Cited by 1,012Psychometric Methodologies and TestingHealth Education and ValidationSurvey Methodology and Nonresponse

Initial Scale Development: Sample Size for Pilot Studies

Johanson, George A., Brooks, Gordon P.·2010·Educational and Psychological Measurement

Abstract

Pilot studies are often recommended by scholars and consultants to address a variety of issues, including preliminary scale or instrument development. Specific concerns such as item difficulty, item discrimination, internal consistency, response rates, and parameter estimation in general are all relevant. Unfortunately, there is little discussion in the extant literature of how to determine appropriate sample sizes for these types of pilot studies. This article investigates the choice of sample size for pilot studies from a perspective particularly related to instrument development. Specific recommendations are made for researchers regarding how many participants they should use in a pilot study for initial scale development.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0013164409355692

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Authors
Johanson, G. A., & Brooks, G. P.
Affiliations
Ohio University (US)
Corresponding author
Johanson, George A.
Venue
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Published
2009-12-18
Volume
70
Issue
3
Pages
394-400
ISSN
  • 0013-1644 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-3888
OpenAlex
W1984294110
Cited by
1,012
References
19
Citations by year
2026: 134 · 2025: 115 · 2024: 110 · 2023: 99 · 2022: 89 · 2021: 104 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 67 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 29 · 2014: 25 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 13
FWCI
9.92
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Educational and Psychological Measurement (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
  • Social Sciences › Education › Health Education and Validation
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
Keywords
pilot study, sample size determination, scale development, instrument development, item difficulty, item discrimination, internal consistency, response rate, parameter estimation

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