Psychology
Finding Tests
Published Tests
Senate House Library has a small collection of commercially published psychological tests. All tests have the callmark INFORMATION CENTRE Office Tests and can be located, using the Main Catalogue. For copyright reasons they may not be photocopied. They can be consulted by bona fide psychologists, students and researchers on request.
To locate information about other published tests not held by the library, the following publications are very useful:
- Mental measurements yearbook. Nos 1-16. Buros Institute of Mental Measurements, 1938-2005.
- Tests in print, I-VI. Lincoln, Neb.: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements, 1961-2002
- Keyser, D.J. & Sweetland, R.C. (eds.). Test critiques. Vols. 1-11. Austin, TX: Pro-ed, 1984-2005.
- Maddox, T. (ed.). Tests: a comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education and business. 5th ed. Austin, TX: Pro-ed, 2003
Information can also be obtained from the web site of the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements
Purchasing Tests
Obtaining tests from the U.S.A. can take several months, but it is sometimes possible to purchase tests from a distributor in the U.K. The main suppliers are:
- NFER-Nelson
Chiswick Centre, 414 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5TF
Tel: 020 8996 8444 - Oxford Psychologists Press
Elsfield Hall, 15-17 Elsfield Way, Oxford OX2 8EP
Tel: 01865 404500
Fax: 01865 310368 - Psychological Corporation
Harcourt Education, Halley Court, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8EJ
Tel: 01865 888188
Unpublished Tests
Many questionnaires can be found in journals or books, and with permission from the author it may be possible to photocopy them. It is possible to track them down by using the following sources:
PsycINFO
From 2005, the 'Tests and Measures' field identifies whether an article mentions a test. If the actual test is included it is marked "Appended". Using the Advanced Search screen, search for "appended" in TM Tests and Measures.
For earlier references, combine a topic with descriptors such as "Test-Construction", " Measurement", "Questionnaires", "Personality-Measures",
etc.
Eg. To find a questionnaire on body-image, perform the following
search: "body image" in SU Subjects and "test construction" in SU Subjects.
The resulting
articles include several in which a scale for assessing body image has been
developed. (Or use the Advanced search, selecting 'subjects' from the drop-down boxes)
Books
The following include many sample questionnaires or other useful information:
- Bech, P. Rating scales for psychopathology, health status, and quality of life: a compendium on documentation in accordance with the DSM-III-R and WHO systems. Berlin; New York: Springer-Verlag, 1993.
- Beere, C. Gender roles: a handbook of tests and measures. New York: Greenwood Press, 1990.
- Corcoran, K. Measures for clinical practice: a sourcebook. 3rd ed. New York: The Free Press, 2000.
- Hersen, M. & Bellack, A.S (eds.). Dictionary of behavioral assessment techniques. New York: Pergamon Press, 1988.
- McDowell, I. Measuring health: a guide to rating scales and questionnaires. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006.
- Robinson, J.P. et al (eds.). Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. San Diego; London: Academic Press, 1991.
- Robinson, J.P. & Shaver, P.R. (eds.). Measures of social psychological attitudes. [Ann Arbor, Mich.]: Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, 1969.
- Royal College of Psychiatrists Psychiatric Instruments and Rating Scales: a select bibliography. 2nd ed. 1994.
- Schutte, N.S. & Malouff, J.M. Sourcebook of adult assessment strategies. New York: Plenum, 1995.
- Touliatos, J. Handbook of family measurement techniques. Rev ed. London, Sage, 2001
Specific books on a topic may also include questionnaires.
Eg. Allison, D. Handbook
of assessment methods for eating behaviors and weight and
related problems. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 1995.
Other Sources
- AmoebaWeb: Research scales
- Directory of unpublished experimental mental measures. Vols 1-, 1974-.
These refer to research in journals, but the scale is not always included. - Psychological scales and questionnaires.
(A list of some of the most popular scales that can be found in books and journals held by Senate House Library. Compiled by Susan Tarrant, Psychology Subject Librarian, Senate House Library). - Psychiatric instruments and rating scales: a select bibliography. 2nd ed. London: The Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994.
- Tests and Measures in the Social Sciences:Tests available in compliation volumes (compiled by Helen Hough, Health Sciences Librarian, University of Texas at Arlington).
For other information about testing not covered here, see the British Psychological Society or the American Psychological Association .


