Humor or Impoliteness? Understanding the Moderator's Role in Focus Group Interviews

Drawing upon the author's personal experience as a focus group moderator, this paper explores the role positioning and practical conflicts of moderators in qualitative research. The study highlights how focus groups depend not only on participants' interaction but also on the moderator's capacity to regulate discussion flow, balance voices, and apply adaptive communication strategies. By reflecting on moments of anxiety, improvisation, and humorous interventions, the paper argues that strategic interruptions and humor, rather than being impolite, can effectively enhance engagement, maintain coherence, and foster collective insight. The article further reflects on the role of the moderator's personality in research, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a dynamic balance between "listening" and "guiding." Such experience not only deepens the understanding of the focus group method but also offers insights for researchers in self-positioning and practice across different contexts.