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Research Instruments

This guide will help you learn how to identify, assess, and obtain research instruments.

Finding an Instrument by Subject

Identifying a Research Instrument  

Instruments measure health conditions and mental states, among other things. To identify a research instrument, you will need to search the library's resources.


Questions to ask yourself before you begin:

  • How much time do you have?
    • Not all instrument's are readily available or easy to obtain 
  • What is your budget?
    • Not all instrument's are freely available.
  • What is the instruments reliability and validity?
    • Does the instrument measure what it is intended to, and does it measure it consistently? 
  • Will the instrument be available for your use?
    • Even if it’s free, it might be difficult or take too long to get a copy!
    • You need to obtain the owner’s permission, particularly if you want to publish your results.