Which of the following describes a key benefit of moderated usability studies compared to unmoderated?

Moderated usability studies are characterized by the presence of a facilitator, which enables a more interactive and engaging process. This guidance allows researchers to ask follow-up questions, probe deeper into participant feedback, and clarify any uncertainties about their thoughts or behaviors during the tasks. The ability to interact with participants in real-time leads to richer data collection as researchers can explore motivations behind users' actions and decisions in a way that unmoderated studies—where participants work alone without supervision—typically do not allow.

In contrast, other options present different aspects of usability studies. For instance, requiring participants to complete tasks in public can introduce performance anxiety, which is not a hallmark of moderated studies. Moreover, moderated studies often involve detailed technical setups to facilitate observations and recordings, which makes the statement about lacking technical needs inaccurate. The idea of freedom to suggest changes may exist in both moderated and unmoderated formats, but the depth of suggestions and the follow-up that can arise during moderated sessions is a distinctive advantage of this approach.