pilot studies

• what is a pilot study?

  a small-scale trial run of the actual investigation that may involve a handful of participants rather than the total number
• what are pilot studies for?

  1. identify any potential issues
  2. modify the design or procedure
  3. to save time and money in the long run
• what can pilot studies also be used for?

  an input for self-report methods, such as questionnaires and interviews
• what does a pilot study provide in observational studies?

  a way of checking coding systems
• what is a single-blind procedure?

  where only the participants aren't told the aim, which condition they're in and whether there is another condition at all
• what is a double-blind procedure?

  neither the participants nor the researcher are aware of the aims