Definition: Published vs. Unpublished Tests

A published test is one that is available commercially and can be purchased by qualified individuals from the publisher (as long as the test is still in print).    Some well-known commercial tests include KeyMath; the various Wechsler scales; the Woodcock-Johnson tests; the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement; etc.

An unpublished test is one that is not available commercially, but may have been published in a journal article, a dissertation, or other source.  Sometimes these instruments are available for free and can be used with permission from the author.

For more information on published vs. unpublished tests, see:

Access and Use Issues (from Miriam Joseph, St. Louis Univ.)

Websites & Articles

APA (American Psychological Assoc.) 

Glossary of Testing, Measurement, and Statistical Terms  (from Riverside Publishing)

"Informal Assessment in Educational Evaluation," by Cecilia Navarete, et. al. (University of New Mexico)
Good description of informal assessment techniques.
(alternate link to article) 

Books About Testing

See also the sections on books that contain instruments and books that contain information on instruments, as these often also contain information on assessment in general.