[1][2] Pilot experiments are frequently carried out before large-scale quantitative research, in an attempt to avoid time and money being used on an inadequately designed project.
Although pilot experiments have a well-established tradition, their usefulness as a strategy for change has been questioned, at least in the domain of environmental management.
[6] The use of pilot and feasibility studies to estimate treatment effect is controversial, with ongoing methodologic discussion about appropriateness.
[8] In engineering, a pilot trial may be conducted to understand the design problems, learn the correct technique’s or to capture unknown requirements prior to building a prototype.
It may use prototype parts or simply samples to see which are successful and which are not, prior to more significant development effort.