Moderating Usability Tests

126 CHAPTER 9 Moderator–participant arrangements

of the room until the participants say they have completed the task.

In this case, there is a note-taker in another room.

Finally, the moderator can sit across a table from the participant and

watch what the participant is doing on a second monitor. This varia-

tion is useful for situations where the subject of the test is sensitive

and the moderator does not want to appear to be looking over the

participant’s shoulder.

9.2.2 The moderator not in the test room

Sometimes the moderator starts the task and then fi nds an excuse to

leave the room, allowing participants to work on their own. The

note-taker ...