pilot studies

Question 1

What are pilot studies?

Answer 1

small-scale practice investigations carried out prior to the research

Question 2

Why are pilot studies necessary?

Answer 2

to identify potential problems with the design, method or analysis so that they can be fixed
-participants can also suggest appropriate changes including ethical issues

Question 3

What is a single-blind pilot study?

Answer 3

participants are not told the aim of the research at the beginning of the study
-other details of the study may also be kept (e.g. which conditions they are in)

Question 4

What is the main purpose of a single-blind study?

Answer 4

to avoid demand characteristics and social desirability as participants will not alter their behaviour accordingly
-these would affect the validity of the research

Question 5

What is a double-blind pilot study

Answer 5

neither the experimenter or the participants are aware of the details of the investigation

Question 6

What is the main purpose of a double-blind pilot study?

Answer 6

prevents researcher/ observer bias - sometimes the researcher might perceive the conditions differently -> invalid results
-common in placebo studies