Scribd
Upload
3K views8 pages

Pilot Study

A pilot study is a smaller preliminary study conducted prior to a larger research project. It is used to test feasibility, evaluate methods and design, estimate variability, and reduce risks. The goals are to improve the quality, efficiency and outcomes of the larger study. Pilot studies allow researchers to identify flaws, refine hypotheses and procedures, and avoid wasting resources on inadequately designed projects before embarking on a full-scale research study.

Uploaded by

jony
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3K views8 pages

Pilot Study

A pilot study is a smaller preliminary study conducted prior to a larger research project. It is used to test feasibility, evaluate methods and design, estimate variability, and reduce risks. The goals are to improve the quality, efficiency and outcomes of the larger study. Pilot studies allow researchers to identify flaws, refine hypotheses and procedures, and avoid wasting resources on inadequately designed projects before embarking on a full-scale research study.

Uploaded by

jony
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Introduction:

Pilot study is a small scale preliminary study


conducted in order to evaluate feasibility, time, cost,
adverse events, and effect size (Statistical variability)
in an attempt to predict an appropriate sample size
and improve upon the study design prior to
performance of a full scale research project.

Objectives
1.Pilot study is a small experiment designed to test logistics
2. Gather information prior to a large study
3. Improve the actual studys quality and efficiency
4.Reveal deficiencies in the design of a proposed
experiment or procedure and these can then be
addressed before time
5. A good research strategy requires careful planning and a
pilot study will often be a part of this strategy

Definition:
A smaller version of a larger study that is conducted to prepare for
that study. A pilot study can involve pretesting a research tool, like
a new data collection method. It can also be used to test an idea or
hypothesis.
Pilot studies are used as feasibility studies, to ensure that the
ideas or methods behind a research idea are sound, as well as to
work out the kinks in a study protocol before launching a larger
study.

Advantages:
1.Carried out before large scale quantitative research in an attempt
to avoid time and money being wasted on an inadequately
designed project.
2.It is a potentially valuable insight and should anything be missing
in the pilot study, it can be added to the full scale (and more
expensive) experiment to improve the chances of a clear outcome.
3.Pilot experiments are used to sell a product and provide
quantitative proof that the system has potential to succeed on a full
scale basis.

4.In social science, pilot studies can be referred to as


small scale studies that will help identify design
issues before the main research is done.
5.It permits preliminary testing of the hypothesis that
leads to testing more precise hypothesis in the main
study. It may lead to changing some hypothesis,
dropping some or developing new hypothesis.
6.It often provides the researcher with ideas,
approaches, and clues you may not have foreseen
before conducting the pilot study

7. It permits a thorough check of the planned statistical and


analytical procedures, giving you a chance to evaluate their
usefulness for the data. You may then be able to make needed
alterations in the data collecting methods, and therefore, analyze
data in the main study more efficiently
8. It can greatly reduce the number of unanticipated problems
because you have an opportunity to redesign parts of your study to
overcome difficulties that pilot study reveals.
9. In the pilot study, the researcher may try out a number of
alternative measures and then select those that produce the
clearest results for the main study.

Limitations:
1.Pilot study is done on a smaller scale. Thus, actual results of the
study may vary from the results of pilot study.
2. Pilot studies, therefore, may not be appropriate for case studies
3. A pilot study is usually carried out on members of the relevant
population, but not on those who will form part of the final
sample
4. A pilot study is normally small in comparison with the main
experiment and therefore, can provide only limited information
on the sources and magnitude of variation of response measures

You might also like