Pilot studies

• What is a pilot study?

  A small scale trial run of a method
• Why is it important to conduct a pilot study?

  To ensure participants understand questions and instructions
• What can pilot studies help identify before the main study?

  Potential difficulties and issues
• What could happen if problems arise during the main study?

  It can cost time and money
• Who typically participates in a pilot study?

  Members of the relevant population
• Why shouldn't pilot study participants be part of the final sample?

  It may influence later behavior of subjects
• How many participants are usually involved in a pilot study?

  Only a few participants
• What are the purposes of conducting a pilot study?

  • Ensure research design works
  • Test validity of measures and tasks
  • Operationalize variables
  • Reveal demand characteristics
  • Assess practicality of research design
• How can pilot studies help in operationalizing variables?

  By testing validity and reliability of categories
• How can pilot studies help reduce demand characteristics?

  By revealing them to the researcher
• What might a pilot study reveal about the research design?

  It may not be practical
• What should a researcher do if something is missing in the pilot study?

  Add it to the experiment