CAIP Canada-PAIM Canada

Moderator Essentials 03-09-2026
2026-03-09 - 2026-03-10 | CRC Research Toronto, 121 Bloor St E, Toronto, ON, M4W 3M5, Canada
Lindsay:
It was amazing! I got way more out of it than I really expected. I feel way more confident about my abilities and the skills I’ve learned and had a chance to practice.

Emma:
I think how immersive the course was is a real selling feature…being able to learn tools and then immediately apply and refine them is a really valuable and impactful experience.

Miriam:
I feel really great! Deborah and Bronwen are great educators. I felt very mentored and safe…I really enjoyed that we got to practice with real life participants. That was beyond what I expected.

If you are an aspiring – or relatively new – moderator looking to acquire the essential skills needed for moderating in-person qualitative focus groups and interviews this course is for you!
The course:

Is hands-on – delivered in-person over 2 days.
Offers generous opportunities to practice moderating skills – you will moderate a real focus group!
Will prepare you in both theoretical and real-life contexts.

What you will take away:

A skillset for powerful questioning and effective listening.
Learn how to ask the right questions, the tools to confidently run in-group exercises, and understand how to manage basic group dynamics.
Valuable skills that are transferrable to user experience (UX) research.
You will design a discussion guide for and moderate a focus group with real participants, putting what you have learned into practice.

Come prepared to engage, have fun and learn all about the essentials of in-person moderation!

Objectives

We will primarily focus our learning and practice on:

Setting yourself up for success before fieldwork
Understanding the elements of good Discussion Guide design
How to introduce a group and build rapport
Asking effective questions and probes
Maintaining the flow of the discussion and keeping it on track
Managing group dynamics, including challenging respondents
Tips for specialized questioning techniques and exercises to elicit deeper responses

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this Moderating Essentials Course, participants will have:

A new skillset that will enable them to understand how, and when, to ask effective questions and probes
A good understanding of some specialized tools and exercises that can enhance in-person qualitative discussions
An understanding of group dynamics and some techniques to overcome typical challenges of in person qualitative discussions

Who is this course intended for?

This course would be well-suited for those with education in market research or at least 1 year experience working in the market research field who are also aspiring moderators (or relatively new moderators) looking to acquire a skillset for moderating in person focus groups qualitative discussions. Participants will ideally have at least observed focus groups in the past.

Instructors

Deborah Klotz has over 15 years experience as an accomplished qualitative research consultant. Her curiosity drives her to explore people’s motivations and behaviours, to understand client businesses and to dig for deep insights.

Prior to joining the CAIP instructor team, she taught moderating skills through the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association (MRIA) and the RD Centre for learning. Deborah is also a frequent guest lecturer for the Humber RAP Program.
Deborah has won multiple awards for her work including the MRIA’s 2015 Research and Excellence Award and the 2016 Emerging Leader Award

Deborah has experience managing a qualitative practice for two full-service research firms and working with a broad range of clients in industries including (but not limited to) Travel & Tourism, Fast-moving Consumer Goods, Financial Services, Professional Services, Technology, Education, Media and Crown Corporations/Government Agencies.

Bronwen Ward believes every person has a unique and interesting story to tell. She values human perspectives and is always seeking to understand underlying motivations that drive human decision making and behaviour. She is an expert at forging connections, allowing people to feel comfortable and relaxed while facilitating deep meaningful discussions.

Bronwen’s wealth of experience in qualitative research crosses many industries and categories. Her skillset provides unparalleled value with both excellence in the details and a keen understanding of the strategy.
Bronwen has taught the Qualitative Research Course for the Georgian College RAP Program and has been a frequent guest lecturer.

Deborah and Bronwen are both passionate about sharing their learning and expertise with others. They both currently work at Upwords, a boutique, qual-focused research consultancy, where they help brands make human connections.

