Finding Tests and Measures

In PsycINFO use the Tests and Measures field to find measures used in a study and sometimes the actual measure.

• Select the Multi-Field Search link.
• Enter the name of the measure, or keyword/concept, e.g., Beck Depression Scale; shyness.
• Select Tests & Measures from the drop-down menu on the right, and click the Select button.
• Adding the word appended to the search will bring results in the Tests & Measures field that are included in the source. (Note, however, that what is appended may not be the exact test or concept measure you were seeking.  This search looks for whatever is listed in the field.)
• For example, anxiety and appended.

See this tutorial on searching for tests and measures provided by the American Psychological Association!

See also: Expert Tip: Finding the Tests in PsycINFO

Every article in PsycINFO is given four-digit classification codes, which are used to categorize the document according to the primary subject matter. The classification code for articles that discuss the development of a measure begins with "222" For example, 2220=Tests & Testing; 2223=Personality Scales & Inventories.  These classification codes can help you target your search to articles that focus on the development and validation of instruments which measure specific concepts.

• Select the Multi-Field Search link.
• Enter "222" in the first dialog box and select Classification Code from the drop-down menu on the right,
• In the next dialog box, enter your topic or concept(s), and leave All Fields in the drop-down menu on the right.
• Select the Search button.

The "appended" notation was added to the test and measures field in 2004.  To broader your search, you might consider this strategy:

your concept(s) and (test* or measure* or questionnaire* or scale* or survey*) and appended

social anxiety and (test* or measure* or questionnaire* or scale* or survey*) and appended

(Again, this does not mean that the particular concept measure is appended.)

Another strategy that is less restrictive  is to drop the "appended" to see what measures were used in articles on your topic or concept.