Educational and Psychological Tests and Measures: Finding Tests in Journal Articles

Test Name Search

• For general information on a specific test, type in the full name of the test. Put the test name in quotes to search the words as a phrase.
  • example: "iowa tests of basic skills"

• If the test has an acronym you can search for the both the acronym and the title at the same time using the connecting term OR.
  • example: itbs OR "iowa tests of basic skills"

Descriptors

• Use ERIC Descriptors to refine and focus the search. 
• Add a Descriptor to the search using AND
  • example: (children's depression inventory) AND DE "Test Validity"

• Use ERIC's thesaurus search to find Descriptors. The Thesaurus defines each term so you can find the one that best fits your topic. A few examples are listed below:
  • Test Reliability
  • Test Validity
  • Test Construction
  • Test Format
  • Construct Validity

Tests/Questionnaires Limiter

• On the Advanced Search page, type in your search terms and then scroll down to Publication Type and select Tests/Questionnaires, then click on search.

For more information about how to find articles, please see our YouTube channel!

The search tips below apply to both PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES. These databases look similar and work the same way but they are two separate databases with different content and it is worth searching both for articles on your topic.

Test Name Search

• For general information on a specific test, type in the full name of the test. Put the test name in quotes to search the words as a phrase.
  • example: "minnesota multiphasic personality inventory"

• If the test has an acronym, you can search for both the acronym and the title at the same time using the connecting term OR
  • example: mmpi OR "minnesota multiphasic personality inventory"

Tests & Measures Field

• You can search the Tests & Measures field to find articles that use or discuss a test. This is a more focused search than the simple keyword search the database defaults to. 
• You can search for the test name to find articles on that specific test, or you can search for keywords if you are looking for a test on a topic. This is a good way to find articles about a test but you usually will not get the actual test.
• To search the Tests & Measures Field
  • Type your search terms in the box, either test name or keywords
  • Click on the "Select a Field (Optional)" box and change it to "TM Tests & Measures"
  • Click on search

Search for Appended Tests

• Sometimes, authors will include a test in their appendix. Use the keyword "append*" and the TM Tests & Measures field to search for articles with tests in the appendix. Add "append*" to your search with AND
  • example: mmpi AND append*
• Be sure to change the "Select a Field (Optional)" to "TM Tests & Measures"
• Be sure to include the asterisk after append, this truncates the term

Search Results with Appended Tests

• After you search for "append*" in the TM Tests & Measures field take a look at your search results.
• Click on an article title to see the full record. 
• Scroll down in the article's record until you see the boldface Tests & Measures. Here you will find the Tests & Measures discussed or used in the article. The tests that are included in the appendix will have [Appended] after the name.
  • example: Children's Depression Inventory, Second Edition [Appended]

Descriptors

• Use Descriptors to refine and focus the search. 
• Add a Descriptor to the search using AND
  • example: (children's depression inventory) AND DE "Test Validity"

• Use the Thesaurus search to find Descriptors. The Thesaurus defines each term so you can find the one that best fits your topic. A few examples are listed below:
  • Test Reliability
  • Test Validity
  • Test Construction
  • Test Format
  • Construct Validity

To get to the Thesaurus, you can go to the Advanced Search screen and then click Subjects. You can also click Subjects authority"under Research Tools on the menu on the left of the page. 

For more information about how to find articles, please see our YouTube channel!

Test Name Search

• For general information on a specific test, type in the full name of the test. Put the test name in parentheses to search the words as a phrase.
  • example: (minnesota multiphasic personality inventory)

• If the test has an acronym you can search for the both the acronym and the title at the same time using the connecting term OR
  • example: mmpi OR (minnesota multiphasic personality inventory)

• You can refine your search by adding terms with the Boolean connector AND.
  • example: mmpi AND validity

CINAHL Headings

• Use CINAHL Headings to refine and focus the search. 
• Add a CINAHL Heading to the search using AND
  • example: physical activity AND (MH "Questionnaires")
  • You can also select "MH Exact Subject Heading" in the drop-down menu beside the term you want to use as the heading

• Use the CINAHL Heading search to find terms. Each term is defined so you can find the one that best fits your topic. A few examples are listed below:
  • Questionnaires
  • Psychological tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Process assessment (health care)
  • Outcome and process assessment (health care)
  • Aptitude tests
  • Language tests
  • Neuropsychological tests
  • Personality tests

Publication Type

• Go to the Advanced Search screen and scroll down to the "Publication Type" box. Select Research Instrument. Search for the keywords or CINAHL Headings that relate to your subject. 
  • example: patient AND stress, limited to the Research Instrument "Publication Type"

Test Name Search

• For general information on a specific test, type in the full name of the test. Put the test name in parentheses to search the words as a phrase.
  • example: (minnesota multiphasic personality inventory)

• If the test has an acronym you can search for the both the acronym and the title at the same time using the connecting term OR
  • example: mmpi OR (minnesota multiphasic personality inventory)3

• You can refine your search by adding terms with the Boolean connector AND.
  • example: (minnesota multiphasic personality inventory) AND validity

MeSH Headings

• Use MeSH Headings to refine and focus the search. 
• Add a MeSH Heading to the search using AND
  • example: physical activity AND (DE "Surveys and Questionnaires")

• Use the MeSH 2025 search to find terms. Each term is defined so you can find the one that best fits your topic. A few examples are listed below:
  • Questionnaires and surveys
  • Psychological tests
  • Psychometrics
  • Process assessment, Health Care
  • Outcome and process assessment, Health Care
  • Aptitude tests
  • Language tests
  • Neuropsychological tests
  • Personality tests