Friday, April 14, 2023

Detailed tips for effective oral presentations in research

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On February 5, 2023 I blogged about Reducing excessive use of filler words in scientific speech. In that post I discussed a 2022 article by Douglas R. Seals and McKinley E. Coppock in Advances in Physiology Education.

 

There is a broader article by Professor Douglas R. Seals in the American Journal of Physiology (Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology) for August 29, 2022, on pages R496 to R511 titled Talking the talk: Tips for effective oral presentations in biomedical research. He provides us with a very detailed perspective, based on his having given about 275 invited presentations over almost four decades. Headings in that article are as follows:

 

INTRODUCTION

 

IMPORTANCE OF EFFECTIVE ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS

 

OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE ORAL PRESENTATION SKILLS

 

Options for gaining experience

Within the laboratory.

Within your classes.

Research trainee’s seminar series.

Research conferences.

Community presentations.

 

Sources of Guidance, Feedback, and Inspiration

Professional organizations.

Mentors and senior colleagues.

Instructors and courses.

Inspiring speakers.

 

BEFORE YOU DECIDE TO PRESENT

 

Enough data?

Enough Time to Prepare?

Presentation Topic Versus Setting: Goodness of Fit?

Potential Benefits of Accepting -Or Downsides of Declining – An Invitation

 

DEVELOPING YOUR PRESENTATION

 

General Concepts

Create a preparation timeline.

Keep it simple.

Less is more.

Address the broad range of the audience.

Problems, limitations, and alternative approaches.

 

Specific Slide-Development Suggestions

Acknowledgements

 

“DELIVERING THE GOODS”

 

Preparing for Your Presentation

Practice, practice, practice.

When practicing: clearly describe the content of each slide.

When practicing: minimize the use of “fillers”.

When practicing: slide-to-slide “transitions” are key.

When practicing: face the audience.

 

Prepresentation Particulars

Share presentation materials beforehand.

Avoid “Mac attacks.”

Projection systems are not foolproof.

Get to know your podium technology before you start speaking.

If asked, use the microphone.

 

During Your Formal (Didactic) Presentation

Speak at a deliberate pace.

Speak in a relaxed, conversational manner.

Greet, speak to, and monitor the entire audience.

Establish an effective presentation “tone.”

Use your slides as notes.

Be careful paraphrasing text on slides.

React to unexpected disruptions.

Use the “pointer” judiciously.

Microphone tips.

Have a drink and lozenge available.

Enjoy the moment.

 

Postpresentation Q&A Period

What is the question?

Don’t rush the response.

Keep it brief.

Qualify your response.

Be ready for questions regarding future directions.

 

Considerations for Effective Virtual Presentations

 

AUDIENCE “GOOD WILL”

The Concept

Good Will-Depleting “Cardinal Sins” To Avoid

 

SYNOPSIS

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

DISCLOSURES

 

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS

 

REFERENCES

 

My cartoon was adapted from this one at Wikimedia Commons.

 


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