LibGuides: Tests & Measures: Using Tests

Copyright and Permission

Published tests must be used and cited according to the instructions of the owning company or person. In most circumstances materials from published tests cannot be copies or reprinted.

Unpublished tests must also be used with care and consideration. Always contact the creator for permission, and if the material is copyrighted, get that permission in writing. If the author cannot be found, try securing permission from the publisher of the article where the instrument was appended.

Responsibilities & Ethics

Researchers are required to use tests wisely. Tests should be used for the purpose they were created, in the proper environment and with ethically recruited subjects. Test administrators should have obtained proper permission from the author or copyright holder and completed any necessary training or certification.

Citing Tests & Measures

Citing tests and measures is not as cut and dry as citing other sources and may require you to use your best judgment. Remember, the main purpose of a citation is to allow others to find the test you are using.

There are some guidelines you can use, linked below. If you're still unsure about your citation, find papers that have cited that test and use their citation to build your own. If all else fails, contact the publisher and ask how they would prefer for their test to be cited.

How to Cite a Psychological Test in APA Style
APA Style Blog - A reference to a psychological test (also called a measure, scale, survey, quiz, or instrument) follows the usual who-when-what-where format.
How to Cite Test Descriptions and Test Reviews Using APA Style
Sample citations from Mental Measurements Yearbook
Cite Sources
The purpose of a citation is to provide the reader with information to find the source of the author's facts or ideas. A citation includes, at the very least, the title, author, source of publication, and date of publication.