Throughout this text we have provided information about how to conduct research and scientifically report results of a study. Developing a well-written manuscript that conveys scientific findings is always an important goal. In addition to writing a manuscript, sometimes researchers present results of a study in a poster session at a professional meeting. These sessions are much like a science fair. Large, movable wallboards or tri-fold poster boards are available for poster display. Attendees are usually walking around, passing posters, and discussing research findings with the authors. In this section we offer practical advice for creating a poster from the research report.
A poster is usually a much more succinct version of the research paper. In general, you should use the APA style guidelines when you develop the poster. However, because of space limitations, your poster will include less information than the paper. So, it is important to create a poster that allows people to quickly identify the key points in your study. Results of the study should be emphasized because people are usually interested in what you found. Specific details are discussed when someone stops to more carefully review your information. In other words, a well-developed poster creates interest and draws people in for further discussion.
Practical Considerations
Technology is continuing to evolve, so opportunities to create interesting posters are expanding. Posters are often produced using one large banner-style printer. Alternatively, a poster is created using PowerPoint© slides and printed on individual sheets. Regardless of how you chose to create your poster, presentation (i.e., PowerPoint) software is useful because templates are often available to help you develop the content.
Usually, the conference organizers impose size restrictions for the poster. In general, you can anticipate having a space that is approximately 4 * 6 feet for available for the poster. Font size is particularly important because people need to be able to read the poster from several feet away. The title of the poster is usually written in 48-point font, headings in 36-point font, and text is usually produced using an increasing smaller font size. Although visual appeal is important, the content of the poster is much more critical.
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