Entries for each test include short descriptive information

1
Psychological and EducationalTests and
Measurements

• A Finding Guide for OSU Library Faculty
• Dan Chaney
• Humanities and Social Sciences Division

2
Why Tests Measurements?

• Upper level students (largely psychology and
  counseling psychology) are occasionally asked to
  locate tests and measurements.
• Graduate students beginning to think about a
  dissertation might begin to explore tests already
  available before designing their own measures.
• Sometimes for an assignment. Sometimes a
  professor they work with needs the
  test/measurement.
• Tests and measurements are survey tools designed
  to measure or gauge some quality, habit, trend or
  need.

3
Where Are Tests and Measurements Likely to Appear?

• Journal Literature
• Books
• Conference Proceedings
• Online Sources (Web Pages)
• (This is not an comprehensive list)

4
Things to Remember About Tests and Measurements

• Tests and measurements are creative acts, written
  by people (usually researchers and other
  experts.)
• As such, they are sometimes published (sometimes
  not.)
• Its been my experience that rarely will you find
  a test or measurement available on the Internet
  for FREE (although it does happen occasionally.)
• Generally, tests and measurements will be
  available only from a publisher for a price.
• The Library doesnt own measurements and tests,
  per se, although we do have many places we can
  look for them.

5
Basic Questions to Keep in Mind

• Does the researcher have a specific test in mind?
• Does the researcher want a copy of the actual
  test or measurement?
• Does the researcher only want a review of the
  test or measurement?

6
The Major SourcesMental Measurements Yearbook
and Tests in Print

• Before we talk about anything else, we need to
  know the two major sources!

7
Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY)

• Currently in its 14th edition (2001), the MMY is
  the standard source for critical reviews of
  commercially available tests and measurements.
  Its published about every 5 years.
• Originated in 1938 by Oscar Buros, the MMY is
  often referred to simply as Buros. Buros was
  also responsible for Tests in Print.
• To be included in MMY, tests must be
• Commercially available
• New or revised since the last edition of MMY
  and/or are widely popular or have generated more
  than twenty citations in the literature
• Published in the English language
• Beginning with the 14th edition, tests must
  include some documentation about its development
  and/or technical properties.

8
More MMY Background

• Entries for each test include short descriptive
  information, critiques, and bibliographies (Note
  test references were discontinued as of the 14th
  edition.) Critiques are written by experts in the
  field. There are extensive bibliographies after
  each entry that cover validity, construction and
  use of the tests in different settings with
  different populations.
• Indexed by test title (with cross references),
  classified subject, publisher name, name index
  for authors, reviewers and references, acronym,
  and test score for references to tests featuring
  particular scores (such as depression, stress,
  and self-control)
• There is an online, comprehensive index to the
  MMY at http//www.unl.edu/buros/00testscomplete.h
  tml for the 9th through the most recent edition
• Call Number 016.151 B967m - Second Floor,
  General Reference

9
MMY Information Fields

• The MMY might include the following information
  for entries
• Title Titles are presented in boldface
• Purpose there is a brief statement describing
  the purpose, often taken from the measurement
  instruction manual.
• Population describes the group for which the
  test is designed
• Publication Date includes the dates for various
  components or updates
• Acronym just in case the test is referred to by
  initialism
• Scores lists the number of part scores, with
  titles or descriptions
• Administration indicates either individual or
  group
• Forms, Parts and Levels
• Manual notation is made if no manual is
  available.
• Restricted Distribution noted only for tests
  that are put on a special market. Educational and
  psychological restrictions are not noted.
• Price Data what does the measurement cost?
  (e.g., 17.50 for 35 tests)

10
MMY Information Fields, cont.

• Foreign Language and Other Special Editions
  mainly for foreign language versions
• Time number of minutes of actual working time
  allowed to administer and take the test
• Comments for special notations, such as for
  research use only or tests administered monthly
  throughout the U.S.
• Author
• Publisher
• Foreign Adaptations largely for test use in
  foreign countries
• Sub-listings levels, editions, subtests, etc.
• Cross References mostly cross references to
  previously reviewed versions of tests from
  previous editions of the MMY

