Obtain & Administer Measures

NIH Toolbox^® measures are in the NIH Toolbox iPad App.

Obtain

All NIH Toolbox Cognition, Emotion, Motor, and Sensation measures are available through the NIH Toolbox iPad App. Additionally, "respondent ready" PDFs of NIH Toolbox Emotion measures are available for free in Search and View Measures.

• Use the NIH Toolbox iPad App to access all measures.
• Use Search & View Measures to find a PDF of an Emotion measure or watch a demonstration video of a Cognition, Motor, or Sensation measure.

Administer

NIH Toolbox measures are best administered in the NIH Toolbox iPad App:

1. Download one of the NIH Toolbox iPad apps from Apple’s Store>> 
   
2. Submit credentials for a qualification check and obtain a cognitive unlock code. Requesting access to Cognition measures>> 
   
3. Administer tests using the free trial version (no scores are provided in free-trial).

Remote Administration via Screen Sharing

Some NIH Toolbox Cognition and all Emotion measures can be administered remotely. Review the Remote Administration Guidelines for NIH Toolbox Response to COVID-19 for instructions for each test. Learn more>>

Permission for Use

NIH Toolbox measures are copyrighted. Some NIH Toolbox self- and parent-proxy report instruments (NIH Toolbox Emotion and select Sensation) are publicly available for use without licensing or royalty fees for individual research or individual clinical use. Other Sensation measures and the Cognitive and Motor batteries may only be administered through means approved by the Department of Medical Social Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Commercial users must seek permission to use, reproduce, or distribute measures. Read the NIH Toolbox Terms and Conditions of Use for more information. 

Learn to Administer NIH Toolbox Measures

NIH Toolbox administration of Cognition, Motor, and Sensation measures requires training. Training resources include:

• Online training curriculum ("eLearning") - Completing the eLearning program combined with practice is sufficient for being able to administer NIH Toolbox measures.
• Training workshops - Content of the workshop includes the same information as eLearning, but has the added opportunity for practice and individual feedback from a certified trainer.
• Administration Manual - This manual is a resource intended to be used in conjunction with eLearning and/or a training workshop.

Requesting Access to Cognition Measures

• In accordance with the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (APA, 2014), cognition measures will be available to professionals who are appropriately trained to administer, score and interpret psychological tests. Eligibility to use these restricted materials is determined on the basis of experience, education, and training.
• To request permission, please complete the online form>> 
  
• If you meet the eligibility requirements, a Cognition access code will be sent with directions on how to use this information with our NIH Toolbox iPad App.
• The same Cognition access code works for English and translated NIH Toolbox Cognition measures.
• Access instructions:
  • Prior to entering a Cognition access code, instruments appear with a lock symbol instead of a Select button on the Select Instruments screen.
  • To enable access, go to the Settings screen and tap Access to Cognition or tap the lock symbol next to Cognition measures on the Select Instruments screen.
  • A pop-up will appear. Tap the Apply for Access button to submit a Cognition access request.
  • If you already have a Cognition access code, select Enter Unlock Code and enter your information.
• If you have any questions, please email cognition@nihtoolbox.org and put “Request Access” in the subject line.

Guidelines for Geriatric Assessment

The NIH Toolbox team developed a guide for assessment of elderly adults. Read Principles of Geriatrics Assessment here>>

Required Supplies

The NIH Toolbox iPad App has hardware and software requirements. Read about them at the NIH Toolbox Support Center>>

Appearance and Modification of NIH Toolbox Items

If you are integrating NIH Toolbox Emotion or other self-report measures in a data collection system, follow our guidance for how the items should appear in the respondent interface. This will ensure the measures are administered consistently with how they were developed, tested, and validated. Contact Help@HealthMeasures.net to learn more.

Our philosophy is that measures can be improved and we welcome others to make improvements. We believe measurement problems or measure improvements are based upon quantitative and/or qualitative data, not expert opinion alone. If a user feels that they can improve a HealthMeasure, they are welcome and encouraged to test this modification. All NIH Toolbox modifications need to be approved by the HealthMeasures team in advance (help@healthmeasures.net). Learn more>>

Last updated on 7/5/2022