The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Overview of preparing and presenting research posters Jane E. Miller, PhD

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Overview Common pitfalls in poster creation Components of a research poster Poster content and layout Narrative description Handouts

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Research posters misunderstood Poster sessions at conferences are often treated as poor cousins to a speech on the same study – Little thought to how to make an effective poster Lose out on opportunity to learn from visitors – Different people will ask about different aspects policy implications research on your topic with other data or methods research on same data or similar methods with other topics

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Common pitfalls in poster preparation Neglecting to adapt statistical findings for broad, varied audience – Some policy makers and program planners – Some quantitative analysts – Some journalists Failing to communicate how research findings apply to real-world issues – Readers must translate statistical findings themselves – Many won’t take the time or aren’t trained to do so

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. More pitfalls in poster preparation Posting pages from the paper – Tiring for audience to stand and read entire papers at the poster session – Encourages viewers to merely skim your work Neglecting to adapt detailed paragraphs and statistical tables into text bullets and charts – Difficult for audience to quickly grasp key points Failing to devise narrative descriptions – Lose the chance to learn from conversations with viewers

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Posters as a hybrid form Less detailed than a paper on the same research study More detailed than an oral conference presentation More interactive than either a speech or poster – In a speech, you (the speaker) determine the focus of the presentation – At a poster session, the viewers drive that focus See podcast on comparison of paper, speech and poster about the same research project

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Components of a research poster Poster pages to be mounted in conference hall Narrative description Handouts ALL THREE of these elements are important – They complement one another to create an accessible but comprehensive presentation about your study.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Objectives of a research poster Identify two or three main take-home points for your audience. – Design the title, charts, and text to emphasize those points. Tell a clear, simple story – Introduce 2 – 3 key questions that are the focus of your poster. – Provide a brief overview of data and methods. – Present the evidence to answer those questions. – Close with a summary of your findings and their implications for research and policy.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Adapt materials for audience – Convey the purpose, findings, and implications of your research to the expected range of readers. – Provide background on – topic – analytic methods – Present statistical material for a varied professional audience. – See podcasts on slide design adapting statistical results for nonstatistical audiences.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Adapt materials for time – Replace long prose with text bullets. – Adapt detailed tables into charts and simple tables. – Hand out the paper for viewers who want details to read later.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Contents of a research poster Same sections as in a research paper Separate pages for – Objectives – Background – Data and methods (several pages) – Results (several pages) – Discussion and conclusions – Policy implications – Research implications

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Organization of a poster Use the “W’s” (who, what, when, where, why) to organize the major sections of the poster. Introductory section: – What are you are studying? – Why is it important? – How will your analysis add to the literature in the field? Data and methods: – When, where, who, and how were the data collected? – How many cases were involved? – How were the data were analyzed?

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Organization of a poster, cont. Results: – What did you find? Present a few key detailed results in bullets, tables, and charts. Conclusions: – What were your major findings? Implications for policy, program, or practice: – How can it be used to inform practice (e.g., medical), programs, or policies related to the issue? Implications for research: – What do your analyses suggest for future research?

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Number and layout of pages Find out the dimensions of your assigned space. – A 8’ by 4’ bulletin board holds about 20 pages total. – A tri-fold table-top (4’ by 3’) board holds about 12 pages total. For either size poster, arrange the pages into three or more vertical sections. – Viewers can read each section standing in one place while reading left to right and top to bottom. See associated lecture on creating effective slides, which can be adapted as poster pages.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Title and abstract Title should be – Informative so viewers will be attracted to your poster – Large and readable Abstract – Summary of key points about your study Readers will use it to decide whether to read the full poster; Take the time to write an accurate, enticing summary. – Can reword as “What We Learned” See diagram of layout for an 8’ by 4’ bulletin board

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Left-hand panel One-page abstract or brief summary – Provide overview of your work – State your key findings and implications Set the stage for the research question – State why the topic is of policy interest Anticipate policy or program implications – Summarize major empirical or theoretical work – State hypotheses or project aims – Explain how project fills in gaps in previous work

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Middle panel Briefly describe data source, variables, and methods. Present results in tables or charts accompanied by text annotations. Diagrams, maps, and photographs are effective for conveying issues difficult to capture in words. E.g., – Create a timeline to convey timing of different components of a longitudinal study. – Use a schematic diagram of relationships among variables to illustrate causal order. – Create a diagram of the nested structure of a multilevel data set.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Right-hand panel Summarize your findings. – Relate them back to the research question or project aims. Discuss study strengths and limitations. Identify implications of your findings for – Policy – Practice – Programs Suggest directions for future research.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Layout of an 8’ by 4’ poster

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Layout of a tri-fold poster

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Practical considerations Find out how the posters are to be mounted so you can bring appropriate supplies. – For table-top presentations, need tri-fold poster board. – For bulletin board, need push pins, glue stick, or stapler. Allow ample time to pin up pages at conference.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Narrative description of a poster What is a narrative? Why do you need one? Contents of a narrative: – Overview to say to each person who visits your poster – Modules for specific sections of the poster Choose among them in response to individual questions.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Narrative modules Modules to address different aspects of study – Background – Previous studies in the published literature – Study design – Analytic methods – Results: Short module for each results page – Conclusions – Implications for policy, practice, or programs – Implications for future research Questions to engage viewers about their reactions, suggestions.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Why use handouts? To remind readers about your project and how to reach you. To provide detailed – literature review – data and methods – tables of results – citations not included on poster

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Contents of handouts to accompany a poster Your executive summary or abstract with a few key tables or charts. A title page with abstract and your slides, printed several to a page. Include your contact information on either version.

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Practice presenting your poster Prepare and practice your narrative modules so you can say them without consulting notes. Rehearse with a test audience who knows the interests and statistical proficiency of your viewers. – Have them critique contents and layout of poster. – Ask them to: Identify unclear elements of the poster or narrative Flag jargon to be paraphrased or defined Point out issues you haven’t covered in your narrative

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Summary Posters are a unique format ≠ speech Posters allow for extended, conversation with viewers. ≠ paper Poster sessions are live presentations NOT a time for viewers to read a 30-page research paper! Focus on a few key points Create a clear story line Use charts and text bullets to convey points quickly Supplement with handouts and an oral overview

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Suggested resources Chapter 20 in Miller, J. E The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd Edition. Miller, J. E “Preparing and Presenting Effective Research Posters.” Health Services Research 42 (1, Part I): 311–28. Beilenson, J “Developing Effective Poster Presentations.” Gerontology News 32 (9): 6–9. Briscoe, M. H Preparing Scientific Illustrations: A Guide to Better Posters, Presentations, and Publications, 2nd Edition. New York: Springer-Verlag. The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition.

Suggested online resources Podcasts on – Designing slides for a speech – Comparison of paper, speech, and poster – Presenting statistical results to nonstatistical audiences

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Suggested practice exercises Study guide to The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd Edition. – Question #3 in the problem set for chapter 20 – Suggested course extensions for chapter 20 “Reviewing” exercise #1 “Writing” exercises #1 through 5 “Revising” exercise #1

The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2 nd edition. Contact information Jane E. Miller, PhD Online materials available at