Research Guides > Social Sciences > Tests and Mental Measurements

Tests and Mental Measurements

This research guide highlights the major print and online resources used in locating descriptions, reviews, and the availability of tests and mental measurements used in psychology, education, and related fields.

This guide is arranged in the following sections:

Subject Librarian: Randy Hertzler
Location: Gelman Library
E-mail: hertzler@gwu.edu
Phone: 202-994-1354
Updated: December 2005

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Identifying Tests and Measurements
General Information on Obtaining Tests and Measurements
Web Resources on Assessment and Evaluation of Tests

Locating Articles about Tests and Measurements
Methodology, Terminology, and Reference
Citation Styles
For More Information

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Directory of Test Collections in Academic, Professional, & Research Libraries.: Location: Reference Stacks LB 3051 .D564 2001
Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental Measures. 1974-1985.: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 431 .G625; Serves as a guide to unpublished experimental mental measures appearing in journals (tests that are not currently marketed commercially). Entries include a statement of the purpose, reliability, the source (journal article citation), and a cumulative subject index.
Health & Psychosocial Instruments. Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. 1938-present.: Online location: ALADIN; Print location: Reference Stacks Z 5814 .P8 B932; Provides extensive coverage of published tests commercially available in the English language. Each volume provides descriptive information on tests, critical reviews, and references related to the construction, validity, or use of the tests in various settings. Succeeding volumes include new or significantly revised tests, therefore, all volumes must be consulted for comprehensive coverage. Tests are arranged alphabetically by title. Subject, author, reference, title, acronym, and publisher index included. Volume 10 - present also include a score index.
Index to Tests Used in Educational Dissertations.: Location: Reference Stacks LB 3051 .F3 1989
Measures for Clinical Practice: A Sourcebook. 2000.: Location: Gelman Stacks BF176 .C66 2000; Provide descriptions and reproductions of measures used in clinical practice. The two-volume work includes sections on instruments for couples, families, children, and adults.
Measures for Psychological Assessment: A Guide to 3,000 Original Sources and Their Applications. 1994.: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 698.5 .C45; Provides a bibliography of experimental unpublished mental health measures. Provides author, test title, and basic bibiolgraphic information.
Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY). Buros Institute of Mental Measurements. 1938-present.: Online location: ALADIN; Print location: Reference Stacks Z 5814 .P8 B932; Provides extensive coverage of published tests commercially available in the English language. Each volume provides descriptive information on tests, critical reviews, and references related to the construction, validity, or use of the tests in various settings. Succeeding volumes include new or significantly revised tests, therefore, all volumes must be consulted for comprehensive coverage. Tests are arranged alphabetically by title. Subject, author, reference, title, acronym, and publisher index included. Volume 10 - present also include a score index.
Psychology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 121 .B29; An annotated bibliography of the resources used in psychology research. Provides individual chapters that address the subdivisions within psychology. See the chapter entitled "Test Construction and Psychological Measurement."
Test Critiques. 1984-1994.: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 176 .T419 (10 volumes); Provides critical reviews of commercially available tests, generally the most frequently used tests in psychological assessments, education, and business. Not considered a comprehensive source and therefore serves as a supplement to MMY.
Tests: A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments in Psychology, Education, and Business. 2003.: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 176 .T43 2003; Provides brief information and ordering information about thousands of assessment instruments used in psychology, education, and human resources.
Tests in Print VI: An Index to Tests, Test Reviews, and the Literature on Specific Tests (TIP). The Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.: Location: Reference Stacks: BF 698.5 .B878 2002; Provides descriptive listings and reference to commercially available tests for use with English-speaking subjects. Serves as a companion to the Mental Measurements Yearbook.

General Information on Obtaining Tests and Measurements

Locating a copy of the actual test or instrument can be difficult. Gelman Library does not maintain a collection of tests. In most cases, tests are copyrighted and purchase is often restricted to qualified individuals or institutions. Test publishers are listed in the resources described above and can be contacted to inquire about availability.

Commercially Available Tests: Commercially available tests are usually purchased through the test publisher. Publishers hold the copyright to tests they distribute, and they maintain the copies of tests, test manuals, and scoring keys. After locating the name, address, or phone number of a test publisher, contact the publisher with your request for information on a particular test (including purchase inquiries). Inquiries should be made directly to the test publisher. Many publishers have separate policies for individual and organizational purchases of tests. Individuals may be required to complete a test purchaser qualifications form that allows a publisher to determine if the purchaser is qualified and competent to administer and interpret the test.
Unpublished Tests: Unpublished tests (tests that are not marketed commercially) may be more readily available than published tests. The Directory of Unpublished Mental Measures (see above) indexes tests which have been published in conjunction with articles in professional journals.
FAQ/Finding Information About Psychological Tests from the American Psychological Association (APA).: Location: http://www.apa.org/science/faq-findtests.html; Although the American Psychological Association neither sells nor endorses testing instruments, it does provide guidance in using available resources to find psychological tests. Answers to frequently asked questions are provided on this web site.

