Strategies for Effective Research Presentations

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Strategies for Effective Research Presentations

• Derek R. Lane, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean
• College of Communications and Information Studies
• University of Kentucky

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(No Transcript)
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Communication
The process by which verbal and nonverbal
messages are used to create and share
meaning The management of messages for the
purpose of creating meaning in a specific
context
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Communication

• Dimensions
• Written, Oral, Graphical
• Interpersonal, Group/Team, Public Speaking
• Chemical, Mathematical, Scientific
• Beyond grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
  pronunciation
• Critical thinking
• Audience analysis
• Organization
• Delivery

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Overview

• The Structure of Research
• Review basic presentation strategies
• Strategies for
• Getting Started
• Effective Delivery
• Effective Content
• Wrap up

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The Truth is, You Gave a Lousy Talk

• Communication
• Clarity
• Focus
• Technology
• Substance
• Presentation

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The Structure of Research

• A.  TITLE ?   
• B.  ABSTRACT ?   
• C.  INTRODUCTION (with Rationale) ?   
• D.  REVIEW OF LITERATURE  ?        
• (with Research Questions and/or Hypothesis at the
  conclusion of lit review) ?   
• E.  METHODS
• (subjects, procedures, data treatment) ?   
• F.  RESULTS ?   
• G.  DISCUSSION
• Implications
• Limitations
• Future Directions ?   
• H.  REFERENCES

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Presentation Strategies

• Select a clear purpose and strong thesis
  statement
• Select evidence to support your claims
• Prepare effective and organized outline for
  sequencing content
• Prepare preview and summary to guide your
  audience
• Design effective introduction
• Design effective conclusion
• Polish conversational delivery

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Getting Started Before Youre On

• Preparation
• Practice, practice, practice but dont memorize
• Know what youre going to say
• Prep note cards wisely not too many key words
  only
• Dress to help, not hinder

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Getting Started Youre On!

• Arrival
• Arrive early
• Get set take control of the room
• Be certain you know how to use any technology
  (e.g., Powerpoint, laser pointer)
• Have backup
• Beginning
• Step up to speak with confidence and authority
• Have your first sentence ready
• Breathe!

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Effective Delivery Connection

• Be aware of your audience
• Make eye contact
• Dont talk to the laptop, whiteboard, screen, or
  your notes
• Refer to your note cards only occasionally, if at
  all
• Be conversational (extemporaneous) dont read
  to the audience

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Effective Delivery Movement

• Use gestures (locating, descriptive, etc.)
• Maintain good posture dont lean against the
  podium, cross legs, etc.
• Move out from behind the podium but dont
  wander aimlessly
• Dont play with note cards, pencil, clothes,
  pointer, etc.
• Keep your hands out of your pockets

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Effective Delivery Voice

• Avoid clutter (e.g., ah, um, uh, so, ya know,
  well, okay)
• Speak loudly enough to be heard
• Speak at an appropriate pace
• Stop at the end of an idea dont string
  sentences together with and
• Speak with confidence

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Effective Content Organization

• Start strong
• Plan an attention getter
• Dont start with Okay
• Build credibility
• Have a clear purpose/thesis statement
• Use transitions between main points
• Emphasize most important points
• Internal previews and summaries
• Repetition
• End strong
• Summarize
• Leave a lasting positive impression

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Effective Content Language Use

• Speak clearly
• Precise words (e.g., walk, amble, sprint)
• Simple words (e.g., predict versus presage)
• Specific words (e.g., selenium versus element)
• Speak vividly
• Use simile/metaphor (avoid cliché, though)
• Use sound patterns
• Parallelism
• Alliteration

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Effective Content Audience Adaptation

• Use language to connect with the audience
• Use personal pronouns
• Ask the audience questions
• Share common experiences
• Build hypothetical situations
• Relate examples to what is familiar
• Avoid inappropriate language

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Effective Content Visual Aids

• Can be nearly anything even you!
• Must be visible
• Show aid only while youre talking about it
• Point out what you want the audience to know
  about it
• Talk to your audience, not the visual aid
• Dont overdo use of visual aids
• Pass objects around at your own risk

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Effective Content Keep in Mind

• Add value dont simply regurgitate the contents
  of a brochure everyone has already read
• Be creative in your presentations
• Integrate your personality appropriately into the
  presentation to stimulate interest
• Use narrative examples for retention
• Involve the audience

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Effective Use of PowerPoint

• www.baruch.cuny.edu/dml/engine.php?actionviewAsse
  tmediaIndex432

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Wrap up

• Communication and Research Presentations
• Review of broad presentation strategies
• Presentations and feedback
• Strategies for
• Getting Started
• Effective Content
• Effective Delivery
• Questions