GREAT Symposium,
Melissa S. Medina, Ed.D.
Assistant Dean for Assessment & Evaluation & Associate Professor
University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy
February 2, 2011
“Creating GREAT Research Posters”
Objectives
1. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a sample poster
2. Review 6 specific categories of design considerations for an effective poster
3. Identify the 7 sections that a poster should contain
4. Create a poster using session guidelines
I.
Creating Effective Posters
A.
Three main requirements for GREAT posters (Welch & Waehler, 1996)
1. Aesthetically pleasing visual presentation
2. Effective communication of ideas
3. Engaged presenter characteristics
B.
Steps for Poster Creation
1. Step 1
a. Consider printing options at initial planning stage
1.
Printing deadline considerations for drying and unforeseen problems
a. Give yourself at least a week lead time
2.
Call Photographic services on OKC campus (LIB-142: 405-271-2173)
3.
Poster size/dimensions – consider “photograph” size
a. 3x5 (36x60)
b. 4x6 (48 x 72)
c, Priced by dimension/size
b. Select poster color template (a poster template is provided for today’s talk)
http://www.ouhsc.edu/gsa/Workshops2009.asp
1.
2.
Typically created on PowerPoint
Selecting colors for background
a. Use a light background with dark text to improve readability.
b. Limit the number of colors to 4 (including black and white).
c. Color options to consider
1. Cool colors such as blue, green, purple and gray recede and should be
used as backgrounds/borders
d. Colors options to avoid
1. Red text on a blue background is blurry. Blue text on a red background
is also blurry.
2. Black text on a blue background is hard to read.
3. Yellow text on a white background is hard to read.
2. Step 2
a. Identify poster sections to include
1. Banner
a. Title, Author’s Names, Professional Titles and Institutional Affiliations
b. Ensure that college and university seals are approved for use.
2. Abstract
a. Section many want to read, but can be redundant and possibly eliminated
b. Do not eliminate entirely, instead, offer the abstract to colleagues as a handout with
your name, affiliation and other contact information located on it.
3. Introduction
a. Need to state hypothesis or objectives of study (may have as a separate section)
b. Explain importance of question(s) in study
c. May include reference to any historical studies related to your research (only very
pertinent studies, can’t include y our entire literature review)
4.
Method/Study Design
a. Explain participant selection, number of participants and demographics of
participants
b. Include explanation of control procedures or inclusion/exclusion
c. Explain the steps of data collection
d. Include explanation and or illustration of study tools used to collect data
(questionnaires or tests).
Caution
 Many poster creators spend too much time and emphasis on their introduction and methods
 A majority of the poster should communicate the research findings & the interpretation of those findings
5.
Results
a. Report statistical tests used, how data was analyzed (i.e., SPSS or SAS) and what
results were
b. Include tables, charts, diagrams, pictures (with appropriate statistically significant
results indicated)
6.
Discussion/Conclusions/Future Directions
a. When reporting or drawing conclusions, pay close attention to the questions
presented in the hypothesis/objectives – consider alignment in reporting
b. Discuss theoretical and clinical significance of results and implications of results
7.
References
a. All information from other sources used in the poster must be referenced
b. Can be typed in a smaller font
3. Step 3
1.
Design considerations for GREAT posters
a. Intentionally consider the goal of your poster and structure accordingly.
1. Design poster to address one central question and state that question clearly.
2. Provide an explicit take home message.
3. In a room full of posters, consider the visual impact needed to attract viewers.
b. Poster flow
1. The best posters generally follow the guidelines of a published paper.
2. There is an implied flow from top to bottom and left to right.
3. Consider 4 columns – intro, methods, results, discussion
c. Amount of content/text
1. Keep large blocks of text to a minimum, avoid large paragraphs.
2. Information is presented as concisely as possible, since space is limited.
3. Use the active voice
4. Consider using bullets for your statements to reduce large paragraphs of text
5. Leave open space – do not crowd text, lists, diagrams, etc. (use hard returns
where possible)
6. Consider using 1.5 spacing between lines of text.
d. Text/Font
1. Text should be large enough to be read from a distance of approximately 3-6 feet
(see Appendix 1 for specific size suggestions)
2. Use SanSerif styles (like Arial) instead of serif styles (like Times New Roman);
easier to read from a distance
3. Type in uneven length lines (flush left, jagged right) is easier to read from a
distance
4. AVOID USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, EVEN IN THE TITLE AND HEADINGS,
BECAUSE IT IS DIFFICULT TO READ.
5. Avoid use of multiple fonts because it is distracting.
a. Choose a single font, use bold, underline, italics, and color, and vary font
size for emphasis.
Appendix 1. Font Sizes for Posters
Text Content
Reading Distance (feet)
Title
15-20 (Far)
Type Size (point)
(At least)
Type Weight
Bold
84
Authors & Affiliations
15-20 (Far)
Bold
72
Main Headings
6-8 (Medium)
Bold
60 36
to
Supporting Text
3-4 (Close)
48
Regular or bold
to
24
Detail Text
3-4 (Close)
24
Regular
References
3-4 (Close)
20
Regular
e. Graphics
1. An effective poster uses more pictures and provides minimal text
2. Graphics can increase communication effectiveness 40-50%
3. The use of pictures, summary tables, graphs and charts help increase
attractiveness
4. The wrong visual aids can have the opposite effect, resulting in decreased
understanding
a. When deciding to include graphics, ask yourself, does the graphic image:
1. Increase audience interest?
2. Increase audience understanding?
3. Enhance retention?
4. Increase efficiency (message is communicated faster)?
5. Label drawings and graphics.
f. Portability
1. Ensure that the poster can be packaged and transported to the conference
References

