pilot studies

• What is a pilot study?

  a small-scale trial run of the actual investigation.
• For what studies are pilot studies carried out for?

  experimental studies, self report studies like questionnaires or interviews, observational studies.
• How are pilot studies helpful in self report studies?

  helpful to try out questions in advance and remove or reword those that are ambiguous or confusing.
• How are pilot studies helpful in observational studies?

  provides a way of checking coding systems before the real investigation is undertaken. May be an important part of training observers.
• What does a pilot study allow you to do?

  to identify any potential issues and modify the design or procedure, saving time and money.
• What is a single blind procedure?


  participants unaware of test being conducted, researcher aware.
• What are double blind procedures?


  neither the participants or the researcher are aware of the aims of the investigation.

  often a third party conducts the investigation without knowing its main purpose.
• What is a control group?

  the group in an experiment or study that does not receive treatment by the researchers and is then used as a baseline to measure how the other tested subjects do.