The Moderator’s Survival Guide: Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research 1st Edition

http://www.amazon.com/Moderators-Survival-Guide-Handling-Situations/dp/0124047009

	|	5 out of 5 stars	|	1 customer review

Book Description

The Moderator’s Survival Guide is your indispensable resource for navigating the rocky shoals of your one-on-one user research sessions. Inside, you’ll find guidance for nearly 100 diverse situations (ranging from business-as-usual to tricky and sticky) that might occur during usability studies, contextual inquiries, or user interviews.

As a moderator, you are responsible for the well-being of the participant, your study, and your organization. You must be prepared for anything that may happen, from your technology failing to the participant quailing. Use this guide to identify your best next steps, react appropriately, and survive any challenges that comes your way.

Product Description

“…guide to the moderating role played by researchers in product user research…Eighteen “survival stories” are included throughout the book, narrated by user researchers who have handled unexpected or awkward situations with study participants. Appendices consolidate recommendations of specific phrasing…"–ProtoView.com, April 2014 “This is a sample chapter from Donna Tedesco and Fiona Tranquada’s new book, The Moderator’s Survival Guide: Handling Common, Tricky, and Sticky Situations in User Research. 2014 Morgan Kaufmann."–UXmatters.com, April 7, 2014

The Moderator’s Survival Guide is your indispensable resource for navigating the rocky shoals of your one-on-one user research sessions. Inside, you’ll find guidance for nearly 100 diverse situations (ranging from business-as-usual to tricky and sticky) that might occur during usability studies, contextual inquiries, or user interviews including:

As a moderator, you are responsible for the well-being of the participant, your study, and your organization. You must be prepared for anything that may happen, from your technology failing to the participant quailing. Use this guide to identify your best next steps, react appropriately, and survive any challenges that comes your way.

Customer Reviews

A Wonderful Handbook for New and Experienced User Researchers!

	|	By C. Wilson on November 9, 2014

Moderating usability tests and other user research sessions requires a keen ethical sense, sharp interviewing skills, a mix of flexibility and consistency, product knowledge, and a sixth sense about how to deal with unusual situations. I’ve been doing testing and research for nearly 40 years and wish this book had been written about 39 years ago so I could have a better sense of how to deal with participants who were nervous, eccentric, bored, and challenging. As I read through The Moderator’s Survival Guide, I was amazed at how well the authors captured things that I have encountered over my long career in the field. There are many blog articles that give bits of advice, but this book, is an encyclopedia of tips and techniques, all in one place. I liked the checklists, videos, and survival stories which directly support learning and training. I’ve taught short courses and graduate courses on usability testing and user research and would consider this a key reference and a way to accelerate the learning curve of those new to the field and a way to sharpen the skills of experienced researchers.