Katseuuring

Katseuuring, or pilot study, is a small-scale preliminary investigation conducted before a full-scale research project. Its main purpose is to test and refine the research design, methods, and logistics to identify potential problems and improve the protocol for the main study. Katseuuring helps researchers assess feasibility, including whether recruitment, data collection, and analysis processes work as planned, without drawing definitive conclusions about the research question.

Key characteristics include a limited sample size, shorter duration, and often a focus on process and measurement issues rather than on definitive effects. It can be non-randomized or randomized and may explore instrument reliability, data management, ethical procedures, and participant burden. Outcomes are typically used to evaluate feasibility criteria and to inform adjustments to the study design for the larger project.

Planning and interpretation emphasize go/no-go decisions, pre-specifying criteria to advance to a full study. Findings from katseuuring are usually descriptive and exploratory, and statistical power is not the priority. Results help determine the appropriate sample size for the main study, refine outcome measures, and improve recruitment strategies, data collection tools, and analysis plans. Limitations include limited generalizability due to small samples and short duration.

Katseuuring is common across research fields, including medicine, social sciences, education, and engineering. It is often encouraged by funders and ethical review boards to ensure that a larger project is viable and well-designed before substantial resources are invested.