2. Do’s, Don’ts, and Whys
Used with the permission of:
Dr. Norine W. Yeung
and Dr. Kenneth A. Hayes
3. Educational Posters
• Used in academia to
promote and explain
research
• Used to introduce a new
piece of research
• Remember the intent of the
project/symposium
5. • Identify and provide a take-
home message or conclusion
- Don’t rely on what you
don’t provide
• Edit ruthlessly
- Find a friend, hit them
- Then have them look
Retention: Two Tips
8. • Use graphs and charts
rather than tables
• General layout
⁻ 20-25% text
⁻ 40-45% graphics
⁻ 30-40% empty space
• Blocks of text should be
1-2 paragraphs
Visual Presentations
9. Wording in a paper:
This project sought to establish the ideal specifications for
clinically useful wheelchair pressure mapping systems,
and to use these specifications to influence the design of
an innovative wheelchair pressure mapping system.
Wording on a poster:
Aims of study:
• Define the ideal wheelchair pressure mapping system
• Design a new system to meet these specifications
Paper vs. Poster
10. 1. Most posters are read left-
right and top-bottom
2. Arrange presentation in
columns
3. Unnecessary to link
sections with arrows or
numbers
Poster Layout
• Most posters are read left-
right and top-bottom
• Arrange presentation in
columns
• Unnecessary to link
sections with arrows or
numbers
14. Title legible from 15-20
feet away (60+ pts)
Primary text legible from 6 ft away (24+ pts)
Secondary text (18+ pts)
Text at a Distance
15. • Pictures, graphs, tables, and
illustrations:
– Use large file sizes
– Small pictures will pixilate
when blown up
• Use Insert menu instead of cut and
paste
• View at 100% to see final results
Inserting Visuals
16. • Problem statement
and research
question(s)
• Context (Literature
Review)
• Significance, scope
and limits
Introduction
18. • Summarize data and analysis
• Use graphs and charts
• Provide captions and titles
– Figure 1: Breakdown of
respondents by ethnic group
(%)
• Directly label graphics rather
than use legends
Results
19. • Discuss the significance of these results:
– Is more work necessary?
– Will your initial data lead to
promising or revolutionary results?
– Should your approach be revised?
Preliminary Results
20. • Implications of research
• Point out problems for
feedback
Discussion/Conclusions
21. • The fewer the better
• Provide a shortened format
– Hayes (2008) Journal of Cryptogastronomy
• Secondary text (20 pts font)
Citations
22. • Pay your dues
• Secondary Text (20 pts)
Acknowledgments
Used in academia to promote and explain researchUsed to introduce a new piece of researchRemember the intent of the project/symposium
Teaching is measured by your audiences ability to perform a hereto unknown function after meeting youIdentify and provide a take-home message or conclusionDon’t rely on what you don’t provideEdit ruthlesslyFind a friend, hit them Then have them look
Use graphs and charts rather than tablesRemember Any Rule Can Be BrokenGeneral layout20-25% text40-45% graphics30-40% empty spaceBlocks of text should be 1-2 paragraphs
Most posters are read left-right and up-downArrange presentation in columnsUnnecessary to link sections with arrows or numbersTalk about billboards!
Pictures, graphs, tables, and illustrations:Use large file sizesSmall pictures will pixilate when blown upUse Insert menu instead of cut and pasteView at 100% to see final results
Discuss the significance of these results: Is more work necessary?Will your initial data lead to promising or revolutionary results? Should your approach be revised? No Preliminary Results Yet?Focus on the projected results:What do you think you might find when your results are complete? Why do you expect this? What significance would such results have?
Implications of researchPoint out problems for feedback
