Research Posters

Preparation

To prepare for the oral presentation of your poster you should first summarize and distill your research into a short paragraph statement of no more than twenty words. This paragraph should state the central message of your research. Try writing from memory what your research is about and see if that helps you to be more concise. You can create your summary by asking yourself the following questions:

1. What is the most important thing my research reveals?
2. Who is the audience for my poster? Am I using words and terms that my audience can understand?
3. Have I chosen an introduction that grabs attention so that my audience will want to listen to my poster presentation?
4. Is my presentation bogged down with background information, detailed descriptions, or words and phrases that are redundant?

The Attention Curve

According to research, 90% or more of your audience is listening at the beginning of your presentation and then the curve dips to lower engagement percentages throughout the presentation. So how can you keep them plugged in? It helps to break your presentation into smaller parts. Instead of conceptualizing your presentation as one long flowing talk, think in terms of several smaller speeches that each have a conclusion. Use the right words to bring your mini sections to a conclusion. For example, use words such as finally, to conclude, in conclusion and next, now, to begin, and to start with to end and begin sections of your presentation. This makes content easier to digest and helps to "reset" the listening curve. 

Other Tips

Try to speak in slow measured tones. Excitement and nervousness often change the pace of speech. Never underestimate the power of positive non-verbal communication such as a smile and eye contact! Feel free to use a pointer to point to relevant sections of your poster while you are talking. Don't be afraid to pause mid-speech and welcome newcomers.

You can gauge your audience participation and understanding by pausing to ask questions such as "have I been complete enough in my description?" or "would you like me to go over this section again?" Having handouts such as compilations of your research or business cards is always a good idea. Finally, don't forget to thank your audience for their time and engagement with your research. 

Books

Websites