Pilot Studies

Question 1

What is a pilot study?

Answer 1

A small scale study that is carried out before the main study in order to check procedures.

Question 2

What is a pilot study used to check?

Answer 2

• Timings
• Participants’ understanding of the procedure and instructions
• Leading/ ambiguous questions are used in questionnaires/ interviews
• Operationalisation of behavioural categories in observational research
• If the standardised instructions are clearly worded
• The number of participants needed for a study

Question 3

Why is a pilot study important?

Answer 3

If any flaws are discovered during the pilot study the researcher has an opportunity to make improvements before the main study.

• This will prevent them from wasting time and/or collecting data that will have to be discarded.
• They allow the researcher to establish if the study will generate useful information and if it is worth the time and money.
• Improve internal validity and make the findings more likely to be reliable.