pilot studies

Question 1

aims of a pilot study

Answer 1

small scale trial run of the actual investigation

involves a handful of partipnats rather than the total number to test the procedure and ,are sure that it runs smoothly

when using self report methods such as questionnaires or interviews it is better to try out the questions in advance to remove or reword those that are ambiguous

in observational studies a pilot study provides a way of checking coding systems before the test

pilot studies allow the researcher to identify any potential issues and to modify the design or procedure saving time and money in the long run

Question 2

single blind procedure

Answer 2

when particpants may no be told the aim of the research at the beginning of the study

other details may also be kept such as which conditions of the xperiment they are in or whether there is another condition at all

any info that may create expectations is not revealed till the end of the study

control the confounding effects of demand characteristics

Question 3

double blind procedure

Answer 3

neither particpants or researcher who conducts the study is aware of the aims of the investigation

important feature in drug trials

if they don’t know what each particpants is receiving then expectations can’t influence the particpants behaviour

Question 4

control groups and conditions

Answer 4

the group that receives the real drug is called the experimental group

group that receives the placebo is the control group

control groups are used for the purpose of comparison

researcher can establish cause and effect