Test & Measures

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Online Information about Tests and Measures for Clinical Practice

This page offers links to resources about psychological tests and measures. The goal is to direct you toward those measures useful in clinical practice.

Cautions:

1. Copyright and Access Issues:  Bear in mind that many tests and measures are copyrighted or otherwise restricted by the authors and/or publishers. This is meant to honor the author's and reward their labor -- which we all should honor. It is also intended to restrict access to these measures by party's that may use their knowledge inappropriately. (Yes, sometimes people try to create false impressions by getting the "correct" or "better" answers!)

2. Unwanted Reactions in the Online Test-taker Without Supports: Some tests and measures pages include links to self-tests, or will "score" a test you take on line -- including tests of anxiety and depression. If you are interested in such tests -- which may well be a service to people in need -- do consider you are sending information over open, tap-able or traceable phone and internet lines. I have only seen one such site (of maybe 25) which carry an informed consent page describing risks and benefits, as well as statements outlining the steps testers will take to protect the taker's (= your) privacy and confidentiality. Please be careful and do remember ethical issues as well as efforts to define and document difficulties via tests and measures. Remind clients of this as well.

3. Lack of Document Valid and Culturally Sensitive Standardized Tests:  Finally, there are relatively few tests and measures of mental health problems that have been specifically developed for use with populations of color. Recent compilations take note that many common tests have not been "normed" (tested to assure validity and the meaning of scores) for non-white populations -- demonstrating awareness as a useful starting point and caution. There are a few such measures, but they do not yet have web connections to my knowledge. Normative profiles for people of color need to be developed in order to ground their strengths and limitations in data about specific groups. Until this work is completed, the use of white-normed clinical mental health measures with non-white persons must be done cautiously or not done at all.

The Harris Library at Case Western Reserve School of Social Work offers a fine introduction to gaining access to psychological tests. While oriented to their own online catalog, the search process is parallel to what you'd use at other locations.  Case also offers a tutorial on tests and assessments.

A broad source of measures for all ages is found at Fairmont State College's Psychological Test and Measurements page. It offers internet links as well as sources for print books and periodicals and a useful guide to keywords for searches. 

The University of Wisconsin School of Education offers a wide range of links to some psychological and many educational/development measures. They have strong links to resources about appropriate use of measures.

NYU's WWW Resources for Social Workers has fine information on Measurement.  Thanks to Dr. Gary Holden and colleagues!

Western Psychological Services
(WPS) publishes tests and related books and software.  Their catalog offers a great overview.  (Appropriately, they require that one establish their credentials prior to purchasing psychological tests.)   WPS's address is 12031 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90025-1251.

Waguih William IsHak, M.D., at the New York University Department of Medicine offers links to psychological tests and resources of interest. 

Dr. Phillip Long's Internet Mental Health site is informative and detailed -- a site is worth a look for many reasons. Offerings include on-line diagnosis with good cautions about what a full, valid mental health diagnosis entails, but little informed consent information. Excellent on-line materials on diagnoses for a tremendous range of disorders. Great links to discussion groups and further resources. 

You may find the bibliography and materials at James Drisko's Prove it! pages of interest as well.

 

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© 1998, last update 4/20/01