This can make the final quality and or workability of the research questionable. Potential flaws can be discovered and defused in various ways Become familiar with related research Consult with colleagues and experts. This becomes more important with the use of more exotic techniques. Anticipate potential consequences. Create a logical model in your mind and play various techniques against your model.
Pilot studies are like dress rehearsals for research.
Sometimes it is necessary for pretesting and pilots or repetitions of either. Grant agencies can require either for new research or untried populations. Pretesting- fits sample size to existing resources. It also allows an estimate of the variation of the characteristic. An estimate of variation is needed to determine sample size.