, measurement, questionnaire, assessment, or appended. If the instrument you're interested in is unpublished, your best bet is to contact the author directly and ask permission to use the measurement.
NOTE: USC has many resources for identifying testing and measurement tools. Most tests are copyrighted and can only be purchased from the publisher. Sometimes you can view a test because it has been published in a journal article or dissertation.