the art and the science of moderating discussions

The art and the science of moderating online discussions23 February 2012

Presenter

Ray PoynterExecutive Vice President

MC

Daniel Alexander-HeadVice President Marketing

The webinar will start at 3pm UK time

The art and the science of moderating online discussions23 February 2012

Presenter

Ray PoynterExecutive Vice President

MC

Daniel Alexander-HeadVice President Marketing

Agenda

1. Types of discussion

2. The aims of moderation

3. Key strategies

4. The link between analysis and moderation

5. Five Tips

Types of Discussions

Naturally Occurring

Social networks

Microblogging

Interest communities

Comment fields

Review sites

Chat in games

Purposed Discussions

Online Focus Groups

Bulletin Board Focus Groups

Post Survey Forum

MROCs

Community Panels

3 Key Distinctions

1. Synchronous vs Asynchronous

2. Time

Short (1 to 2 hours)

Medium (1 to 7 days)

Long (1 to 12 weeks)

3. Process

Every member comments on every question

Discussion model

OLFG and BBFG

Plenty of notes already exist

Have a detailed discussion guide before you start

Basic model = question and answer– 2 moderators for OLFG

Advanced model– Homework

– Sub-groups

– Creative tasks

– Collaborative tasks

– Blogging, commenting, and tagging

MROCs Community Panels

Community Discussions

Survivor Bias & Community

Moderation

Because it has usually worked in the past does

not mean

1. It is the best way

2. It is better than the way others are moderating

3. It will work for other people (there may be

things you are doing you are not aware of)

4. It will work for you in the future

Day Target Tasks

1 Welcome and

context setting

Describe family and do a pantry audit, ideally with photos

2 Reasons for multi-

pack storage

Why do we have multiple packs of some items in the home?

Explore types of food, retailer vending, faster usage, stand-by,

long shelf life

3 Items not in multi-

pack storage

What sorts of items would you not have in multiple packs in

your home? Probe why?

Explore whether other types of people might have them,

what types?

4 Types of pasta There are many types of pasta, in terms of content, shape,

and cooking time. Why might some people have more types

in their pantry than others? What sorts of people have what

sorts of pasta, and bigger and smaller ranges.

5 4 pasta proposals Here are four ideas that are being reviewed for pasta. What

are you thoughts about them. Explore likes, dislikes,

suggestions, and user stereotypes.

Preparation

Highlight what

you want

Lists

Audits

Stories about themselves

Start Simple

Highlight what

you want

Deal with off-topic

posts quickly

Keep members

busy

Keeping the discussion busy

Probe

Throw topics open to the crowd

Praise new posts

Email/message/sms people to start/return

Highlight what

you want

Deal with off-topic

posts quickly

Keep members

busy

Provide alternative

space for members’

topics

Reward ‘good’

behaviour

Stamp on

abuse

Safety and Ethics

Client, member, and researcher safety

Dealing with abuse

Codes of conduct

Data protection legislation

Other legislation

– Children and other vulnerable groups

– Gambling and lotteries

– Distance selling

Analysis and Moderation

Narrative

Link findings to text

Member checking

Tag and code

Start at start

Model CAQDA

5 Top Tips

1. Most research discourses will be with the moderator

2. Have a clear plan, a community version of a focus group discussion guide

3. Intervene enough to direct the conversation and to create the right depth of response

4. Email/message/SMS people at start and when more feedback required

5. Start the analysis at the beginning of fieldwork

Thank You

Q & A

Ray PoynterExecutive Vice President

Daniel Alexander-HeadVice President Marketing