What is one key purpose of conducting a pilot study?

Conducting a pilot study primarily serves the purpose of testing the feasibility of the research design. By implementing a smaller-scale version of the main study, researchers can identify potential issues and challenges with their methodology, participant recruitment, data collection processes, and other logistical aspects before committing significant resources to a full-scale research project. This preliminary testing is crucial as it helps refine the research procedures and ensures that the study is practical and effective in achieving its objectives.

While establishing a theoretical framework and analyzing data quantitatively are important components of research, they are not the primary focuses of a pilot study. Additionally, although assessing participant engagement may be a part of the pilot process, it is not the primary aim; rather, the overall goal is to ensure the research design itself is robust and feasible for the larger study.