title: Guidance for using a pilot study: an example of research on minority children.
abstract: Sound research requires careful definition of the research problem, identification of critical variables and the sources of data for variables, design of procedures and instruments to ensure valid and reliable data, and appropriate and comprehensive data analyses. Additionally, adequate personnel, time, and budgetary resources are required. To help ensure that research addressing minority health issues meets these requirements, this article provides investigators with practical guidance for using pilot projects, not simply as small nongeneralizable studies but also as techniques to address each of these issues. The authors provide examples from real-life research, addressing the health outcomes of minority children who receive care through the Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Selby-Harrington
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sorenson
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010934:Planning Techniques; D015203:Reproducibility of Results