Recently, I used one of the publicly available questionnaires for my ongoing research. At the beginning I wasn‘t really bothered about getting a permission until my advisors urged me to do so.

The permission proved to be so important than I thought it would be. Apart from being given a license number [which affords me an uninterrupted liberty to publish my findings without fear of eventual backlash], I was also given the updated software to analyse my data, and a text book containing up-to-date info on how to administer the tool...

It was quite an important step. Thus I’d suggest you ask for permission to use one, unless stated otherwise. You might be surprised with information that comes along with the process.

Good luck!

I agree with Mohammed, better to ask apriori. You rarely know all the ethical considerations of the original author(s). Also ask yourself what you would expect if the situation was reversed.

Roland

Thank you very much.

Senad