Pilot Studies

• pilot study


  a small-scale run that takes place before the real investigation is conducted
• purpose of a pilot study


  to check that procedures, materials, measuring scales etc work and allow the researcher to make modifications if necessary
• single-blind procedure


  an investigation in which ppts. do not know the aims of the study
• double-blind procedure


  an investigation in which neither the ppts. nor the experimenter know the aims of the experiment
• purpose of a single-blind procedure


  to reduce demand characteristics
• purpose of a double-blind procedure


  to reduce demand characteristics and investigator effects