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Paper versus speech versus poster: Different formats for communicating research

Learn the nuances of presenting research in paper, speech, and poster formats. Compare audience interaction, content, and style across formats to effectively convey your research findings. Discover how to tailor your message for each format. Explore the distinct characteristics of papers, speeches, and posters in terms of communication approach, audience engagement, and presentation style.

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Paper versus speech versus poster: Different formats for communicating research

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  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

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