Pilot tests are used primarily to detect weaknesses in design and instrumentation and to provide proxy data for selection of a probability sample. Forgoing such would result in a faster delivery time of the project, but would possibly weaken the result: one can potentially avoid confusing questions, unanswered/incomplete forms, confusing or offensive questions and so on.

Exploration would give the researcher a better understanding of what he/she is looking for and allow a better or more refined definition of the management question. Omitting this can lead to a misguided or poorly planned research project.