Pilot Studies

Question 1

Aims of piloting

Answer 1

Small-scale trial run of the actual investigation.

Involves a handful of participants rather than total number, test procedure and check investigation runs smoothly. Can be experimental studies or self-report methods like questionnaires or interviews, helpful to try out questions in advance, rephrase.

In observational studies a pilot study provides a way of checking coding systems before the real investigation is undertaken. May be an important part of training observers.

Identifies issues, modify, saves time and money in long run.

Question 2

Single-blind procedure

Answer 2

Any information that might create expectations is not revealed until the end of the study to control for confounding effects of demand characteristics.

Question 3

Double-blind procedure

Answer 3

Neither participants nor researcher who conducts the study is aware of the aims of the investigation (often a third party conducts investigation without knowing its main purpose). Double-blind procedures are often an important feature of drug trials. If they don’t know that each participant is receiving then expectations cannot influence participant behaviour.

Question 4

Control groups and conditions

Answer 4

In drug trial, the group that receives the real drug is experimental group and the group that receives placebo is the control group. Control used for purpose of comparison.

Having two groups in an experiment is an independent groups design, but we also have control conditions in a repeated measure design. Each participant takes part twice-once in the experimental condition and then in the control condition.