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ORG 6600/6610: Research Methods and Statistics

Assignment: Research Proposal

For this assignment,* you'll need to:

  • identify a research problem,
  • Investigate related research literature, and
  • design a methodological approach to study the problem.

The proposal must contain...3 different variables, one of which requiring an assessment.

*refer to your syllabus for the most current information.

Databases of Tests and Measures

Use these databases to find information about a test or measure, such as reliability, validity, how it has been used, and occasionally the instrument itself.

  • Search PsycINFO...
    • by topic (e.g. vocation)
      • search for your topic, then view Tests & Measures limiter on the left of the search results
    • by measure title or acronym (e.g. “calling and vocation questionnaire”)
      • TM Tests and Measures field: locates all mentions of the instrument in Tests and Measures field (broad); use keyword “appended” to see if full-text is included
      • Select a Field: searches within Title, Translated Title, Classification Codes, Abstract, Keyword, Subjects, and Author (broad)
      • SU Subjects/DE Subjects: locates articles about measure as a topic (narrow)

Watch the tutorial below for an example of searching for tests and measures in APA PsycInfo (4:53)

Resources for Evaluating Tests and Measures

This is not a comprehensive list of resources available on the Index Tables. See this list for more titles.

Assessment Reference Sources

Search the SPU catalog for more sources on this topic. 

Other approaches to locating a test or measure:

  1. Search SPU Primo by keyword for topic or test name (a measure may be in a book's appendix). 
  2. Search for websites via Google under the measure's specific title in quotations to see if it is available online. 
  3. Consult SPU Psychology faculty; they may know of a measure on your topic and how to get it.