Pilot studies are small-scale, preliminary research studies or trial runs that are conducted in survey research or other research methodologies before the main study is carried out. The purpose of a pilot study is to test and refine the research design, instruments (such as questionnaires or interview guides), and procedures to identify any potential problems, ambiguities, or flaws before investing more time and resources in the full-scale study. Pilot studies can help researchers to assess the feasibility of their research methods, estimate the time and resources needed for the main study, and make necessary adjustments to improve the quality and validity of the final results.