Challenges, opportunities and limitations of pilot studies: reflections on a Design Thinking project for knowledge transfer in journalism research

Purpose This article provides insights into the value of pilot studies in facilitating and enhancing knowledge transfer within the broader field of journalism research. It specifically examines the context-dependent challenges, opportunities, and limitations associated with conducting pilot studies. Design/methodology/approach Drawing on a pilot study conducted with German journalism students for a Design Thinking project in 2023, this article proposes a three-phase analytical framework (pre-, main, and post-phase) for understanding how pilot studies facilitate knowledge transfer in journalism research. Findings Pilot studies can strengthen the transfer and co-construction of knowledge, mitigate methodological uncertainty, and thereby foster more rigorous qualitative research designs. Participatory Design Thinking workshops involving journalism students have demonstrated effectiveness in this regard. Originality/value This study extends the limited body of scholarship on knowledge transfer in journalism by introducing a conceptual framework for analysing challenges, opportunities, and limitations of pilot studies. In doing so, it foregrounds pilot studies as a distinctive methodological contribution to advancing qualitative inquiry in journalism research.