Poster Presentation of Research

A poster presentation of research is a procedure for presenting research findings that primarily occurs at academic conferences. A poster presentation is a visual form of communication that is used to present and promote one’s own scholarly research. Poster research sessions are a unique way to connect directly with individuals in a manner that makes research understandable and memorable. This style of presentation is often used to reach large numbers of people who may be walking through a hallway exhibit center or attending a specific poster session designed to feature numerous poster presentations of research. Poster sessions are oriented toward presenters who stand rather than sit when presenting their research. Viewing the poster presentation as a “short story” simplifies the understanding of research as individuals engage in one-on-one discussions with authors about their research.

The poster session provides a way to present the major points of a research study in a manner that allows the audience to decide what to read or ignore. The critique of the research by individual viewers allows the authors to be sure that the research study answers the “so what” questions, including the following: What am I adding to the literature? Was my method solid? What did I find in my research? Do my recommendations ring true for an educated and knowledgeable audience? Poster sessions offer an opportunity to obtain feedback from other researchers that often helps the authors move toward publication of their research. This entry outlines the parts of a typical poster presentation and discusses the steps generally involved in a poster presentation’s development.