Blew, P.A., & Christian, W.P. (1984). How to prepare effective poster presentations for professional conferences. Behavior Therapist, 7, 129-132.

Woolsey, J.D. (1989). Combating poster fatigue: How to use visual grammar and analysis to effect better visual communication. Trends in Neuroscience, 12, 325-332.

Welch, A.A., & Waehler, C.A. (1996). Preferences about APA poster presentations. Teaching of Psychology, 23, 42-44.

http://www.osti.gov/em52/workshop/em52-gl.html

http://www.asp.org/Education/Howto_onPosters.html

http://www.kumc.edu/SAH/OTEd/jradel/Poster_Presentations/PstrStart.html

http://www.slac.stanford.edu/grp/techpubs/help/posters/basics.html
Poster Checklist
Poor
Q#
1.
Visual Display and Organization
Easy to read from a distance
(appropriate font size)?
Title and author affiliation
Section headers
Primary content/supporting text
Pictures, diagrams and or tables
2
Appropriate font style selected (san serif
– like Arial)
3.
The layout of the poster sections was well
organized (flowed well) and allowed for
easy comprehension
4.
The background design of the poster was
appropriate
5
Choice of color combinations of
background and text was appropriate
Colors chosen:
Indicate inappropriate areas:
6.
Overall appearance of poster was
professional and free from “typos”
Presentation Content
7.
Amount of content for each section
seemed appropriate (paraphrased,
summarized, concise)
8.
9.
Unique slide titles were used
Slide titles were informative and oriented
reader
10
Contained appropriate sections
(Circle all present on poster)

