Guides: Finding instruments, measures, scales and tests in education, health, psychology, and social work: Finding articles on a test or measure

Databases

PsycINFO 1987-present (Ovid)
Tip: Use the name, or part of the name in the search box, and limit to “tests and measures” (or type the suffix .tm.)
Examples:
McGill pain.tm.
Beck.tm.
Health and Psychosocial Instruments (Ovid)
Tip: Limit to Primary Source to get only articles containing the measure or discussing its development
Example:
depressi*, limit to "Primary Source"
CINAHL Plus with Full Text (EBSCO)
Tip: For searching the reliability or validity of an assessment tool.
Use one or more of the following Subject Headings, and combine using AND with the name of the assessment tool:
Instrument validation/
Occupational therapy assessment/
Patient assessment/
Physical therapy assessment/
Test-retest reliability/
MEDLINE (OVID) ALL, 1946-
Tip: Use the name of the instrument in combination with one or more of the MeSH terms below.
Reproducibility of results/
Psychometrics/
Observer variation/
OR
Cut and paste the following search string and combine (using AND) with the name of the instrument.
(reliability or reproducib* or inter rate or interrater or valid* or test retest or predictive or psychometric*).mp.
Example:
hads.tw. AND Observer variation/
Mental Measurements Yearbook (Ovid)
Includes information about tests, how to purchase, a complete description, and references to reviews of the test.
ERIC (EBSCO)
Tip: Search words from the name of the measure with the term "test validity" and choose "Descriptor" from the drop-down menu.

Health Services and Sciences Research Resources
Health Services and Sciences Research Resources - Database designed for health care researchers and health sciences librarians seeking data resources used in health services research, the behavioral and social sciences and public health.
Tip: Search words from the name of the measure and select "Search Instruments/Indices only"

About this section

Finding research studies that used the instrument, or report its validity, reliability, or psychometric properties (i.e., when you know the instrument, and want to find out more about it)

Need help?

Education (DISE)
Sharon Rankin
Humanities & Social Sciences Library
E-Mail

Health
Jill Boruff
Schulich Library of Physical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Engineering
E-mail

Psychology and Educational & Counselling Psychology
Emily Kingsland
Humanities & Social Sciences Library
E-mail

Social Work
Nikki Tummon
Humanities & Social Sciences Library
E-Mail