RT Journal
A1 Kraemer H, Mintz J, Noda A, Tinklenberg J, Yesavage JA
T1 CAution regarding the use of pilot studies to guide power calculations for study proposals
JF Archives of General Psychiatry
JO Archives of General Psychiatry
YR 2006
FD May 1
VO 63
IS 5
SP 484
OP 489
DO 10.1001/archpsyc.63.5.484
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.63.5.484
AB Clinical researchers often propose (or review committees demand) pilot studies to determine whether a study is worth performing and to guide power calculations. The most likely outcomes are that (1) studies worth performing are aborted and (2) studies that are not aborted are underpowered. There are many excellent reasons for performing pilot studies. The argument herein is not meant to discourage clinical researchers from performing pilot studies (or review committees from requiring them) but simply to caution against their use for the objective of guiding power calculations.