Understand the roles in a Moderated session.
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Open interview (No tasks): All plans
Structured interview (With tasks): Essentials, Professional, International, and Premium
👥 User roles: Owner, Admins, Researchers, and Collaborators
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On this page:
Moderator
- Is a required role
- 1 to 5 people per study: We recommend one moderator per session to avoid confusing participants.
- Needs a UserZoom login and the ability to access the study
- Goes through System TechCheck
- Is seen and/or heard by everyone
- Join session: Moderators have to start the session and admit Participants.
-
Features:
- Chat in 2 tabs
- First tab: Participant only
- Second tab:
- Moderators
- Notetakers
- Observers
- Share their screen
- Take and see notes
- Join via Desktop
- Webcam:
- The Moderator is seen unless they turn off their own camera.
- Can switch cameras under Settings.
- Can also turn off the Participant’s camera.
- Audio:
- Heard by everyone
- Can mute/unmute themself, Participants, and Note Takers
- Can switch audio to their phone (Settings > Audio > Switch to phone), but still have to be connected to the session in the original browser.
- Chat in 2 tabs
Participants
- 1 required (with a maximum of 1 per session)
- Is seen and/or heard by everyone
- Join the session:
- Via Desktop or mobile depending on the study configuration
- Stays in the Waiting Room until the Moderator admits them
-
Features:
- Chat with Moderators only
- Switch cameras under Settings.
- Audio:
- Heard by everyone
- Can mute themself
- Can switch audio to their phone (Settings > Audio > Switch to phone), but still have to be connected to the session in the original browser.
- Share their screen
Notetaker
- Not required
- Needs a UserZoom login and the ability to access the study
- Goes through System TechCheck
- Is hidden from the participant (unless they unmute themself)
- Join the session:
- Via Desktop only
- Can join at any time
-
Features:
- Audio:
- Can mute/unmute themselves (Keep in mind that participants don't know they're there.)
- Can switch audio to their phone (Settings > Audio > Switch to phone), but still have to be connected to the session in the original browser.
- Chat:
- See chat in 2 tabs
- First tab: Moderator's chat with Participants is read-only
- Second tab: Can chat with:
- Moderators
- Notetakers
- Observers
- See chat in 2 tabs
- Take and see notes
- Audio:
Observer
- Not required
- Doesn't need a login
- Is hidden from the participant
- Join the session:
- Via Desktop only
- Stays in the Waiting Room until the Moderator admits the Participant
-
Features:
- Their microphone and webcam are not connected.
- Can only watch the session
- Chat:
- See chat in 2 tabs
- First tab: Moderator's chat with Participants is read-only
- Second tab: Can chat with:
- Moderators
- Notetakers
- Observers
- See chat in 2 tabs
Roles and Features reference chart
Feature | Moderator | Notetaker | Observer | Participant |
Attendees allowed per session |
Moderated session headcount total is 50. This includes:
|
|||
Requires Login | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Go through System Check | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Video (on webcam) |
|
Can't be seen by anyone in the session | Can't be seen by anyone in the session |
|
Speaker (audio) | Yes | Can unmute themselves and be heard by the participant (who won’t know they are there) | Can't be heard by anyone in the session | Yes |
Can switch audio to mobile phone | Yes: Settings > Audio > Switch to Phone (Must keep the browser window open. If you close the browser, you will be disconnected from the session.) |
|||
Mute | Can mute themself, Note Takers, or the Participant | Can mute themself | N/A - can't be seen or heard by anyone | Can mute themself |
Take notes in UserZoom | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Chat |
2 tabs:
|
2 tabs:
|
2 tabs:
|
Chat with Moderator |
Join session | Moderator starts the session and admits others | Can join the session at any time | Stays in the Waiting Room until admits the participant | Stays in the Waiting Room until admitted by the Moderator |
Share screen | Yes | No | No | Yes |
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