Paper versus speech versus poster: Different formats for communicating research

1. Paper versus speech versus poster: Different formats for communicating research Jane E. Miller, PhD

2. Overview • Three formats for communicating research results • Comparison of: • Format • Audience interaction • Contents

3. Same project, different formats • A particular research project is often presented in several formats: • As a 20-minute oral conference presentation • As a research poster • As a published journal article or report • Content will be similar

4. Similarities between paper, speech, and poster • Basic story line describing and investigating a given research question • All include written elements • All include the same major sections • Introduction and literature review • Data and methods • Results • Discussion and conclusion

5. Comparison of format

6. Differences Between formats • Paper, poster, and speech formats are NOT interchangeable. • Don’t simply copy and paste paragraphs from the paper onto slides or poster pages. • Don’t lose out on opportunity to answer (and ask!) questions of viewers at poster session or presentation.

7. Aspects that differ across formats • Type of communication • Extent of audience interaction • Who controls the pace • Form • Length • Style • Formatting

8. Oral presentation materials: Speech versus poster • Speech: Speaker’s notes (script) • Full narrative script or • Selected reminders, coordinated with slides • Poster: • Few sentences summarizing main objectives and findings, spoken to each viewer. • Brief modules about each major section of the poster, selected in response to questions from individual viewers. • Few questions to ask viewers, e.g., to solicit reactions to your findings, request ideas of research extensions.

9. Audience interaction: Speech versus poster • Speech: Questions and discussion from audience • Usually limited in a multipaper conference session • Can be extensive during a longer individual seminar • Questions from individuals after session • Poster: • One-on-one discussion with viewers. • Responses tailored in response to their questions. • Potentially extensive, depends on interests of viewers.

10. Pace, order, and detail of material • Speech • Speaker controls the order, pace, and detail at which material is delivered • Paperorposter • Audience controls the pace at which they receive material • Can read (or reread) material • Decide which material to focus on, which to skim

11. Form and length • Paper • Printed pages • Research brief ~12–15 double-spaced pages • Full research paper ~20–30 double-spaced pages • Speech • Slides and handouts • 20-minute conference presentation ~15–20 slides • Poster • Printed pages and handouts • 8’ by 4’ poster ~20 pages

12. Style • Paper • Full sentences and paragraphs • Formal essay structure • Speech • Bulleted phrases replace full sentences on slides • Full sentences in spoken narrative • Simplified tables and charts replace large detailed tables • Poster • Full paragraphs in abstract • Bulleted sentences in introduction and conclusion • Bulleted phrases replace in data and methods and results • Charts and tables replace large detailed tables

13. Format: Type size • Paper • 12 point type for text, tables, charts • Speech slides • 18+ point type for body of slides, tables, charts • 40+ point type for titles • Poster • 14 point type for body of pages, tables, charts • 20+ point type for titles

14. Format: Color • Paper • Usually limited to black type on white background • Speech slides • Dark background with light text OR clear background with dark text • Contrasting color for emphasis (e.g., statistical significance) • Poster pages • Clear or pale colored background with dark color for most text • Contrasting color for emphasis (e.g., statistical significance)

15. Text cues to guide viewers • Paper • Subheadings within sections • Name subtopics within literature review or results • Speech • Slide titles • Integrate specific topic, purpose, or finding of each slide • Poster • Page titles • Integrate specific topic, purpose, or finding of each page

16. Comparison of contents

17. Common research presentation formats • These guidelines assume the following lengths: • Paper • 20+ page manuscript, double-spaced • Speech • 20-minute conference presentation • Poster • 4’ by 8’ poster

18. Purpose of the introduction Provides a summary of the issue and its importance Specifies the authors’ research question or hypothesis.

19. Differences between formats: Introduction • Paper • Several pages on the issue and its importance • End with research question or hypotheses • Speech • 1-2 slides on the issue and its importance • End with 1 slide stating research question or hypotheses • Poster • 1-2 pages on the issue and its importance • End with research question or hypotheses

20. Purpose of the literature review Provides a summary of previous studies on similar topics and methods. Identifies gaps in the literature to be addressed by the current study.

21. Differences between formats: Literature review • Paper • Detailed review and summary of studies with similar • Topics • Methods • Provide a full list of citations at end of paper • Speech • 1–2 slides of few key studies only • Tabular summary or bulleted text • Poster • 1 page on main points from few key articles

22. Purpose of the data and methods • Provides information on: • Data sources • Study design • Variables • Statistical methods • Model specifications

23. Differences between formats: Data and methods • Paper • Comprehensive, detailed information that would allow others to replicate the data collection, preparation, and analysis • Speech • 3-4 slides presenting only essential information about study design, variables, and analytic plan • Poster • 2-3 pages presenting essential information as for speech

24. Purpose of the results section • Provides findings using: • Detailed statistical tables and charts • Accompanying prose describing research results. • Ask and answer the research question using numbers or other types of evidence.

25. Differences between formats: Results • Paper • Detailed statistical tables and charts • Prose descriptions of main findings in paragraph form • Speech • 4–5 slides with simplified tables and charts, either • Bulleted text annotations, or • Described in speaker’s notes. • One major result (or set of related results) per slide • Poster • 4–5 pages of simplified tables and charts with bulleted annotations • One major result or set of related results per page

26. Purpose of the discussion and conclusions • Relates findings of current study to • Original research question or hypothesis • Previous related studies • Discusses • Policy implications of findings • Research strengths and limitations • Directions for future research

27. Differences between formats: Discussion and conclusion • Paper • Several pages to discuss topics on above slide • Speech • One slide each of bulleted text for topics on above slide • Poster • 2–3 pages total covering material on above slide

28. Summary • The general content andstructureof a paper, a speech, and a poster about the same research paper will be similar. • The three formats differ in terms of • Length • Form • Speeches and posters involve spoken material and live audience interaction.

29. Suggested resources • Chapter 13 and Appendix B in Miller, J.E., 2015. The Chicago Guide to Writing about Numbers, 2nd Edition. • Miller, J. E. 2007. “Preparing and Presenting Effective Research Posters.” Health Services Research. 42 (1 Part I): 311–28.

30. Suggested online resources • Podcasts on • Planning a speech and designing effective slides • Overview of preparing and presenting effective research posters • Presenting statistical results to nonstatistical audiences

31. Suggested practice exercises • Study guide to The Chicago Guide to Writing about Numbers, 2nd Edition. • Problem sets for • chapter 12, questions #1, 3, 4, and 7 • chapter 13, question #3 • Suggested course extensions for • chapter 12 • “Writing” exercises #1-3 • “Revising” exercises #1 and 4 • chapter 13 • “Reviewing” exercise #1 • “Writing” exercises #1, 3, and 4 • “Revising” exercises #1 and 4