Getting started as a test moderator

This chapter provides some guidance to moderators who are just starting out. It discusses the attributes of a great moderator, types of testing, moderator (sometimes conflicting) roles, the basics of running a test, and finally some ways to get started quickly as a moderator. To be an effective moderator, one is required to have a firm understanding of what usability testing is all about. One is required to know the following: the purpose of the test that one is moderating (the purpose determines how much and when to interact with participants), and how usability testing differs from other evaluation methods. The emphasis here is on obtaining valid data from a small sample of typical users, and letting the users speak. Fundamental knowledge of usability testing is vital to understand the study material of this chapter. The study discusses the role of a moderator, as one of the things that makes moderating test sessions different from, say, conducting interviews or moderating focus groups is that one must simultaneously fill multiple roles. As a moderator, an individual must be unbiased and neutral with regard to the product, be in control of the session, and be open to and approachable by participants. Getting this mixture of neutrality and attachment right is the challenge of moderating effectively. There are primarily three roles of a moderator as follows: the gracious host, the leader, and the neutral observer.