Finding Survey Instruments in the Public Domain and/or Free Online
Researchers and clinicians use psychological tests and measures as part of their research practice. Sadly, there is not a single source you can use to locate these types of tests/surveys/assessments. Many published tests are available for purchase, but often these tests are limited to trained professionals. To make this easier, we'll be looking for tests that are either free online or in the public domain. No matter which test/survey you find, use your academic integrity to request the permission of the author prior to use (unless directed otherwise on their website), and always include the test/survey in your bibliography/references.
Collections of Tests/Survey Instruments:
- Carver: Self-Report MeasuresIncludes surveys on cancer, impulsivity, optimism/pessimism, attachment, self-worth, etc.
- Project ImplicitProject Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet.
- Jennifer Crocker/OSUIncludes surveys on self-worth, self-image.
- Habits LabTTM Measures: Includes surveys on change assessment, self-efficacy, decisional balance, etc.
- GASP Measures DatabaseMeasures designed for use with gay/lesbian/bisexual issues or populations.
- Berkeley Personality LabContains a variety of personality tests and emotion scales.
- Motivation/Cognition Lab at U. of MarylandScales for the need for closure, locomotion.
- Mark Leary ScalesIncludes scales for anxiety, belonging, blushing, fear of negative evaluation, etc.
- James McCroskey's Communication MeasuresIncludes a large variety of scales such as attraction, anxiety, shyness.
- Delroy PaulhusInstruments for spheres of control, free will, and determinism, etc.
- James Pennebaker's QuestionnairesIncludes physical symptoms, college adjustment, childhood trauma, etc.
- Stephen Reysen's Psychology ScalesIncludes scales for likability, honesty, hope jealousy, fandom, etc.
- Self-Determination Theory QuestionnairesIncludes questionnaires on aspirations, religious internalization, health behaviors, etc.
Using PsycARTICLES to find Tests & Measures
- APA PsycArticles (EBSCOhost) This link opens in a new windowmay be used to locate specific types of tests/measures. You can also use PsycARTICLES to see how a specific test was used by researchers and the results of their research. This may help you to decide how you can best use a specific test for your empirical study.
After logging into PsycARTICLES, use the drop-down menu that says "Select a field" and choose "TM Tests & Measures". Type the word "appended" into the search box to the left of the drop-down menu. (This means that the test/survey used in the study will be included with the full-text of the article. Typically, added or appended to the article - toward the very end.
Next, add another search term on the next line - related to your area of research. I've used the topic of autism as shown in the screenshot pictured below.
