pilot studies

• pilot study

  = small scale, trial run of a full study to check the study runs smoothly
• single blind trial


  = participants are not told the aim of the study to avoid demand characteristics
• double blind trials


  =neither the participants nor the researcher who conducts the study on behalf of a third party knows the aims.
• control groups 


  an experiment usually involves an experimental condition and a control group in order to compare and use as a baseline against results.