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CREATING A RESEARCH POSTER

Marymount University

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PURPOSE OF A POSTER PRESENTATION

  • Pictorial or graphical illustration of scientific research
  • Presentation usually to a gathered audience of peers and colleagues
  • Sharing of current (in progress) research
  • Propose research ideas
  • Present completed research in a summary format

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POSTER VS. PLATFORM

Posters

  • Visual medium to an individual audience where communication and dialogue can occur
  • Present the most important information

Platforms

  • Oral presentations to a room of listeners
  • Audience is passive with little discussion
  • Limited chance for engagement or Q&A

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CREATING A POWERPOINT SLIDE

  • Open the template or create a new presentation
  • In the “Page Setup” window, make the slide size 24” in width and 18” in height
  • After creating the poster with all important details, save the document as a PDF
  • E-mail the PDF for printing

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THE BASICS OF YOUR POSTER

  • Size: 48” x 36” (width x height)
  • Should be visible from about 3’- 4’ away
  • Font: 0.5” letter height
    • 16-18 pt. font
    • Font type should be easy on the eye and appropriate for a professional presentation
  • Figures: 4” x 6” minimum
  • Drawings and charts: 8” x 10”

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ELEMENTS OF A POSTER

  • Title: 1” to 2” lettering
  • Authors’ names: 1” lettering
    • Usually in italics
    • Include department and university names
  • Introduction
  • Methodology
  • Results
  • Discussion/Conclusion
    • Acknowledgements
    • 1 or 2 key references (is appropriate)

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TITLE

  • Title
    • Exact title of the abstract (Make it interesting!)
    • Font should be 1”-2” high, visible from 20’
  • Institution
    • Name and logo prominently placed at top
  • Author(s)
    • First name, middle initial, and last name
    • Alphabetically organized (besides the advisor’s name which should be at the end, unless otherwise agreed)

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INTRODUCTION

  • Clear, concise statement of the purpose of the poster
  • Short, punchy statements
    • No long-winded sentences
  • Identify what is being addressed
  • Identify the question being asked and why you are asking it
  • Use bullet points

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METHODOLOGY

  • Present the basics of what you did:
    • Design of the study
    • Data source selected
    • Equipment used (if any)
    • Statistics employed
    • Concise, replicable, simple

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RESULTS

  • “Just the facts”
  • Identify key results
    • Remember that you do not have to present every result
  • Present information using:
    • Tables
    • Charts
    • Graphs
    • Pictures
  • Remember: It is a VISUAL display!

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OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

  • Include a descriptive label for each graphic used
  • Include a brief written description of what each graphic represents
  • If it doesn’t help, don’t use it!

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DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

  • Focus is CONCLUSIONS
    • What did you find?
    • How important is it?
    • Parallels and discrepancies with other research
    • Direction for future studies
  • Be concise!

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REFERENCES

  • Report one or two primary references used in the report, or the abstract
  • Please do not include dozens of references in the poster
    • Nobody will want to read these

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TEMPLATE

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GENERAL TIPS

  • Organize materials in either a columnar or counterclockwise fashion starting in the upper left corner
  • Make section headings distinct from the body of the text
    • Add color, color boxes, or different font
  • Use graphics, but only those that are absolutely and add something important to the poster

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PRESENTATION DAY

  • Bring a copy of your original abstract for reference
  • Prepare handouts that highlight key points that you cannot fit on your poster
  • Enjoy the day!

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ANY QUESTIONS?

Please contact Joe Provenzano – jprovenz@Marymount.edu

Slideshow adapted from a presentation delivered by Dr. Jason Craig