Pilot studies

• what is a pilot study?

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

  to check procedures, materials, measuring scales etc. work and allow the researcher to make modifications if necessary
• what is a single-blind procedure?

  an investigation in which participants do not know the aims of the study
• what is a double-blind procedure?

  an investigation in which neither the participants nor the experimenter know the aims of the experiment
• why might we use a single-blind procedure?

  to reduce demand characteristics
• why might we use a double-blind procedure?

  to reduce demand characteristics and investigator effects