In terms of physical abilities, there should have been no way that human beings should be the undisputed dominant species on the planet. Pretty much every single animal of similar mass is physically superior. Even when the comparison is whittled down to just the great apes, humanity is still at a massive disadvantage. An athlete with the strictest training, best genetics, and the finest pharmaceutical enhancement is still going to be at a massive disadvantage when compared to a gorilla or even just a chimp. But if humanity does have one thing going for it, it is its brain. Unlike other animals, human beings are more than capable of abstract thought. They can think. They can learn at a much quicker pace. And one method by which they do that requires a bit of trial and error using pilot study equipment.
A pilot experiment is fairly similar to an actual experiment. The main difference is the scale on which is it is performed. While a pilot experiments will generally have hundreds or even thousands of test subjects, a pilot study will have a fairly small pool of subjects.
This is because the purpose of a pilot study is not to find some hitherto unknown knowledge. But rather, to smooth out the edges. In short, it is a rehearsal before the curtains are supposed to go up. Mistakes can be made during this phase so as not to be made when the actual experimentation begins.
The fact of the matter is that the equipment needed will vary based on the needs of the various experiments. Specialized lab gear might also be needed for the natural sciences. But for the most part, there will have to be computers to record and monitor data. Not to mention software to run those computers. The thing is that there really is no concrete guideline for what kind of tools should and should not be used. In fact, a study can be done with a pen and paper.
However, what should be constant are the scientists themselves. They are the driving force behind any experimentation. They are the ones who are ultimately going to be responsible if things go wrong and if things go right.
In some cases, gear should be too difficult to come by. Things like computers and tablets are widely available, as pens and pads of paper. But there will be some stuff that may be a little bit harder to get hands on, such as machines that read and sequence DNA and all that other stuff.
The thing to be done in a pilot study is to be objective. To record and analyze data at a small pool of participants. In effect, it is a dry run for the much bigger show that is to take place later, if the pilot program proves to be successful.
They have to be done for one good reason. Because practice makes perfect. A boxer does not go into the ring during fight night without first having hit the mitts hundreds of times and sparred dozens of rounds. No, they practice, and then they go and do. Scientists are the same way.
The world is hard. But humanity is nothing if not innovative. So it found ways to make it easier.
A pilot experiment is fairly similar to an actual experiment. The main difference is the scale on which is it is performed. While a pilot experiments will generally have hundreds or even thousands of test subjects, a pilot study will have a fairly small pool of subjects.
This is because the purpose of a pilot study is not to find some hitherto unknown knowledge. But rather, to smooth out the edges. In short, it is a rehearsal before the curtains are supposed to go up. Mistakes can be made during this phase so as not to be made when the actual experimentation begins.
The fact of the matter is that the equipment needed will vary based on the needs of the various experiments. Specialized lab gear might also be needed for the natural sciences. But for the most part, there will have to be computers to record and monitor data. Not to mention software to run those computers. The thing is that there really is no concrete guideline for what kind of tools should and should not be used. In fact, a study can be done with a pen and paper.
However, what should be constant are the scientists themselves. They are the driving force behind any experimentation. They are the ones who are ultimately going to be responsible if things go wrong and if things go right.
In some cases, gear should be too difficult to come by. Things like computers and tablets are widely available, as pens and pads of paper. But there will be some stuff that may be a little bit harder to get hands on, such as machines that read and sequence DNA and all that other stuff.
The thing to be done in a pilot study is to be objective. To record and analyze data at a small pool of participants. In effect, it is a dry run for the much bigger show that is to take place later, if the pilot program proves to be successful.
They have to be done for one good reason. Because practice makes perfect. A boxer does not go into the ring during fight night without first having hit the mitts hundreds of times and sparred dozens of rounds. No, they practice, and then they go and do. Scientists are the same way.
The world is hard. But humanity is nothing if not innovative. So it found ways to make it easier.
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