Permission to Use or Modify an Instrument

Many authors allow for non-commercial use of their tools by researchers without requiring written permission, a license, or a fee. For example, surveys developed at the RAND Corporation are freely available and no permissions are needed. A directory of free survey instruments can be found here.

Some authors request or require that you obtain explicit approval to use their measures even if there is no cost. This can be motivated by a desire to keep track of how widely a scale is being used and to make sure the user has the most recent version and understands the correct way to apply the tool. For example, the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL™) surveys are provided without charge to those who register.

If you are going to modify an instrument or protocol, you must include the author’s permission.