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Psychology: Tests and Measures

This guide covers basic resources that may be useful to the Psychology Department.

Why tests and measures?

Psychologists use tests to measure the nature and extent of individual differences, either numerically or impressionistically. The two major categories of psychological tests are psychometric and nonpsychometric.

To qualify as a psychometric test the scoring procedures must be purely objective, giving the same results regardless of who gives the test. Items on these tests are structured, and the resulting numerical scores yield continuous or discrete frequency distributions that can be analyzed statistically. Examples of this type of test are the California Personality Inventory (CPI), Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT), and Wechsler Intelligence Scale For Children (WISC).

The scoring procedures for nonpsychometric tests involve subjective judgment on the part of the scorers. Items on the tests are unstructured and generally ambiguous. Examples of this type of test are the Children's Apperception Test (CAT), Machover Draw-A-Person Test (D-A-P), Rorshach Inkblots (RI), and Thematic Apperception Test (TAT).

Both types of psychological tests are required by national regulations to comply with the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.

Based on:   Psychometric Tests. (2004). In Encyclopedia of Applied Psychology.

Published or Unpublished?

A published test is one that has been restrictively copyrighted.

  • Commercially available tests are purchased from the test publisher, which usually holds the copyright and may also offer manuals and scoring keys. If you want to use one of these tests you must get it from the publisher.
  • Tests in Print and the Mental Measurements Yearbook have extensive lists with publisher information.
  • You may need to furnish information to show that you are professionally qualified to administer and interpret the test.

An unpublished test does not have a restrictive copyright and is often available for anyone to use with the author's permission.

  • Information about unpublished tests usually appears in journal articles.
  • You can contact the researcher who created the test or measure to obtain copies.
  • Remember—you need permission from the author to use a test or measure for any reason other than research, or to change or alter any test items.

Books on Psychological Testing

Finding Tests/Measures

In addition to the specific resources below, the APA's Finding the right tools article is a useful overall guide.

APA Psycinfo This link opens in a new window

To find tests, use the advanced search and type a broad keyword into the search box; then select the kind of test you need from the classification codes menu (e.g. "tests and testing" or "developmental scales & inventories").

Mental Measurements Yearbook This link opens in a new window
Mental Measurements Yearbook, produced by the Buros Institute at the University of Nebraska, provides users with a comprehensive guide to over 2,700 contemporary testing instruments. Designed for an audience ranging from novice test consumers to experienced professionals, the MMY series contains information essential for a complete evaluation of test products within such diverse areas as psychology, education, business, and leadership.
 
ERIC (US Dept of Education) This link opens in a new window
ERIC, the Education Resource Information Center, provides access to education literature and resources. The database contains more than 1.3 million records and provides access to information from journals included in the Current Index of Journals in Education and Resources in Education Index. Full text for certain publications is subject to market availability.