Pilot studies:

• What is a pilot study?


  A small scale version of an investigation that takes place before the real investigation is conducted.

  A pilot study checks all aspects of the design

  It saves time and money by avoiding potential design errors
• How is a pilot study done?


  Take a random sample of the target population and conduct a SMALL SCALE trial run of the full investigation, taking careful note of any procedural flaws (instructions, tasks, equipment)
• Beat it:

  B - boredom (if the participant gets bored they'll stop trying)

  E - equipment (check its all good)

  A - aims and procedures (may guess researcher's aim)

  T - Timing (too much=boredom/ too little=frustration)

  I - Instructions (check they are understood)

  T - Training (inexperienced researchers can be trained)