11
Tests In Print (TIP)

• Consists of descriptive listings of and
  references to commercially published tests that
  are in print and available for purchase. It
  serves as a comprehensive index to the MMY.
• First published in 1961 by our old friend Oscar
  Buros because it was obvious that an
  comprehensive bibliography of tests was needed,
  which would also serve as an index to the MMY.
• TIP is planned for update about every 5 years.
• In general, if the test isnt listed in TIP V,
  its probably out of print and you should consult
  the Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental
  Measures (152.8 G619d, General Reference)

12
TIP Overview

• A comprehensive bibliography of commercially
  available tests published as separates for use
  with English-speaking subjects
• Bibliographies, for specific tests, of references
  related to the construction, validity, or use of
  the tests In various settings
• Test title indexing that includes all tests
  currently in print, as well as tests that have
  gone out of print since TIP IV, and alternate or
  superceded titles for some tests
• Separate listings for tests that have gone out of
  print since TIP IV
• Classified subject indexing that also describes
  the population for which the test was intended
• Publishers listing and directory, including
  contact information
• Name index, including the names of authors,
  reviewers and references.
• Score index, listing all scores generated by the
  tests listed in TIP
• Listing of contributing reviewers for the entire
  MMY series

13
Content Comparison MMY vs. TIP

• TIP V 2,939 test entries
• MMY 14th edition 430 test descriptions/reviews
  (802 test reviews by 461 different authors)
• MMY 14th edition features 296 tests which had
  never appeared previously in MMY.

14
Differences Between MMY and TIP

• MMY consists of descriptive entries, references
  and critical reviews of commercially published
  tests, published in English. Each MMY includes
  reviews of tests that are new or substantially
  revised since the previous edition. Remember that
  the MMY is hierarchical, and that the more recent
  index listings are for revised versions of tests.
  So, if youre searching MMY, start with the
  latest edition and work backwards.
• TIP is a comprehensive volume describing every
  test that is currently available for purchase.
  TIP V supercedes TIP IV.
• Not all tests and measures are reviewed in MMY
  and there are somewhat firm requirements that
  tests must meet to be featured.
• Because not all tests are reviewed in MMY, TIP is
  necessary to identify and locate tests which are
  available and in print, but not widely popular or
  used enough to be featured in MMY.

15
The Second String PlayersTest
CritiquesandTests A Comprehensive Reference
for Assessments in Psychology, Education, and
Business
16
Tests A Comprehensive Reference for Assessments
in Psychology, Education, and Business

• This reference is designed for quick
  identification of a test to meet a specific need.
  Unlike other test guides, it does not provide
  evaluations. Over 3,000 published
  English-language assessment instruments are
  listed under three broad subject categories
  (psychology, education, and business), with 87
  subsections. Each entry provides a purpose,
  description, intended population, administration
  and scoring, cost and availability. Indexed by
  publisher, title, author, out-of-print
  instruments, availability of computer scoring,
  and tests composed for special population groups
  (e.g, visually impaired, non-English speakers,
  etc.) Call Number 150.28 T345 1991 - Third Floor
  Stacks. (Dont ask me why this is allowed to
  circulate.)
• Note Reviews of tests in this resource are
  available in the ten-volume Test Critiques.

17
Test Critiques

• A standard outline for critiques includes an
  introduction, practical applications and uses,
  technical aspects, and a critique of each test.
  Test Critiques contains scholarly reviews and
  includes information related to the reliability,
  validity and normative development of the
  measurements. Focuses primarily on psychology,
  education and business tests. It should be used
  in conjunction with a sister publication Tests.
  There is a cumulative title index as well as
  indexing for publishers, subject and
  author/reviewer. Call Number 150.287 T342,
  v.1-10 - Second Floor, Reference Collection.

18
So, How Do These Two Things Help Me?
19
Lesson One Dont Assume the Researcher Has Their
Information Correct

• Youd be amazed at the frequency with which
  someone wants a test and doesnt have the title
  correct. Why? Because their professor sent them
  to the Library to look for their shorthand
  version of the test title. Theres nothing more
  frustrating than spending an hour looking for a
  test when you dont have the right title.
• Example the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale is
  actually titled the Rosenberg Scale of
  Self-Esteem
• Is the title they offer spelled correctly?
• One could search PsycINFO for hours looking for
  the phrase Rosenburg Self-Esteem Scale, when the
  actual name is Rosenberg. (Trust me, this
  happened to me recently!)
• So, you may need to spend some time determining
  the actual title of the test or measurement.

