Insights at the Crossroads: Reflecting on the Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons Learnt from my Pilot Study

This article discusses the importance of a pilot study in undertaking qualitative research, in line with reflexive approach. The pilot work was conducted in preparation for a thesis examining the integration and impact of Write&Improve system on Malaysian ESL secondary school teachers’ writing assessment literacy and their pedagogical practices within a technology-enhanced writing instruction context. This reflection highlights the benefits of pilot studies by detailing the practical and methodological challenges faced during the pilot phase and the subsequent adjustments made for the main study. Doing the pilot study proved to be valuable in three ways. These include: (1) facilitating essential adjustments that resulted in a satisfactory procedure for the main study, (2) deepening the researcher’s understanding of practical and contextual challenges, thereby enhancing methodological rigour and maintaining ethical standards, and (3) fostering reflective practice that contributes to researcher’s professional growth as a postgraduate researcher.