Web Resources on Assessment and Evaluation of Tests

Resources for Methods in Evaluation and Social Research: Location: http://gsociology.icaap.org/methods/; This page lists free resources for methods in evaluation and social research. The focus is on "how-to" do evaluation research and the methods used in designing surveys, focus groups, sampling, interviews, and other methods.
Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation (PARE): Location: http://pareonline.net/; Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation (PARE) is an on-line journal supported, in part, by the Department of Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation at the University of Maryland, College Park. Provides access to refereed articles that address assessment, research, evaluation, and teaching practice.

Locating Articles about Tests and Measurements

To access databases with a location of "ALADIN", click on the title of the database. To see a list of databases available through ALADIN, go to the ALADIN Home Page. Under "Databases by Title" on the right side of the screen, choose from the three alphabetical groupings.

ALADIN databases are available for use only by current GW students, staff, and faculty. If you are using this page from off-campus, you will be prompted to enter the barcode number from the back of your GWorld ID card before you can access the database.

PsycINFO 1887 - present. American Psychological Association.: Location: ALADIN.; Location: REF BF 1 .P65 (Psychological Abstracts) 1927-1998.; Provides indexing and abstracting of the psychological literature (1887�present) including psychological journal articles, dissertations, technical reports, books, and chapters within books. Provides the most comprehensive coverage of all areas of psychology, both experimental and applied. PsycINFO is online equivalent to the print index Psychological Abstracts.
ERIC (Education) 1966 - present.: Location: ALADIN; ERIC provides indexing and abstracting of articles from education journals and other publications from the field of education including research documents, technical reports, classroom guides, and curricular materials. Provides full text access to most of the ERIC Documents (1996 - present). The entire ERIC document collection is available on microfiche on the third floor of Gelman Library.
ABI/Inform Complete: Location: ALADIN; Provides indexing, abstracting, and some full-text of articles from professional, trade, and academic periodicals incuding business management and human resources. The coverage of advertising, consumer behavior, organizational behavior and human resource management and personel issues will be of interest to psychologists.
MEDLINE: Location: ALADIN; Provides indexing and some abstracting of journal articles and other publications within all areas of biomedicine, including the neurosciences, psychopharmacology, psychiatric and phsyiological intervention, and public health care and social support programs.
Education Abstracts: Location: ALADIN; Provides indexing (1983-present), abstracting (1994-present), and the full text (1995-present for select titles) of journal and magazine articles. Although the main focus of the database is education, subject coverage includes educational and instructional psychology, counseling, and developmental psychology with an emphasis on children and adolescents.
ProQuest Research Library Plus: Location: ALADIN; Provides indexing, abstracting, and some full text of articles from academic journals and popular magazines. Although subject coverage is general, psychology-related articles are included.
Academic Search Premier: Location: ALADIN; Provides indexing, abstracting, and some full text of articles from academic journals and popular magazines. Although subject coverage is general, psychology-related articles are included.

Methodology, Terminology, and Reference

Comprehensive Handbook of Psychological Assessmeent.: Location: Reference Stacks BF 176 .C64 2004 (4 Volumes)
Dictionary of Behavioral Assessment Techniques.: Location: Reference Stacks 176.5 .D53 1988
Dictionary of Psychological Testing, Assessment, & Treatment.: Location: Reference Stacks BF 176 .S78 1995
Encyclopedia of Clinical Assessment.: Location: Reference Stacks BF 698.4 .E5 (2 Volumes)

Citation Styles

Online Style Guides: Location: http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/ref/readyref/style.html; Select this link to view a number of online style guides including APA, MLA, and information on how to cite electronic resources.
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.: Location: Ready Ref LB2369 .G53. Latest in reference, earlier editions in the stacks.
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.: Location: Ready Ref BF76.7 .P83; Excerpts available online at http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html.

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Tests and Mental Measurements

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General Information on Obtaining Tests and Measurementsdocument.write("<img style=\"position:absolute;left:543 px;\" alt=\"Ask a librarian\" src=\"/gelman/guides/asklib.gif\" border=\"0\">");

Web Resources on Assessment and Evaluation of Testsdocument.write("<img style=\"position:absolute;left:543 px;\" alt=\"Ask a librarian\" src=\"/gelman/guides/asklib.gif\" border=\"0\">");

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