Posters, Results section

Figure9.3 A visual representation of the move structure for a typical poster Results section.

Some poster Results sections conclude with move 2 (which is fine), but in many posters, authors share additional results. Move 3 allows you to do this without overwhelming your viewers. The key is to relate these results to your principal findings. "Viewers will more easily grasp a second set of data if it supports, extends, or strengthens what they have just learned. 

Excerpt 9E (a poster Results section based on Llompart et al., 2001)... 

The writing conventions listed below are commonly used In poster Results sections. 

Verb tense Poster Results sections use past tense to describe results obtained in the past and present tense to describe facts expected to be true over time ... 

Voice and we Poster Results sections use both passive and active voice, and the word we is typically avoided ... 

Consider the following sets of bulleted items (adapted from Jozefaciuk et al., 2003 Dellinger et al., 2001 Jozefaciuk et al., 2003 respectively). Which item, in each set, is most appropriate for a poster Results section Consider standard tense, voice, and conciseness practices to make your decision. 

Create two bulleted Items to accompany the following table (adapted from Plaper et al., 2002) that would be appropriate for a poster Results section ... 

C Writing on Your Own Draft Your Poster Results Section... 

Move 1 (Interpret or Explain Results) is often integrated into the poster Results section, thereby becoming a combined Results and Discussion (R D) section. An example of a combined R D section is shown in hgure 9.1. In such posters, interpretative remarks (Discussion) are included right along with the graphics (Results). In this way, space is conserved, and viewers can read and interpret the data simultaneously (usually easier than looking back and forth between the two sections). For instructional purposes, however, we have placed move 1 in the Discussion section, and we use a stand-alone Discussion section in the three hypothetical posters presented below. We follow this approach, in part, to maintain a clear distinction between results (just the facts) and discussion (interpretation of the facts). 

The Results section is undoubtedly the most important section of the poster. The chance to share your results with others is the predominant reason for preparing your poster in the hrst place. However, you must be careful not to overwhelm... 

We next consider the two posters concerning aldehydes in beer, the hrst on methods development and the second on methods application. In particular, note what information is included in each Results section. In the poster in hgure 9.1, the optimization of temperature and time comprises the bulk of the Results... 

Bulleted or numerical lists Lists are frequently used when highlighting or summarizing results. Follow the formatting guidelines presented above in the discussion of poster Methods sections. When possible, use the same type... 

The meeting was enhanced by fifty poster presentations which served as a focus for stimulating informal discussions. The posters remained on display for the entire week, and one evening was devoted to them. The discussion that evening was amongst the most animated of the conference as participants were able to show their latest results, often preliminary, and discuss future directions for the work. Several poster results have been selected to be included in this volume in a separate section entitled POSTERS. 

The poster text is divided into the same general IMRD sections as the journal article Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Similarly, most posters include an Acknowledgments section, some have an abbreviated References section, and all have a title and author list. Most posters do not include an abstract, in part because of space limitations and in part because an abstract already appears in the conference proceedings. Like the journal article, the IMRD structure of the poster follows an hourglass shape. The top (Introduction) and bottom (Discussion) sections have a broader focus, while the middle sections (Methods and Results) have a narrower focus. Each section of the poster can be divided into individual moves or steps that guide viewers in a conventional way through the content of each section. These moves are analyzed in the next part of the chapter. 

We now read and analyze excerpts from each major section of the poster, beginning with Methods (the section that you are most likely to prepare first) and continuing through the Results, Discussion, and Introduction. The title and author... 

The Discussion section of a poster has two major purposes (1) to interpret or explain the results presented and (2) to summarize the most important findings of the work. These two purposes form the move structure for the Discussion section (figure 9.4). 

As you read through these Discussion sections, you will notice that they are quite short. Moreover, the discussion points within these sections are often used to highlight, explain, or reiterate key findings rather than to truly interpret data. In addition, unlike a journal article, few references are made to the literature. These common practices illustrate that the main emphasis in posters is to present, rather than interpret, results. This emphasis reflects both the newness of the data presented (late-breaking results may not yet be fully understood) and the interactive role of the poster (to promote an exchange of ideas and dialog). 

Sentences a-c are taken from journal articles. For each, (1) indicate which poster section the information would belong in (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) and (2) rewrite the information so that it is appropriate for a poster. 

The largest number of citations is found in the Introduction sections of journal articles, posters, and research proposals, consistent with the purposes of the section. Introductions of both journal articles and research proposals often include 15 or more citations in opening paragraphs (often with multiple citations in a single sentence). Far fewer citations (sometimes even none) are included in poster Introductions because of space limitations and the poster s role in emphasizing new results. 

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