Guide to our Measurement Tools Databases
Posted: April 16, 2025
The library has over 200 databases (subscription and open access), so it’s nearly impossible for you to be aware of them all. In this newsletter, we are highlighting three databases that provide comprehensive access to instruments, reviews, and psychological measures: HAPI (Health and Psychosocial Instruments), Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY), and PsycTESTS.
Featured Databases:
HAPI: Health and Psychosocial Instruments
HAPI offers over 190,000 abstracts and records of behavioral measurement tools used across various disciplines, including nursing, public health, and psychology. It helps you find relevant instruments and connect them to published studies.
Mental Measurements Yearbook (MMY)
The Mental Measurements Yearbook, now available as a database, is a renowned reference series that offers critical reviews of English-language educational and psychological tests. It provides in-depth, expert evaluations, guiding researchers and practitioners to select the most suitable tests for their specific needs. MMY ensures you’re using rigorously reviewed and validated tests, enhancing the quality and reliability of your research.
PsycTESTS
APA PsycTests provides expertly-created metadata to instantly find and download instruments for research and teaching, primarily focusing on unpublished tests. It saves researchers time by offering access to tests not commercially available. Each record includes a construct summary, reliability, validity, factor analysis (when available), and supplemental materials like datasets, scoring sheets, and manuals. The types of tests include test batteries, questionnaires, rating scales, surveys, and much more.
How These Databases Can Help You:
- Literature Reviews: Easily identify and understand the measurement tools used in previous research.
- Instrument Selection: Find the most appropriate and reliable instruments for your studies.
- Test Evaluation: Use critical reviews to assess the validity and reliability of tests.
- Research Development: Access full-text instruments to integrate into your research design.
Example Use Case:
Imagine you’re researching the impact of stress on nurses’ job satisfaction. You could use:
- HAPI to find relevant stress and job satisfaction scales used in nursing research.
- MMY to review the psychometric properties of those scales.
- PsycTESTS to explore additional, research-specific instruments that might be suitable.
We encourage you to explore these databases and leverage their resources to enhance your research. A note that all three of these databases are through EBSCO and therefore they will look and work similar, but the content is where they differ. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your library liaison.