Q. How do I find validated questionnaires and surveys?

How you find questionnaires (also called 'surveys', 'behavioural instruments', 'measures', or 'tests') will vary depending on your discipline and which database you are working with. 

Some databases (e.g. PsycINFO, CINAHL) have dedicated sections for finding survey instruments. These sections are usually found under the Index or Subject Terms headings. For example, in PsycINFO, you can select 'Indexes', then select 'Tests & Measures' from the drop down menu. In CINAHL, you can use the CINAHL Subject Heading function to narrow down from 'Research Instrument', to 'Instrument by type', to 'Questionnaires.'

In databases with no searchable index, you will have to add terms like (questionnaire OR survey) to your search – e.g. (“personality disorder”) AND (questionnaire* OR survey*). With these keywords, you will find other published articles. Check their Method sections, where the authors may have specified which instrument they have used. They will usually state the specific title of the questionnaire used.

Often, the questionnaire itself will not appear within an article but may be included in the appendix or simply referred to by name.

Consult the help section of any database to find more information.