Question

What is the role of the moderator in a focus group?

a) To stimulate discussion and keep the conversation on track
b) To ask leading questions and dominate the discussion
c) To sit away from the group and observe their behaviour
d) To evaluate the group's performance on a particular task

Answer 1

The moderator's main tasks in a focus group include stimulating discussion, ensuring the conversation stays on track, avoiding bias, and encouraging diverse input from all participants.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of the moderator in a focus group is to stimulate discussion and keep the conversation relevant and on track. The moderator facilitates the flow of conversation, encourages participation from all members, and ensures that the discussion remains focused on the predetermined topics related to the study or research. It's critical that the moderator does not ask leading questions or dominate the discussion, as this could bias the results. Instead, they should be neutral and help bring out a wide range of perspectives, while also managing the group dynamics. The purpose is not to observe silently or to evaluate the group's performance on a task, but to actively engage the group in a productive dialogue.