Databases provide a variety of options for focusing your search results to articles measurement tools or tests.  Below are some tips for options available in PsycINFO.  Similar techniques may be used in other databases

Locating a Specific Tool: try these two methods:

• use the default keyword 'Map to Subject' search option and enter the name of the tool/test. Some well known tools have specific subject headings.
• use the 'Multi-field Search' option.  Type the name of the measurement tool and select the Tests and Measures field in the drop-down box. See below:

Locating Tools on a Topic/Condition:

To find articles about any tools used to measure a subject, condition, etc., first search the subject/condition using the default keyword 'Map to Subject Heading' option.

e.g. search a broad category (e.g. measures) and view the subject headings suggested:

Select the heading that closely defines your search topic (e.g. Personality Measures). Click on the phrase to view the narrower and related headings, some of which refer to specific tools. Select one or more terms that define your 'personality measures' concept.

For either of the above methods you can limit a set of articles in one of the following ways (you may want to try both).

• Method 1: Click on 'Additional Limits':  
  • Select 'Tests & Measures' option in the Limits group at top, then click Limit A Search.  This locates articles that are specifically about a particular test or measurement instrument relating to that topic.

In this example, the results are reduced significantly:

• Method 2: Click on 'Additional Limits':
  • In the Classification Codes drop-down box, select the category most relevant to your measurement need, e.g.'2220 Tests and Testing' as well as '2224 Clinical Psychological Testing'

In this example, the results are also reduced significantly:

Articles with the Measurement Tool

To find articles containing the actual measurement tool, start by using one of the methods described above. In a separate search type the word appended as a keyword search (turn off 'Map to Subject Heading'). Combine the 'appended' results set with the results of the previous search set(s) using AND.

Some databases include full text of the documents they index but many do not. The top databases for locating articles about tests and measurements in various fields are:

Here's a short video showing how Find it @ MU works. (About 4 minutes long.)

Two common ways to find out if the Libraries have access to the articles you need:

1) You are searching in an article database, but it doesn't have the full-text:  

Click on  in the article citation. Another window / tab opens with two possible options:

• Links indicating Find it @MU may have located one or more sources for full text of the article. Click on the links and follow the trail to the article. 
• Links to search MARQCAT by the journal title or its ISSN number. The journal may be available in print or electronically through a source not searchable by Find it @MU.

2) You already have a specific citation and aren't currently searching in a database:

• Search for the journal title in MARQCAT, the library catalog;
• Do not search the title or author of the article, MARQCAT doesn't contain article level information.

The MARQCAT record will indicate what years we have in print and/or online, providing call number locations for the print and links to the e-journal.  Once at the e-journal, navigate to the volume, issue and page that you need.

Questions:

Didn't find the article/journal using Find it @MU or MARQCAT?  Request the article through Interlibrary Loan (ILL) by clicking on the link at the bottom of the Find it @MU window or tab.  Learn more about ILL here.

Ever wonder why the full-text isn't there?  Watch this short video about the Business of Information.