The Moderator's Survival Guide

Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research

By
  • Donna Tedesco, Senior Usability Specialist, Fidelity Investments, USA
  • Fiona Tranquada

Managing a user research session often requires the same skills as a circus ringmaster - creativity, flexibility, and a sense of humor. Whether you’re new to moderating or have years under your belt, this book provides a toolbox for dealing with the common (and uncommon) situations encountered before, during, and after running a user research session.

Moderating One-on-one Research describes the principles that should always guide your interactions with participants, from a real-world perspective. The authors provide you with examples of how to apply these principles across a variety of situations throughout the user research process, from technical difficulties to emotional outbursts to awkward interactions. You’ll find advice on both what to say and what to do so you can move forward with a successful session. Regardless of the type of user research, after reading this book, you’ll have the confidence to gracefully handle anything that gets thrown your way!

Paperback, 256 Pages

Published: October 2013

Imprint: Morgan Kaufmann

ISBN: 978-0-12-404700-6

Contents

  • Ch 1: Introduction / Preface

    Ch 2: Best Practices - Our philosophy of moderating

    Ch 3: Prepping for and Starting the Session

    Ch 4: Handling Session Disruptions

    Ch 5: Keeping the Session on Track

    Ch 6: Comforting Upset, Sad, and Unempowered Participants

    Ch 7: Dealing with Defensive and Troublesome Participants

    Ch 8: Confronting Awkward and Inappropriate Emotions

    Ch 9: Sharpening Your Skills

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