What is a pilot study? What is it for? What tasks is aimed at?
general information
To begin, let's decide what a pilot study is. This designation is used to refer to test or small search (intelligence) checks of the current state of affairs. So, if you need to clarify the problems, set the task more correctly and put forward substantiated hypotheses, then a pilot study is the best option for this. A special need for it may be in cases where there is no literature on a topic of interest. Then a pilot study is conducted to fill the information gap.
What is it like?
A pilot study is a type of analysis in sociology in which the range of tasks is significantly limited, the number of people surveyed is small, the data are unrepresentative, and the tools and program are extremely simplified. Because of this, the researcher receives only approximate information about what the object of research is. This knowledge is used for general orientation. The main slogan of aerobatic research is cheap, fast and affordable. Therefore, they are used in cases where the problem is either not studied at all, or knowledge of it is very miserable.
How is it carried out?
So, we already know that aerobatic research is a
sociological study. But how is it carried out? There are a large number of different options. The most optimal is an informal interview with potential respondents. But, alas, the subjectivity of people can affect their answers. To correct the data use the supervision of specialists. For this, it can form a focus group. But then you should concentrate extremely on something specific. Quite popular is a survey of experts. They include specialists or ordinary people, but who must necessarily have a certain relation to the problem area, which interests the researcher. As a supplement, you can study the documentation and statistics, where there is the necessary information to confirm / refute the hypothesis or solve the problem. Very popular are express polls. True, they, as a rule, despite their literacy, do not set themselves the solution to deep scientific problems and the development of fundamental science. With their help, the momentary importance of something for society is recognized. At the same time, it doesn’t matter what acts as an object: the election of Trump as the US president, the prohibition of abortion, or something else. Be that as it may - data is obtained in order to superimpose them on larger processes.
About reliability
How much can you trust the information received? Considering that pilot research is a pilot study, this fact alone implies a high share of risks. And if it is still not carried out by specialists, but by a group of fans (which may be the personnel department, magazine, circle, website owner), then in this case, although there is fresh and necessary information, it is, nevertheless, unrepresentative, and its reliability is highly questionable. At first glance, it can be quite reliable. But if you approach from a scientific point of view - then its flaws will open. Therefore, the use of aerobatic research makes sense only if there are no strict requirements for reliability. Initially, the sample should be affected. There are no clear methodological requirements. As a rule, it is believed that a survey of 3 dozen respondents will provide the required information. But at the same time, care should be taken to ensure that among them are representatives of all categories of people who fall under the study. In this case, you need to strive for maximum diversity. In addition, care should be taken to ensure that among the respondents there are people for whom the topic is at least of some significance. The qualifying characteristics are gender, education, age, work experience and other similar criteria.
The Importance of Flight Research
In general, this aspect was considered earlier. Now let's dwell on this in more detail. From the name itself it is clear that the pilot is carried out before the start of the main study. It is necessary in order to verify the validity of tasks and hypotheses. Although it can also be used for methodological testing of tools. If necessary, a pilot study helps to make adjustments to the model, which will improve its work, allow to clarify the characteristics, subject matter, justify financial expenditures and deadlines. Indeed, if a full-fledged monitoring of moods in society is carried out and an error creeps in somewhere, then its presence will be fraught with significant troubles. This approach has a beneficial effect on the issue of saving resources. To test the effectiveness and feasibility of using the available tools, pilot studies can also be conducted. They are also suitable as a dress rehearsal of the main study. In this case, the success of the first stage is checked and the results are evaluated. Also, when researching a new object, this allows you to develop methodological material. Organizational conditions are checked at the same time: how do respondents relate to the survey, are there all the necessary documents and assess the quality of the material. In this case, all difficulties that arise in the course of the case are recorded.
Conclusion
The pilot study itself takes place, as a rule, in groups. The only question is how big they are. There are two most popular options. The first involves inviting all respondents to a separate room where they fill out questionnaires. Before that, people are informed about the aerobatics, their tasks and goals are reported and explained, they inspect the nuances of filling out the questionnaire and are asked to express all comments. The second option relies on small groups of 3-4 people. Moreover, the questionnaires are discussed as they are completed. Of greatest interest to researchers is the quality of the questions asked. In such cases, as a rule, methodological goals provide the greatest interest.