pilot studies

Question 1

what is a pilot study?

Answer 1

A pilot study is a small-scale version of the experiment / questionnaire / observation and will usually involve a small number of participants

Question 2

what is the aim of a pilot study?

Answer 2

The aim is to ‘road-test’ the procedure to make sure everything runs smoothly and if not, amendments and adjustments can be made.

Question 3

what is a single blind study?

Answer 3

Participants are not made aware of some details of the investigation – such as the full aim or what condition they are in – to reduce demand characteristics.

Question 4

what is a double blind study?

Answer 4

Neither the participants nor the person conducting the study knows the aim of the research – to reduce demand characteristics and investigator effects.

Question 5

what are control groups?

Answer 5

Used for the purpose of comparison with the experimental group so the researcher can be more certain of the effect of the IV on the DV.