Research (“Scientific Talk”) Presentation

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In the research presentation (also called the “scientific talk” or oral scientific presentation), you describe original research you have done, either alone or as part of a team. The research presentation usually follows the standard model used in scientific investigation and includes the following elements:

  1. An introduction describing the research question and the scope and objective of the study.
  2. A description of methods used to investigate the research question, including where it took place and the conditions under which it was carried out.
  3. The results of the study summarizing key results and highlighting insights to the questions/hypotheses investigated; this is the “body” of the presentation.
  4. A conclusion (also called “Discussion”), in which the speaker interprets the data or results and discusses their significance. As in any speech, the conclusion should link back to the introduction, reiterating the research question and highlighting the key findings.

Checklist: Evaluating Your Original Research Presentation

Have you stated the research question accurately and in a way that will motivate listeners to pay attention?

Have you clearly stated the hypothesis to the research question?

Have you adequately described the study’s research design?

Have you described the methods used to obtain the results and why you used them?

Have you explained and evaluated the results of the study, i.e., the data?

Have you addressed the significance of the study?

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