ABSTRACT
A pilot study is a small-scale study conducted to test the plan and method of a research study (Ballman, 2008). A pilot investigation is conducted preparatory to a subsequent, adequately powered study (Conn, Algase, Rawl, Zerwic, & Wyman, 2010) and is designed to try out, evaluate, and select the methods to be used in the larger study (Polit & Beck, 2012). Pilot studies are increasingly important in nursing research because they contribute knowledge about the feasibility and acceptability of research methods and because pilot data are needed to justify use of specific methods proposed in applications for full-scale investigations.