20
Lesson Two Is the Test Still in Print?

• Always wise to see if the measurement is
  currently in print, so you can target where to
  look next.
• Consult the TIP V index to determine if the test
  is currently in print. If so, TIP will put you
  into MMY for a few titles. (Remember, MMY only
  does reviews.)
• Search the ERIC/AE Test Locator (online)
  athttp//ericae.net/testcol.htm (Generally, Ive
  only found this useful to help people identify a
  measurement in cases where they dont have a
  specific one in mind.)
• The Test Locator will also lead you to the Mental
  Measurements Yearbook (MMY) or Tests in Print
  (TIP).
• Note The ERIC/AE site includes records from the
  ETS Test Collection Catalog
• Why does it matter if the test is still in print?
  Because if its not in print, it might be hard to
  locate a copy. Or, it might be easier if its no
  longer being sold. It kinda depends.

21
Lesson Three To Find Reviews

• Consult the Mental Measurements Yearbook (General
  Reference, 016.151 B967m) for reviews or
  publisher contact information (selective listing)
• Note For a cumulative index to the MMY, consult
  Tests in Print V (for all editions) or connect
  online to http//www.unl.edu/buros/00testscomplete
  .html
• for the 9th through current edition (14th).
• Consult Tests and/or Test Critiques more reviews.

22
Other Print Sources Of Note

• Goldman, Bert Arthur and John L. Saunders.
  Directory of Unpublished Experimental Mental
  Measures. New York Human Sciences Press, 1990.
  (152.8 G619d, v.1-7 - Second Floor, Reference
  Collection)
• These volumes cite unpublished, experimental
  tests appearing in journals in psychology,
  sociology, education and interdisciplinary social
  science journals. Coverage is limited to US
  journals. Entries provide a brief description,
  and a reference to the journal in which it
  appeared. Later volumes have a cumulative index.
  Instruments are categorized by general type and
  supplemented by author and subject indexes.

23
Other Strategies

• If you are not able to find it in any of the
  books listed above, you may want to search a
  database. Occasionally you may find an article
  that used the measure or tells you who published
  the test, etc. On rare occasions, you may find a
  copy of the measurement appended to the research
  article itself, if the author of the article
  developed the measurement. Finally, you may want
  to run a search of the Internet with the
  measurement title as your keywords. More and more
  often we can find publishers of tests and
  measurements online.
• Note tests and measurements are not frequently
  offered for free on the Internet, however, we can
  use the Internet for contact information.

24
OSU Library Catalog Tips

• If the researcher doesnt have a specific test in
  mind, if they want to see whats available, or if
  they want to design their own, you can use the
  OPAC to identify titles that may be of interest.
  Some Library of Congress Subject Headings include
  (but are not limited to)
• ability--testing
• achievement test--
• college entrance achievement tests--
• educational tests and measurements--
• examinations
• examinations--design and construction--
• examinations--interpretation--
• examinations--questions
• examinations--scoring
• examinations--validity
• intelligence tests--
• learning ability--testing
• multiple choice tests--
• neuropsychological tests--
• psychological tests--
• psychometrics--
• sociometry--
• scale analysis (psychology)--

25
Database Suggestions

• PsycINFO try entering the title of the
  measurement as an "Identifier", or for research
  about measures and/or assessments, try a
  descriptor keyword "measures" or "assessment"
  combined with type of measure, e.g. "assessment
  neuropsychological" Also try the keyword
  "appended" to shake loose tests that are included
  with the article.
• Digital Dissertations (for locating new
  measurements or for finding information on the
  application of measurements)
• ISI Web of Knowledge (useful to find articles
  which cite a published test or measurement)
• ERIC (for finding reviews and articles that use
  tests and measurements)
• Medline (helpful in finding a description of a
  test and for locating measurements that are
  underreported in social gerontology but are used
  with the elderly and those living in nursing
  homes.)

26
Test References Ranking (TIP)

• The top 10 tests ranked by reference frequencies
  in TIP
• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Third Edition
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children- Third
  Edition
• State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2
• Symptom Checklist 90 Revised
• Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test III
• Wechsler Memory Scale III
• Beck Depression Inventory II
• Raven Progressive Matrices
• Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Revised and Expanded

27
A Primer on Finding Tests (APA)

• FAQ/Finding Information About Psychological Tests
• http//www.apa.org/science/faq-findtests.html