Important Details
Delivery: In-person across 2 full day sessions (please arrive by 8:45am on each day).Size of class: Maximum 8 participants

Rates:
$2800 plus HST for CAIPs and CRIC corporate members$3000 plus HST for non-members

Moderator Essentials 2026 Registration
CRIC Corporate Member? Please contact alana.miski@caip-paim.ca for the discount code.
"*" indicates required fields

Δ

Name*

First

Last

Email*

Job TitleCompany*Country*CanadaUnited StatesOtherAddress*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

AlbertaBritish ColumbiaManitobaNew BrunswickNewfoundland and LabradorNorthwest TerritoriesNova ScotiaNunavutOntarioPrince Edward IslandQuebecSaskatchewanYukon
Province

Postal Code

This field is hidden when viewing the formAddress*

Street Address

Address Line 2

City

State / Province / Region

ZIP / Postal Code

Phone*LinkedIn ProfileCAIP/CRIC Member discountDiscounts are not stackable. If you are a CAIP or belong to a CRIC member company, please reach out to alana.miski@caip-paim.ca to receive a discount code. Moderating Essentials Course

Price:

HST

Price:
$ 0.00 CAD

HST

Price:
$ 0.00 CAD

Total

Credit CardCard Details

Cardholder Name

We’d love to hear from you. Please contact us at info@caip-paim.ca with any comments or questions.

St. Patrick's Day
2026-03-17

Toastmasters
2026-03-19 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-16 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-01 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-11 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Toronto) and 2 more dates | Online
CAIP Canada Toastmasters Club
What is the CAIP Canada Toastmasters Club?
CAIPs can participate in the CAIP Canada Toastmasters Club (aka the Super CAIPs)! We meet virtually bi-weekly for an hour. Join colleagues in a fun, supportive environment where improved public speaking is a by-product.

Gain the public speaking skills you need to communicate with confidence and excellence!

Learn More & Register →

Questions? Please contact us at toastmasters@caip-paim.ca.

Discussion Club
2026-03-27 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-29 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Where CAIPs come together to discuss topical subjects of interest to the Analytics and Insights Industry.
At the end of the month CAIP Canada hosts a gathering of the CAIP Canada Discussion Club. Each month you’ll be invited to read a published article of relevance to the analytics and insights sector. We will then gather as a community to discuss the research.
Don’t worry, there won’t be a test!
This is an opportunity to delve into subjects of interest and concern to us all in a relaxed and informal setting. We hope you are able to make this a regular meeting spot on an ongoing basis!
When is it?
Friday, September 26th, 2025.
Where is it?
The Discussion will take place online via Teams to connect you with CAIPs from across the country.
Why Join?
This is an opportunity to chat with fellow CAIPs from across the country and discuss topical issues relevant to the Analytics and Insights Industry.

Check back for updated Discussion Club topics

CAIP Canada Board Meeting
2026-04-02 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-05-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-06-04 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-07-02 12:00 - 13:00 | Online

Good Friday
2026-04-03

Easter Monday
2026-04-06

CAIP Spring Exam 2026
2026-04-13 | CAIP Exam, Online / In-Person
The primary pathway to earning the CAIP involves pursuing rigorous professional education, obtaining relevant professional experience and passing the comprehensive CAIP Exam that is offered twice annually, in April and October.
Registration deadline for the:

April session is in February
October session is in August

Click on any of the links below to continue:

Why Become a CAIP?
Education Requirements
Experience Requirements

Register for the CAIP Exam
Questions? Suggestions? Contact info@caip-paim.ca.

Victoria Day
2026-05-18

Depth in the Age of Instant Conference 2026
2026-06-15 - 2026-06-17 | The Carlu, 444 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2B3, Canada
Take me to the 2026 CRIC National Conference – Depth in the Age of Instant conference page.

Join us where Canada’s market research community will gather to explore rapid transformation across industries, technology, and public opinion—while staying connected to the human insights that drive decisions and innovation.

National Indigenous Peoples Day
2026-06-21

Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day
2026-06-24

Canada Day
2026-07-01

Civic Holiday
2026-08-03
