Pilot study

Pilot Study

A pilot study is a small-scale, preliminary study conducted in order to evaluate feasibility, duration, cost, adverse events, and improve upon the study design prior to performance of a full-scale research project. They are used in a range of fields and research disciplines, including medicine, psychology, sociology, and marketing.

Purpose

Pilot studies serve several important purposes. They can be used to test the feasibility of large, costly full-scale studies. They can also be used to test the design of the research proposal to ensure it is sound before implementation. This can provide valuable information about the potential challenges and obstacles that may arise during the main study, allowing for the design or methodology to be refined accordingly.

Types of Pilot Studies

There are several types of pilot studies. These include:

• Feasibility Studies: These are used to determine whether the main study can be done. They may also be used to identify potential problems with the proposed study design.

• Pilot Trials: These are smaller versions of the main study and are used to test whether the components of the main study can all work together.

• Pre-testing: This is a method used to test out the procedures and protocols of the study on a small number of subjects before the main study.

Benefits and Limitations

Pilot studies have several benefits. They can help to determine the feasibility of the main study, identify potential problems with the study design, and provide valuable information about the potential challenges and obstacles that may arise during the main study.

However, pilot studies also have limitations. They may not be representative of the population as a whole, and their small size means they may not provide a reliable indication of what will happen in the main study.

See Also

• Clinical trial
• Feasibility study
• Pre-testing
• Research design

References

Pilot study Resources
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