Designing and Interpreting Pilot Studies: A Primer and Guide for Social and Behavioral Health Researchers

Despite the research benefits and cost savings pilot studies offer, such studies have been the exception rather than the rule in social science research. This article provides a primer and guide to pilot studies and posits the case that their systematic use is critical to rigorous social science research. Pilot study benefits include refinement of research questions, establishing goals, and providing a rehearsal study to (a) identify problems, (b) determine and implement potential solutions, and (c) improve the main study. Beyond their utility to improve scientific rigor, pilot studies have practical benefits, including cost savings and reductions in time and work required to complete a study. Human participants bring complexity, diversity, and environmental embeddedness to scientific research, qualities that create variability and sensitivity not fully recognized during the design stage. When confounding elements are not identified and managed at the outset, the integrity of the main study findings is at risk.