The Poster Presentation

Printed Page 258

A poster presentation includes information about a study, an issue, or a concept displayed concisely and visually on a large (roughly 4 feet high by 6 feet wide) poster. Usually, poster presentations follow the structure of a scientific journal article, which includes an abstract, an introduction, a description of methods, a results section, a conclusion, and references (if applicable); see p. 261. Presenters display their key findings on posters, arranged so session participants can examine them freely; on hand are copies of the written report, with full details of the study.

A good poster presenter considers his or her audience, understanding that with so much competing information, the poster must be concise, visually appealing, and restricted to the most important points of the study. Different disciplines (e.g., geology vs. sociology) require unique poster formats, so be sure that you follow the guidelines specific to the discipline.

When preparing the poster: