SayPro PILOT STUDIES AND PRE-TESTS

It is difficult to plan a major study or project without adequate knowledge of its subject matter, the population it is to cover, their level of knowledge and understanding and the like. What are the issues involved? What are the concepts associated with the subject matter? How can they be operationalised? What method of study is appropriate? How long the study will take? How much money it will cost? These and other related questions call for a good deal of knowledge of the subject matter of the study and its dimensions. In order to gain such pre-knowledge of the subject matter of an extensive study, a preliminary investigation is con-ducted. This is called a pilot study.Pre-testMeaningWhile a pilot study is a full-fledged miniature study of a problem, pre-test is a trial test of a specific aspect of the study such as method of data collection or data collection instrument – interview schedule, mailed questionnaire or measurement scale.Need for Pre-testingAn instrument of data collection is designed with reference to the data requirements of the study. But it cannot be perfected purely on the basis of a critical scrutiny by the designer and other researchers. It should he empirically tested. As emphatically pointed by Goode and Hatt, “no amount of thinking, no matter how logical the mind or brilliant the insight, is likely to take the place of careful empirical checking”. Hence pre-testing of a draft instrument is indispensable. Pre-testing-means trial administration of the instrument to a sample of respondents before finalising it.Purposes of Pre-testingPre-testing has several purposes: (1) to test whether the instrument would elicit responses required to achieve the research objectives, (2) to test whether the content of the instrument is relevant and adequate, (3) to test whether wording of questions is clear and suited to the understanding of the respondents, (4) to test the other qualitative aspects of the instrument like question structure and question sequence, and (5) to develop appropriate procedure for administering the instrument with reference to field conditions.Please visit our website at www.saypro.online Email: info@saypro.online Email: info@saypro.online Call: + 27 11 071 1903 WhatsApp: + 27 84 313 7407. Comment below for any questions and feedback. For SayPro Courses, SayPro Jobs, SayPro Community Development, SayPro Products, SayPro Services, SayPro Consulting, and SayPro Advisory visit our website to www.saypro.online