If you are doing dissertation level research, you will also be collecting your own data using a test or measure designed to address the variables present in your research. Finding the right test or measure can sometimes be difficult. In some cases, tests are copyrighted and must be purchased from commercial publishers. In other cases instruments can be obtained for free directly from the authors or can be found within published articles (in the methods section or as an appendix). The Library can help you with obtaining publisher or author information along with test reviews, if they are available.
One important decision you will eventually face in the dissertation process is whether to use an existing instrument, to modify an instrument, or to create your own instrument from scratch. The latter two will require extensive testing and are not generally recommended. Whichever decision you make should be thought over carefully and discussed with your mentor or dissertation chair committee.
You will need to either purchase the test from a publisher or contact author(s) to obtain the test along with copyright permissions to use it in your research. When contacting an author for copyright permissions you will often send a permission letter. Examples of permission letters are included in the Permission Letters section below.
For a video introduction, see the the Introduction to Tests and Measurements Workshop below.
This workshop provides an introduction to library resources which can be used to locate tests and measurements for dissertation research.
When conducting a search, remember that different keywords yield different results. Consider these terms and add them to your search string when trying to locate tests or measurements:
Searching in Roadrunner
The simplest way to discover instruments relevant to your dissertation research is to carefully read the "Methods" section in peer-reviewed journal articles. A dissertation will build on a field of study and you will be well served by understanding how the constructs you are interested in have been measured. For example, while exploring the topic of depression, read articles and take note of which depression inventories are used and why.
Searching in APA PsycArticles and APA PsycInfo
To locate tests and measurements in APA PsycArticles or APA PsycInfo, follow the below steps:
Searching in APA PsycTests
To locate tests and measurements in APA PsycTests, follow the below steps:
Searching in CINAHL
To search for tests or measurements in CINAHL, follow the below steps:
Additional Search Strategies for Locating Tests and Measurements in CINAHL
Searching in ERIC
To search for tests or measurements in ERIC, follow the below steps:
In addition, the ERIC thesaurus entries list descriptors of tests and scales which may be used to construct a search. Select a broad category and continue narrowing down to your desired term. Click on Search collection using this descriptor to begin your search, as shown below.
For additional information, see the following quick tutorial video:
Searching in ETS TestLink
To locate tests and measurements in ETS TestLink, follow the below steps:
For additional information, see the following quick tutorial video:
Searching in Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI)
To locate tests and measurements in HAPI, follow the below steps:
Searching in Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print
Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print (MMY with TiP) offers test reviews that are written by experts and contain descriptions of tests and commentary on their psychometric adequacy (Cone & Foster, 2006, pg. 170). You can use MMY with TiP to (1) obtain contact information for an author or publisher, and (2) read descriptive information on the measure of interest. Note that you will need to either purchase the test from the publisher directly, or contact author(s) to obtain the test along with copyright permissions to use it in your research.
To locate tests and measurements in Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print, follow the below steps:
Searching in PubMed
To locate tests and measurements in PubMed, use the following strategies:
Below are example search strings incorporating the use of these MESH subject headings:
For additional information, see the following training videos:
Searching in ScienceDirect
Use ScienceDirect to locate tests and measurements used in studies and published articles relevant to your topic. Add any of the following keywords to your search string:
For additional information, see the following video:
Searching in Web of Knowledge
Use Web of Knowledge to locate tests and measurements used in studies and published articles relevant to your topic. Add any of the following keywords to your search string:
For additional information, visit the following website:
Searching in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Locate tests and measurements in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses by using the following strategies:
Search for related graduate and doctoral-level research that has already been conducted on your topic. Similar studies may have employed a relevant test or measurement.
Check a dissertation's Abstract to see if the author mentions administering or designing a measurement tool. If a measurement is mentioned, it is likely that a reprint of the measure will appear in the appendix of the dissertation. This example shows that the author references a test or measurement in the Abstract:
For additional information, see the following video:
Lastly, you might try searching for a test or measurement or information about them on the Internet. Google is an excellent search engine for finding information on test instruments. To find information about a particular test or measurement on Google, type the name of the test or measurement into the empty search field and place it in quotes:
Unless your test instrument is commercially available (i.e., available for purchase), you will likely need to seek permission to use a test instrument in your dissertation. An exception may be instruments retrieved from the APA PsycTests database. The majority of tests within this database can be used without seeking additional permission. However, the instrument must explicitly state May use for Research/Teaching in the permissions field.
Also note that obtaining permission to use an instrument is not the same as obtaining permission to reproduce the instrument in its entirety in your dissertation appendix. It is important that you ask for separate permissions to do that.
First, you will need to identify who owns the copyright. The copyright holder is usually the author/creator of the work. Often, the author’s email address appears within the published journal article from which the instrument originated. If you need help tracking down the original article, please contact the Library.
If an email address is not readily available or seems to be outdated, you will need to search for the author’s contact information online. Try using quotation marks around the name or adding an associated institution to narrow your results. Again, if you need assistance with the step, the Library can recommend search techniques. However, the Library will not contact authors on your behalf.
Once you have located the contact information, prepare to introduce yourself and explain why are seeking permission. State clearly who you are, your institutional affiliation (e.g., Northcentral University), and the general nature of your thesis/dissertation research. Also discuss whether you are modifying the instrument, or if you are reproducing the instrument in your appendix. Typically, an email exchange is best, but some authors may prefer mail correspondence or a phone call. There are many sample permissions letters available online, including some examples linked below.
In some cases, authors transfer copyright to another entity, such as a journal publisher or an organization. Publishers often have website forms or letter templates that you can use to submit your request. See an example from Wiley here.
Remember, you will need to document permissions in your dissertation appendix. Make sure to save a copy of the correspondence and the agreement. Documentation allows you to demonstrate to your Chair and others that you have the legal right to use the owner's work.
In some cases, authors or publishers may either not respond to requests or refuse to grant permission to use their work. Therefore, it is important to select a few potential tests or measurements. The Library can certainly assist with searching for alternate test instruments.
For additional information about copyright and permission guidelines, see sections 12.14 - 12.18 in the APA Manual, 7th edition.
