Pilot Factorial Experiment — Preliminary Factorial Design

A pilot factorial experiment is a small-scale, preliminary study that employs a factorial structure to simultaneously vary two or more factors across a limited number of experimental units. Its purpose is not to deliver definitive conclusions but to estimate effect sizes, within-group variance, and factor interactions, and to test logistical feasibility before committing resources to a full-scale factorial experiment. It is widely used in behavioral sciences, engineering, agriculture, and clinical research as an essential planning step.