You are new to usability testing . In this case, it is better to first practice on a task that can be postponed if necessary.
You are not familiar with the subject of testing . If you are working with a website dedicated to, say, rockets or nuclear physics for the first time and are not familiar with the field, pilot testing will help you prepare. You can also familiarize yourself with the topic and terminology, for example, by talking to experts: designers, developers, etc.
You are conducting remote testing . In this case, it is necessary to greece phone number data test all tasks to reduce the risk of possible misunderstandings. If you are conducting daily test reports, conducting an unmoderated study, or communicating via email, then all communication - from receiving information to confirming emails for answering questions - should be pilot tested. Specific instructions are needed, otherwise no one will be able to answer questions or clarify if a participant has a problem.
You are conducting a quantitative study. Large studies usually involve calculating statistically significant results, so sessions should be conducted in the same way, which requires a well-tested script.
You are testing a particularly important project. Even after years of working in usability, there are still projects that require special attention: for example, if the results are sent directly to the CEO, or if the company's core product is being tested. Of course, all projects are important, but some are a little more important than others.
The study is conducted only once. When you run the same test over and over, it is not so scary to make a few mistakes - you will correct them during subsequent checks. But if the study is conducted only once, there is no room for error.
Even experienced testers can benefit from pilot testing. The more you work in a field, the better you can describe the tasks, but it’s a good idea to test the research plan before participants arrive. Do all tests require pilot runs? No, but it’s an additional insurance that everything will go smoothly.