Designing Pilot Studies

Designing a pilot study can be a crucial step in refining your research design and ensuring your methods are achievable and effective. This webinar introduces researchers to the purpose, structure, and practical value of pilot studies across qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches.

We’ll explore how pilot studies can test and refine instruments, procedures, and data collection plans; how they inform triangulation in mixed methods research; and how they contribute to the overall credibility of your findings. Participants will learn how to integrate pilot work into their broader research design, ensuring that it is methodologically sound, ethically robust, and clearly aligned with their study objectives.

The session will also address ethical considerations unique to pilot studies, including participant engagement and informed consent, as well as strategies for managing complexity and feasibility. By the end of the webinar, attendees will have a clear understanding of how to design, conduct, integrate, and report on a pilot study that strengthens both their confidence and the integrity of their research.