Tests and Measures

Before jumping in to your search, it's a good idea to understand what different types of tests are available. Many tests and measures are owned by publishers and do require payment to access and use. Others, usually unpublished tests, may have been developed by researchers and can sometimes be found appended to academic articles. Although these tests and measures do not require a fee to access, it's important to contact the authors of these tests before using them. 

Published vs. unpublished tests:

• Published tests include tests and measures available through a test publisher. 
• Unpublished tests include noncommercial inventories, measures, scales, techniques, checklists and other instruments that may be utilized within behavioral sciences literature.

Responsibilities of Test Users:

Users of published tests can purchase and obtain a commercially available test through a test publisher's website. These websites provide information about the test or measure, the cost of materials, and information on related products.

• Because publishers hold the copyright to the tests they distribute, they may have separate policies for purchase by individuals and purchases by organizations.
• Users may be required to complete a test purchaser qualification form so the publisher can confirm if the user is qualified to administer and interpret the test.

As a user of unpublished tests, there are certain ethical responsibilities that one must follow.

• Users wanting to utilize specific tests must contact the test author and request permission to use the test or measure.

Example: You find a measure you want to use within a research article obtained from PsychInfo. The next step is to locate the section of the article that lists the authors contact information (Usually the phone number, email, or organizational affiliation (or university) with a mailing address is found on the first page of the journal article). Reach out to the author/s, asking for permission to use their test in your research project. Note: If the work is copyrighted, you will need to ask for their written permission. More details about what steps to take can be found on the APA website.  

For more information about psychological tests: APA Psychological tests FAQ

• The APA FAQ page delves into more information surrounding psychological tests such as describing the differences between published and unpublished tests, providing an overview of several resources that researchers can use to find information about different types of tests, and explaining the guidelines associated with test usage.