Pilot studies

• Pilot study

  • Small scale version of an investigation that takes places before the real investigation is conducted.
  • The aim is to check procedures, materials and measuring scales work and allows the researcher to make changes if necessary.
  • Involves a handful of participants rather than the total number.
• Why is a pilot study useful in observational techniques?

  In observational studies a pilot study provides a way of checking coding systems.
• Single blind procedures

  • Participants not told the aim of research before
  • Not told the condition of the experiment they are in or whether there is another condition at all.
  • Any information which may create expectations is not revealed until the end of the study to control for confounding effects and demand charcteristics.
• Double blind procedures

  • Neither participants or researcher who conducts the study are aware of the aims.
  • Often an important feature of drug trials.
  • If they don’t know what each participants are receiving then expectations cannot influence participants behaviour.
• Experimental group


  Group who receives the drug
• Control group


  Group that receives the placebo