Where to look for pre-existing instruments

A document pertaining to finding pre-existing instruments is available from APA. I recommend looking over paper (http://www.apa.org/science/faq-findtests.html). This is basically a summary of that paper with additional information of the availability of these resources for students and faculty at JMU.

Commercially available tests (available from test publisher at a cost)

• Mental Measurement Yearbooks (MMY):
  Start at the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements website (http://www.unl.edu/buros/). Here you can select your particular area of interest (e.g., developmental, personality) and a list of all tests that have been published is listed. Behind each test is the Mental Measurements Yearbook number where you can find information and a critique of the test. Contact information for the publishing company is also available if you decide to purchase an instrument.
  MMY’s are available from JMU online and in print at the library.
• Tests: A comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education and business
  Contains thousands of instruments from the above stated areas. It gives brief description of purpose, population, time, cost and publisher. There is no critique like MMY (see Test Critiques below).
  There are several editions of this text (4th ed 1997). JMU library has the 2nd edition from 1986.
• Test Critiques
  This is to be used with Tests: A comprehensive reference for assessments in psychology, education and business. It provides psychometric information about the instruments (much like MMY’s).
  There are several volumes of this text. JMU library owns V1, V2, V3, V4, V9
• Test Critiques Compendium: Reviews of major tests from the Test Critiques series
  Basically scaled down version of Test Critiques. This is available at JMU library.
• Websites
  -http://www.acpa.nche.edu/comms/comm09/dragon/dragon-index.html
  - Commission on Assessment for Student Development Clearinghouse on Environmental and Student Development Assessment Instruments
  - Provides very brief description of measure and publisher contact information.

Noncommercial tests (published in journal article and available from author)
There are several tests that exist that are free of charge. These are typically found in published in journal articles.

• Databases
  Literature searches using specific databases are extremely helpful. In addition, to searching for an instrument you get a brief overview of the research being conducted using the construct of interest. In the areas of psychology and education, scanning the following databases can be very informative: ERIC, PsycINFO and PsycLIT.
• Tests in Microfiche
  Provides information about noncommercial tests that have been cited in literature. JMU library has this resource.
• Directory of psychological tests in the sport and exercise sciences
  Provides instrument title, author, purpose, description, reliability and validity information and references.
  JMU has 1990 and 1996 editions
• Directory of Unpublished Experimental Measures
  Instruments are from the educational and psychological domains. Some psychometric information is available. JMU has several volumes: V1, V2, V5, V6, V7
• Measures of Psychological Assessment: A guide to 3,000 Original Sources and Their Applications
  While this book is old (1975) it can be informative. It lists the measure and one or more applications of the measure found in the literature. JMU does have this text in the library.
• Measurements for Long-term Care: A guidebook for nurses
  More than 100 instruments. Includes author, title, description, and psychometric properties.
  JMU has the 1998 book
• Websites
  - http://www.scp.rochester.edu/SDT/measures/index.html
  - This site has several different measures related to motivation, perceived competence, autonomy, health care, psychological needs, etc. What is great about this site is it not only describes each measure and includes references for papers that have used or studied the measure, but the actual measures are available to download.

Mix of Commercial and Noncommercial Measures

• Health and Psychosocial Instruments (HAPI)
  Provides information about noncommercial instruments in the area of health, psychology organizational behavior, and library and information science. This includes questionnaires, interview schedules, checklists, index measures, coding schemes and manuals, rating scales, projective techniques, vignettes and scenarios, and tests. JMU library has this resource.
  
• Measuring self-concept across the life span : issues and instrumentation
  Provides information on 24 self-concept measures including psychometric information.
  JMU has this 1996 book
  
• Sex and gender issues : a handbook of tests and measures
  Provides information on over 100 instruments related to sexuality topics and interpersonal relationships (e.g., body image, contraception). Psychometric information is presented along with articles that have used the measure. Lists where the measure can be found (in journal, from publisher).
  JMU has this 1990 book.
  
• Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures
  Includes over 200 measures of sexuality-related constructs or topics such as love, commmunication, decision making, abortion, abuse, homosexuality, sexual risk taking, etc. Most of the actual measures are included by permission of the author. Sample items from those that are commercially available are provided, with details about how to obtain a copy. Included in the description of the measures are administration procedures, psychometric information, and reference.
  JMU has this 1998 book
  
• Handbook of Tests and Measurements for Black Populations 2 vols.
  Collection of more than 100 psychological tests and measures developed for use with African Americans. Volume 1 focuses on children, adolescents, and family, and volume 2 presents measures appropriate for late adolescents, young adults, and older age groups. The tests are in various stages of development, but information regarding rationale for the measure and reliability and validity data are provided. Except as otherwise noted, most of the authors have granted non-commercial use of the tests and measures for research, service, or instructional purposes.
  JMU has both of these 1996 volumes.
  
• Measures of Personality and Social Psychological Attitudes
  Collection of attitude scales that are useful in survey research and cover subject areas such as self-esteem, loneliness, social anxiety, locus-of control, etc. Reliability and validity data, and references are provided. Sample items, and in most cases, the actual measures are reproduced.
  JMU has this 1991 book.
  
• Measures of Political Attitudes
  Includes reviews, reliability and validity data, and references. Sample items, and in most cases, the actual measures are reproduced. Covers measures of liberalism/conservatism, racial attitudes, political alienation, etc.
  JMU has this 1999 book.
  
• Handbook of Research Design and Social Measurement
  See Part "Selected Sociometric Scales and Indexes." Scales cover areas such as social status, group structure and dynamics, leadership, family and marriage, etc.
  JMU has this book.