Searching for and locating questionnaires, surveys, tools, or validated instruments is often a daunting process. Follow the suggestions below for how to find this specialized type of source using Falvey Library resources.
Remember, not all survey instruments and tests can be found for free. In some cases, these validated instruments are copyrighted and permission to use the instrument is charged for a fee.
Jump To
Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI)
Search by topic for measurement instruments that have been tested for validity and reliability.
1. Access Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI) from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide.
2. Search for instruments on a topic by typing appropriate keywords into the search boxes.
3. Click the title of a measurement instrument to get more information:
4. Remember, the full text of the instrument is very rarely found in Health and Psychosocial Instruments. The reference found usually leads to the article that the authors published to show reliability and validity of the instrument.
5. After you have the title of instruments that interest you, go search for it in a different database called, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, again under Databases A-Z.
6. Search for the instrument by title. Place the title in quotation marks and change the field indicator to Abstract - AB.
7. Access the full text of the dissertation in which the instrument was used by clicking the Full Text-PDF link. If not available, place an interlibrary loan request.
8. After opening the dissertation, check the table of contents. Usually the author of the dissertation will include the full text of the instrument in an appendix.
Check to make sure you have permission to use the instrument. You may need permission of the instrument developer. Some developers require payment for their instrument and will not permit the full text to be reproduced in a dissertation.
Mental Measurements Yearbook with Tests in Print
Access Mental Measurement Yearbook with Tests in Print from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide. This is a database for evaluating contemporary testing instruments.
If you know the name of the instrument
Type in a test name or test name acronym to begin your search.
Scroll to the bottom under Limit Your Results and check Review Available.
CINAHL
Access CINAHL from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide.
If you know the name of the instrument
Type in the name in the search box and from the dropdown menu, select IN - Instrument.
If you are searching to find an instrument
Option 1:
There are two relevant filters under Publication Type --> Questionnaires/Scale & Research Instrument. Use one or both along with your regular keyword search.
Option 2:
Search using a keyword, then append the type of measure you are looking for as a keyword (sample, "scale")
If you are searching to find reviews of tests
Search by the instrument name and then use an additional keyword such as, "test validity," "content validity," "construct validity," "inter-rater reliability," "test reliability," or "test review," in the descriptor field.
PubMed
Access PubMed from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide.
Strategies for finding instruments
1. Use MeSH terms or keywords that describe the type of instrument you are seeking for the topic. For example:
- "Surveys and Questionnaires"[MeSH]
- "Psychological Tests"[MeSH]
Make sure to copy the MeSH, including the bracketed text and quotation marks.
2. Conduct a simple search by instrument name or acronym
3. If seeking test reviews, use keywords like "validity" or "reliability" along with your topic. MeSH terms can be included:
- "validation studies"[pt]
- "validation studies as topic"[mh]
- "reproducibility of results"[mh]
ERIC
Access ERIC from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide.
Strategies for finding instruments
To find a specific test
- Search by instrument name or acronym and limit to Publication Type: Tests/Questionnaires.
To find tests
- Search by keyword and limit results to Publication Type: Test/Questionnaires.
To find reviews of tests
- Search by instrument name and additional keyword or terms such as "test validity", "content validity", or "construct validity".
APA PsycInfo
Access APA PsycInfo from Databases A-Z or the Nursing Guide.
Strategies for finding instruments
To find a specific test
- Search by instrument name or acronym in the first search box; in the search box below the first, type in the word appended. To the right of that box, use the drop-down menu to select the Tests and Measures field.
To find a test for a variable
- Enter your search keyword in any search box; to the right of that box, use the drop-down menu to select the Tests and Measures field.
To find reviews of tests
- Search by instrument name; to the right of that box, use the drop-down menu to select the Tests and Measures field. In a second search box, add additional terms such as "Test Validity" or "Test Reliability". You will not need to change the field to the right of the box for this line.
ETS Test Collection
Access ETS from https://www.ets.org/test-collection.html
Search this database for instruments. Then once you find one that looks good, search one of our databases for the article title. If you have a full citation, you may also look for the journal through our journal finder.
Contacting authors
If you are having difficultly locating a specific questionnaires or surveys, remember to always try contacting the author. Many authors are happy to share the tool that they used or created. Don't forget to provide the author with proper credit.
