🔹 Search by Topic
To find instruments on your topic:
Use topic keywords in the first boxes.
In another box, add this phrase:
test* OR measure* OR survey* OR questionnaire* OR scale* OR battery* OR inventory* OR checklist* OR instrument* OR pretest* OR posttest* OR interview*
Do not limit to a specific field—instrument names may appear in abstracts or identifiers.
Tip: If results are too broad:
Use the ERIC Thesaurus to find a relevant descriptor for your topic.
Add additional keywords to narrow the results.
ERIC allows you to filter by Publication Type: Tests/Questionnaires, but this may overly narrow your results. Use with caution—some useful instruments may not appear with this limit.
If you know the exact name of the instrument:
Enter it in quotation marks (e.g., "Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents").
You can also try the acronym if it's widely used.
Avoid restricting to specific fields—ERIC often stores instrument names in multiple fields.
Goal: Support the scientific credibility of the instrument.
Search for peer-reviewed studies that tested the instrument’s reliability and validity
Focus on articles that report psychometric properties and field application
Identify appropriate research instruments
Find scholarly, peer-reviewed articles that validate or describe their use
However, the library does not provide:
Direct access to most instruments
Legal permission to use instruments in your project
📌 Guidance on locating full instruments and requesting permission is available in other sections of this guide.
In the first box, enter keywords for your topic (e.g., anxiety, patient education).
In another advanced search box, enter these parameters - being sure to use the asterisks* for variant endings and the quotes ( ) around the entire list in order to retrieve them all in one search.
(test* OR measure* OR survey* OR questionnaire* OR scale* OR battery* OR inventory* OR checklist* OR instrument* OR pretest* OR posttest* OR interview*)
Set the drop-down next to this box to AB Abstract to focus your search.
Enter a keyword (e.g., questionnaire, scale).
Set the drop-down to PT Publication Type | Publication Title and select Questionnaire/Scale in CINAHL to find articles that include the instrument text.
Enter: "research instrument"
Set the drop-down to PT Publication Type to find CINAHL’s standardized records about specific tools, including how to obtain them.
If you know the exact name of the tool, use quotes (e.g., "Nurses' Perceptions of Patient Safety Culture Questionnaire").
Change the drop-down to IN Instrumentation in CINAHL to search only the Instrumentation field.
If unsure of the exact name, omit quotes and use keywords in the IN Instrumentation field.
Alternatively, If you have an instrument name that may not be exact, search on keywords and phrases in quotes + terms like:
validation, reliability, psychometrics
Use CINAHL Subject Headings to find validation studies:
Try terms like:
Instrument Validation
Reliability and Validity
Construct Validity
Internal Consistency
Tip: To search within subject headings:
Use MW Word in Subject Heading for broad results
Use MJ Word in Major Subject Heading for more focused results
Best for: Finding validation studies when you already know the instrument name (use quotes).
Limitations: Few dedicated fields for instruments, inconsistent tagging, and large volume of results.
Tip: If you use PubMed, search MeSH terms like "Surveys and Questionnaires", "Psychological Tests", or use "instrument name" AND validation-related terms.
For comprehensive instrument searches, start with CINAHL or ProQuest instead.
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APA Support & Plagiarism Prevention Conducting a Literature Review |
