A good moderator should be:

A good listener.  Moderators often hear sensitive or painful topics and may hear opinions they do not agree with. A good moderator listens, nods her head and maintains eye contact with all group participants. It is important also to allow for silences after a question has been asked, and allow participants time to think and form answers.

A good observer. To ensure that everyone in the group has a chance to speak, a good moderator will watch for clues that participants are ready to speak. Body language such as raising eyebrows, clearing the throat and leaning forward all indicate that someone may need to be called on if he or she is having trouble getting into the discussion.

Reactive. Occasionally, unforeseen events can happen in focus groups. Emotional outbursts, ganging up on one person, irrelevant tangents and domineering personalities can all influence a focus group and affect the outcome. A good moderator should move the conversation along, guide it back on target and bring a domineering participant under control. In extreme cases, a moderator may ask a participant to leave the group if he or she is too disruptive.

Documenting

What goes on in a group can be documented in three ways: audio or video taping the group; taking notes; or observing the group and then debriefing. Each has different benefits and different costs.

Audiotaping reproduces verbatim what happened in the group. So does videotaping. Each can be a source for transcripts that can be used to analyze the focus group. The moderator can also review the tapes themselves when preparing a focus group report. Audiotaping is much less expensive than videotaping. Audio and video tapes are also very easily shared with select members of the research group who could not observe the focus group.

Videotaping is rarely done outside of commercial settings, but it has the advantage of showing the facial expressions and interaction among participants as well as capturing verbatim responses. It can be expensive; it requires a skilled operator; and it may pose additional difficulties in protecting the confidentiality of participants.Written notes provide a very inexpensive record of a focus group.

Written notes should be taken by a staff person who attends the focus group but does not participate. They should NOT be taken by the moderator. Written notes are limited in detail and represent one person’s interpretation of what was said. Notes too can be shared with colleagues and used as the basis of a focus group report. Written notes are helpful even if the group is audio- or videotaped.

Debriefing

Sometimes, particularly when time is of the essence and resources are tight, a moderator will debrief with observers and research staff immediately after the group and no further analysis will be conducted. While this is fast, it leaves no verbatim document of what transpired in the group. Research staff can and should make a report based on a verbal debriefing with the moderator so that some record of the group is available for future reference.

Good Questions, Better Answers --  � 1998 California Department of Health Services and
Northern California Grantmakers AIDS Task Force  -- http://www.goodquestions.com