1) A pilot study is a smaller preliminary version of a larger proposed study used to test feasibility and improve design prior to undertaking a full research project.
2) Pilot studies help evaluate aspects like study timelines, resources needed, and participant recruitment and retention.
3) The results of a pilot study are not intended for hypothesis testing or demonstrating efficacy, but rather to refine methods and design for a larger study.
3. 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.
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4. • 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.
Definition:
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5. 1. Pilot study is a small experiment designed to test logistics
2. Gather information prior to a large study
3. Improve the actual study’s 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
Objectives
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7. 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.
Advantages:
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8. 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
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9. 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.
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10. 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
Limitations:
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11. Summary
A pilot study can be used to evaluate the
feasibility of recruitment, randomization,
retention, assessment procedures, new
methods, and implementation of the novel
intervention.
A pilot study is not a hypothesis testing
study. Safety, efficacy and effectiveness
are not evaluated in a pilot.
It may be advisable to carry out another
pilot study if changes have been made in
the instrument(s) or in the research
procedures
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