Key points at a glance
- Define construct and population.
- Check evidence for your context.
- Document rights and adaptations.
Define what you intend to measure
Specify the construct and target population before looking for instruments. “Motivation” could mean interest, self-efficacy or persistence. A scale helps only if its items represent the meaning in your research question.
Check evidence in a comparable setting
Example: An English scale was tested with working adults. Its measurement properties do not automatically transfer to German-speaking first-year students. Seek evidence about content, reliability and validity in a similar population and language. The word “validated” alone lacks context.
Check permission and changes
Read the creators’ use terms. Some instruments permit research use; others require permission. Do not silently translate or shorten items: changes may alter what is measured and call for further evaluation or at least an explicit limitation.
Justify the choice in your methods
Identify version, source, response options, scoring and reason for selection. Say whether you used the original, a translation or an adapted form. A pretest can reveal comprehension problems but a small pretest is not a full validation study.
Final submission context
Formal details can feel like a separate writing task, but they matter just as much for a printed submission. Anything missing, misplaced or inconsistently formatted in the document will also appear in the bound copy.
Use this guide together with your cover page, table of contents, page numbers, source notes and appendices. Prepare the final PDF for printing and binding only after the complete file has been checked.
Practical check before PDF export
- Do headings, chapter structure and page numbers match?
- Are sources, figures and tables included completely?
- Are required elements such as declarations, appendices or the cover page included where required?
- Did you open and check the final PDF after exporting it?
Checklist
- Defined construct.
- Matched population.
- Checked permission.
- Documented version and changes.
Common mistakes
- Assuming validation transfers everywhere.
- Changing items without disclosure.
- Omitting the instrument source.
Prepare the finished thesis for submission
Once the content and university requirements are checked, review your PDF and the available printing and binding options.
Review printing optionsRelated content
Explore related guidance on thesis structure, sources, formatting and final submission.
Frequently asked questions
May I copy any scale?
Only if its terms permit use or permission is granted.
Is my translation already validated?
Not automatically; seek evidence for that language version.
Is Cronbach’s alpha enough?
No, internal consistency is only one property.