preliminary study
Early investigative groundwork
A preliminary study is research conducted before a larger investigation, designed to test methods, identify problems, or determine feasibility.
In academic and scientific contexts, it's often called a pilot study: The preliminary study revealed flaws in our questionnaire design.
Results help researchers refine their approach before committing significant resources to full-scale work.
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- proof of conceptDemonstration of feasibility
- trial balloonPreliminary test of opinion
- dry runPractice session beforehand
- test runPreliminary performance check
draft · first draft · sketch · exploration · groundwork · feasibility · proposal · outline · testing · prototype · hypothesis · initial assessment · reconnaissance · scoping · fact finding · foundation · tentative · initial
- Prep Trainingprep course, basic training, prerequisites, fundamentals, basics
- sketchessketch, pencil drawings, charcoal sketches, quick sketch, ink sketches
- Testing the watersprobing, easing in, tiptoeing, trial balloon, baby steps
preliminary, preliminarily, study, studies, studied, studying, studious, studiously, student