Paper versus speech versus
poster: Different formats for
communicating research
Jane E. Miller, PhD
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Overview
• Three formats for communicating research
results
• Comparison of:
– Format
– Audience interaction
– Contents
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Same project, different formats
• A particular research project is often presented
in several formats:
– As a 20-minute oral conference presentation
– As a research poster
– As a published journal article or report
• Content will be similar
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Similarities between
paper, speech, and poster
• Basic story line describing and investigating a
given research question
• All include written elements
• All include the same major sections
– Introduction and literature review
– Data and methods
– Results
– Discussion and conclusion
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Comparison of format
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences Between formats
• Paper, poster, and speech formats are NOT
interchangeable.
– Don’t simply copy and paste paragraphs from
the paper onto slides or poster pages.
– Don’t lose out on opportunity to answer (and
ask!) questions of viewers at poster session or
presentation.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Aspects that differ across formats
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Type of communication
Extent of audience interaction
Who controls the pace
Form
Length
Style
Formatting
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Oral presentation materials:
Speech versus poster
• Speech: Speaker’s notes (script)
– Full narrative script or
– Selected reminders, coordinated with slides
• Poster:
– Few sentences summarizing main objectives and findings,
spoken to each viewer.
– Brief modules about each major section of the poster,
selected in response to questions from individual viewers.
– Few questions to ask viewers, e.g., to solicit reactions to
your findings, request ideas of research extensions.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Audience interaction:
Speech versus poster
• Speech: Questions and discussion from audience
– Usually limited in a multipaper conference session
– Can be extensive during a longer individual seminar
– Questions from individuals after session
• Poster:
– One-on-one discussion with viewers.
• Responses tailored in response to their questions.
– Potentially extensive, depends on interests of viewers.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Pace, order, and detail of material
• Speech
– Speaker controls the order, pace, and detail at
which material is delivered
• Paper or poster
– Audience controls the pace at which they receive
material
– Can read (or reread) material
– Decide which material to focus on, which to skim
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Form and length
• Paper
– Printed pages
• Research brief ~12–15 double-spaced pages
• Full research paper ~20–30 double-spaced pages
• Speech
– Slides and handouts
• 20-minute conference presentation ~15–20 slides
• Poster
– Printed pages and handouts
• 8’ by 4’ poster ~20 pages
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Style
• Paper
– Full sentences and paragraphs
– Formal essay structure
• Speech
– Bulleted phrases replace full sentences on slides
– Full sentences in spoken narrative
– Simplified tables and charts replace large detailed tables
• Poster
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Full paragraphs in abstract
Bulleted sentences in introduction and conclusion
Bulleted phrases replace in data and methods and results
Charts and tables replace large detailed tables
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Format: Type size
• Paper
 12 point type for text, tables, charts
• Speech slides
 18+ point type for body of slides, tables, charts
 40+ point type for titles
• Poster
 14 point type for body of pages, tables, charts
 20+ point type for titles
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Format: Color
• Paper
– Usually limited to black type on white background
• Speech slides
– Dark background with light text OR clear
background with dark text
– Contrasting color for emphasis (e.g., statistical
significance)
• Poster pages
– Clear or pale colored background with dark color
for most text
– Contrasting color for emphasis (e.g., statistical
significance)
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Text cues to guide viewers
• Paper
– Subheadings within sections
• Name subtopics within literature review or results
• Speech
– Slide titles
• Integrate specific topic, purpose, or finding of each slide
• Poster
– Page titles
• Integrate specific topic, purpose, or finding of each page
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Comparison of contents
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Common research presentation
formats
• These guidelines assume the following
lengths:
– Paper
• 20+ page manuscript, double-spaced
– Speech
• 20-minute conference presentation
– Poster
• 4’ by 8’ poster
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Purpose of the introduction
• Provides a summary of the issue and its
importance
• Specifies the authors’ research question or
hypothesis.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences between formats:
Introduction
• Paper
– Several pages on the issue and its importance
– End with research question or hypotheses
• Speech
– 1-2 slides on the issue and its importance
– End with 1 slide stating research question or hypotheses
• Poster
– 1-2 pages on the issue and its importance
– End with research question or hypotheses
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Purpose of the literature review
• Provides a summary of previous studies on
similar topics and methods.
• Identifies gaps in the literature to be
addressed by the current study.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences between formats:
Literature review
• Paper
 Detailed review and summary of studies with similar
• Topics
• Methods
 Provide a full list of citations at end of paper
• Speech
 1–2 slides of few key studies only
• Tabular summary or bulleted text
• Poster
 1 page on main points from few key articles
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Purpose of the data and methods
• Provides information on:
– Data sources
– Study design
– Variables
– Statistical methods
– Model specifications
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences between formats:
Data and methods
• Paper
 Comprehensive, detailed information that would
allow others to replicate the data collection,
preparation, and analysis
• Speech
 3-4 slides presenting only essential information
about study design, variables, and analytic plan
• Poster
 2-3 pages presenting essential information as for
speech
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Purpose of the results section
• Provides findings using:
– Detailed statistical tables and charts
– Accompanying prose describing research results.
• Ask and answer the research question using
numbers or other types of evidence.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences between formats: Results
• Paper
 Detailed statistical tables and charts
 Prose descriptions of main findings in paragraph form
• Speech
 4–5 slides with simplified tables and charts, either
• Bulleted text annotations, or
• Described in speaker’s notes.
 One major result (or set of related results) per slide
• Poster
 4–5 pages of simplified tables and charts with bulleted
annotations
– One major result or set of related results per page
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Purpose of the
discussion and conclusions
• Relates findings of current study to
– Original research question or hypothesis
– Previous related studies
• Discusses
– Policy implications of findings
– Research strengths and limitations
– Directions for future research
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Differences between formats:
Discussion and conclusion
• Paper
– Several pages to discuss topics on above slide
• Speech
– One slide each of bulleted text for topics on above
slide
• Poster
– 2–3 pages total covering material on above slide
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Summary
• The general content and structure of a paper,
a speech, and a poster about the same
research paper will be similar.
• The three formats differ in terms of
– Length
– Form
• Speeches and posters involve spoken material
and live audience interaction.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Suggested resources
• Chapter 20 in Miller, J.E., 2013. The Chicago
Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis,
2nd Edition.
• Miller, J. E. 2007. “Preparing and Presenting
Effective Research Posters.” Health Services
Research. 42 (1 Part I): 311–28.
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Suggested online resources
• Podcasts on
– Planning a speech and designing effective slides
– Overview of preparing and presenting effective
research posters
– Presenting statistical results to nonstatistical
audiences
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.
Suggested practice exercises
• Study guide to The Chicago Guide to Writing
about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd Edition.
– Problem sets for
• chapter 19, questions #1, 3, 4, and 7
• chapter 20, question #3
– Suggested course extensions for
• chapter 19
– “Writing” exercises #1 and 2
– “Revising” exercises #1 and 3
• chapter 20
– “Writing” exercise #2
– “Revising” exercise #1
The Chicago Guide to Writing about Multivariate Analysis, 2nd edition.