The process of conducting a pilot study involves several key steps:
1. Define Objectives and Hypotheses: Clearly outline the objectives and hypotheses of your pilot study. 2. Develop a Protocol: Create a detailed research protocol, including the study design, population, sampling methods, and data collection procedures. 3. Seek Ethical Approval: Obtain ethical approval from the relevant institutional review board (IRB). 4. Recruit Participants: Begin with a small, manageable sample size to test the feasibility of your recruitment strategy. 5. Data Collection: Implement the data collection methods as outlined in your protocol. 6. Data Analysis: Analyze the collected data to identify any issues or trends. 7. Refine the Study: Use the findings to refine your research design and methodology for the main study.
