The poster is the final product of the project where you will share the results of your analysis on your chosen data. The details that must be included in the poster will cover things that we have learned throughout the entire semester. Your poster will need to include the following topics from class:
A description of your data and what types of variables you are analyzing. This includes details like: quantitative/qualitative, measurement scale, identifying the population.
At least one relevant graph with an accompanying interpretation. This must be one of the graphs that we covered in class.
Appropriate and comprehensive summary statistics for your variables.
At least one hypothesis test including all parts of the test.
There is no requirement on exactly what type of graphs/statistics/tests you need to use because that will depend on your specific data and variables.
How do you actually produce these results? Depending on your data and research question, it might be possible to do everything by hand and you are certainly welcome to do that. However, I would encourage using computer software to make things easier. No specific program is required, but common choices would be Excel, Google Sheets, or SPSS.
If you have no previous experience using statistical software, then I would recommend SPSS. It is available for free through UCO Software Downloads for both Windows and Mac computers. If you have a laptop, you can also go to the IT help desk in the library to have it installed on your computer for free. Alternatively, SPSS is also available on computers in many computer labs on campus including Howell Hall and MCS.
In addition, you can find instructional videos for common statistical procedures in SPSS by going to the SPSS Tutorials submodule within the Project module.
Most academic research posters have similar layouts and are typically organized into the following sections:
Background (or Introduction or Motivation) – This is the section where you will summarize what you are analyzing and briefly introduce your data. Why is this an interesting question? What is already known about this topic? What are you trying to get out of this analysis? Why is this of interest to you?
Methods – Here, describe the specifics of your data (where it came from, types of variables, measurement scales, etc.). Also, include details about what statistical techniques/tests you will be using and explain why those would be appropriate. Are you using statistical software to do the analysis? If so, you could describe how you did that here as well.
Results – This section will display the results from your analysis. Include things like summary statistics you calculate, your graphs, and results for any hypothesis tests. This is a good place for tables and graphs (include captions). When presenting hypothesis test results, make sure to include all parts of the test (hypotheses, test statistic, rejection region or p-value, and conclusion).
Conclusions – Finish up with a discussion of what you found. What are the interpretations of any hypothesis tests? Did the results match your expectations? What could these results be used for? Is there something you wish you could do differently? What other kinds of questions might you have for future research in this area?
Your poster must include the four above sections. You might also consider adding a Research Question section and a References (or Citations) section, but those sections will be optional. If you do not include a specific section for your research question, then the research question should be included in the Background/Introduction/Motivation section.
Here are a few general tips when creating a poster. First, use bulleted lists and avoid paragraphs when possible. It is a poster, not a paper, so it should not have the same viewing/reading experience that you would have when reading an article. Hit the highlights and include the main details. There is no word count/page limit so do not feel like you need to include more words just to be saying something. Also, include pictures/diagrams/tables where you can and avoid dense sections of all text. This helps make the poster visually appealing. I have included two UCO-themed poster templates that you are free to use. They are both PowerPoint files, but you do not need to use PowerPoint. Also, you can change/rearrange elements on the templates as you see fit. The templates are just guides, and you are also welcome to find other poster templates to use. If you use one of the PowerPoint files, then there should just be one slide (you are not creating a slideshow presentation with multiple slides).
I encourage you to read more about making research posters here and here. Both of those links include tips as well as several examples of posters that you can look over to get a better sense about what a finished research poster should look like.
