Pilot studies Flashcards
research methods
What is a pilot study?
A small scale trial run of a specific research investigation to test out the planned procedures and identify any flaws and areas for improvement, before time and money are invested in carrying out the main study
What problems would a pilot study identify?
Problems with the:
design
clarity of standardised instructions for participants and the procedures
measuring instrument(s) employed, including the use of behavioural categories in observational research
Why is a pilot study used for a questionnaire or interview?
Piloted on people from the appropriate target population to help ensure that the length is appropriate and the questions can be easily understood
What else does a pilot study enable the researcher to do?
Find information on how long it takes which can be useful when creating a schedule for the actual study
Ask the participants to highlight any problematic areas or ambiguities they came across during the trial run
make changes before the main study is conducted
