Pilot Studies

• What is the purpose of pilot studies?

  To check procedures and design before the main study
• Why are pilot studies important for researchers?

  They help identify necessary adjustments without high costs
• What types of studies can use pilot studies?

  Experiments, questionnaires, and interviews
• How do pilot studies benefit observational studies?

  They check behavioral coding systems before the main study
• What is a confederate in research?

  An individual instructed by the investigator
• How did Milgram's study utilize confederates?

  To play roles of experimenter and learner
• What are demand characteristics in research?

  • Cues that make participants aware of study aims
  • Can lead to altered participant behavior
  • May act as confounding variables affecting results
• What is the 'screw-you' effect?

  Participants deliberately spoil the experiment
• How do demand characteristics impact study outcomes?

  They can change participant behavior, affecting results
• What are investigator effects?

  Unwanted effects of the investigator's behavior
• How can investigator effects influence a study?

  They can lead to fulfillment of expectations
• What is a single blind design?

  Participants are unaware of research aims
• How does a double blind design improve research?

  Both participants and researchers are unaware of aims
• What is the role of a control group?

  To serve as a baseline for comparison
• How does a control group differ from an experimental group?

  Control group does not receive the IV
• What are situational variables?

  Aspects affecting participants' behavior in research
• How can researchers deal with investigator effects?

  • Use an uninformed interviewer
  • Implement open-ended questions
  • Collect data without face-to-face interaction
• What is the main goal of using a pilot study?

  To refine study design before full implementation
• How do pilot studies contribute to the efficiency of research?

  They save time and resources by identifying issues