Banner with title

Abstract

Introduction

Objectives

Methods/study design

Results

Discussion/conclusions

References

Other
11
Poster used a variety of methods to
convey information (text plus pictures)
12.
Pictures, diagrams and tables
communicated ideas and content well?
13.
Poster content was appropriately
referenced using acceptable format
Overall
14.
Overall quality of poster
Comments
What did you like best about the poster?
What did you like least about the poster?
Acceptable
Specific +/- Comments
Title of Poster (remove shadowing & italics if default) – use bold Arial font
Authors’ full names and titles should be included here.
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Graduate College ; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Results – Objective 1
Discussion
1. Make sure to include objectives that start with measurable action
verbs
• Consider reporting your results using your study objectives
to demonstrate alignment and facilitate comprehension.
2. Should an abstract be included on the poster? If the conference
guidelines request its inclusion then yes, otherwise the abstract
can be omitted for 3 reasons:
1. For this section you could number your
content to match your objectives. For
example, discuss the results from objective
1 here.
• Try to put your results into a readable table or picture
format.
Objectives
Example of Methods Schema
1. Some abstracts are printed in the conference pamphlet, so it
may already available.
2. If lack of space is an issue, the abstract can be deleted since
the ideas are available in the remaining poster sections
3. A printout could be available for conference attendees that
has a picture of your poster on one side and your abstract,
contact information, and poster references on the other side
Introduction
Guidelines for the text box sections of the poster
1. Use Arial or other sanserif font. Use only 1 font on poster.
• Bold the title of each section for emphasis.
• Remove italics and shadowing on all text. – hard to read
• Avoid using all capital letters.
• All capital letters are easy to ignore and italics and show
are hard to read.
• Use bold and underline instead.
4. When creating the sections for your poster, avoid typing in
paragraphs and instead bullet or number all information.
Notes on Using Tables. Etc.
• Using tables as seen in the example
above encouraged when creating your
poster.
• Line or bar graphs, timelines and
other schemas are also encouraged.
• A summary section of text can accompany the table in a
separate text box such as this example.
• Make sure to refer to the table (See Table 1).
Table 1: Example of Results Table
Table 2:
Avoid These Tables
• Each bullet should be no more than 2 lines of text per bullet.
• Add spaces between bullets so all of the text in the section is
not crowded together.
• Open space facilitates reading the poster at a distance.
• Align text using unjustified (uneven line lengths) because
easier to read from a distance
6. There is an implied poster flow from left to right and top to bottom.
• Consider 4 columns– intro, methods, results,
discussion/summary
Template developed by Dr. M. Medina version 7.3.08 – please delete this textbox prior to printing.
Conclusions
1. This section could also be called summary,
recommendations, etc.
2. You could also include a “future studies”
slide.
Other Poster Guidelines
Final guidelines to consider:
1. Recommended poster dimensions are 3 x 5 ft
1. (36 by 56 inches – defaulting to 56)
2. or (18 by 30 inches and tell Photo
services to double the poster size
(which will also double your current
font size)
• 3 x 5 is more affordable option (vs.
4X6).
• Sometimes inserting a table into this
slide can be difficult. It may be easier to
create the table in word and copy and
paste it into your text box or save & insert
it as a picture
• A table like table 2 below should be
avoided because it is hard for the
audience to comprehend your message.
Use alternate diagram instead or make
sure to explain with text.
2. Then discuss or interpret results from
objective 2 here.
Results – Objective 2
Grade Analysis
• Sample language structure for results: Analysis of student
performance using multivariate linear regression on scores
from TBL activities to determine impact on final grade
revealed that IRAT and team contribution scores
significantly predicted overall grades in the course
(p<.001).
• Remember to state test used & p-values.
Table 3: TBL vs. Lecture-based
Course Exam Comparisons
2. Photographic services can print your
poster (405-271-2173 in OKC).
Remember to give yourself at least 3 days
for drying time.
3. To use this template, delete text and use
(or copy and paste) text boxes.
1. Box widths can be adjusted.
Font Size Guidelines
Text Content Reading
Distance
(feet)
Title
15-20 (Far)
Type Size
(point)
(At least)
84
Type Weight
Authors &
Affiliations
Main Heads
15-20 (Far)
72
Bold
6-8 (Medium)
60 to 36
Bold
Supporting
Text
Detail Text
3-4 (Close)
48 to 24
3-4 (Close)
24
Regular or
bold
Regular
References
(if included)
3-4 (Close)
20
Regular
Bold