Pilot
studies include the pre-testing of a particular research instrument, like a
questionnaire or interview schedule, as well as scaled-down versions of bigger
investigations (sometimes known as "feasibility" studies). Pilot
studies are a necessary component of a solid study design. Although conducting
a pilot study increases the likelihood of success in the main study, success is
not guaranteed. Pilot studies have several important uses and can aid other
researchers by exposing important data. There should be more discussion among
academics on the process and outcomes of pilot research.
Another
illustration of a pilot study is the pre-testing or "trying out" of a
particular research instrument. An advantage of conducting a pilot study is
that it may give early warning about potential failure areas for the main psychology research project, guides and materials, potential protocol violations, and whether suggested
techniques or instruments are appropriate or unduly complicated. These are all
very good reasons to do a pilot study, but there are others, like convincing
funding agencies that your research plan for the main study is worthwhile.
Consequently, there are several justifications for doing pilot studies.
Before
the main survey is completed, large-scale studies may use a number of pilot
studies. Pilot studies can be based on quantitative and/or qualitative
methodologies. In order to develop the later quantitative part of the study,
researchers may begin with "qualitative data collecting and analysis on a
relatively uncharted issue when developing project topics, guides and materials in sociology.
In-depth
interviews or focus groups may be used at the initial stage of a pilot to
identify the problems that will be covered in a large-scale questionnaire
survey.
The
questionnaire's language, sequence, or possible range of responses to
multiple-choice items may then be piloted. To evaluate the research
methodology, such as the various methods of distributing and collecting the
questionnaires, a final pilot study might be carried out. For instance, this
tendency was observed in a recent study that looked at nurses' and midwives'
views about research especially when conducting research on taxation research project topics and guides. Prior to the research proper, a pilot test of the
questionnaire that had been built from the study's major concerns by focus
groups was conducted.
Pilot
studies may also look for potential issues with carrying out the study approach
practically. For instance, the pilot phase of a recent Scottish research on
maternity care showed that the suggested method of disseminating the surveys
would not be followed. The hospital records department employee in charge of
distributing the surveys determined that it would be wiser to do so via the
community midwives without first contacting the study team.
The Gritty Nitty of a pilot study is to
determine if the instrument—typically, questionnaires—measures what it is
intended to measure (Validity) and, secondly, to determine whether the
instrument will continue to yield the same results when used on the same group
over time intervals (Reliability).
