Possible poster presentation in fall, help!

[domineus]

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I may have a poster presentation for my research topic and I need some pointers because this is my first. As you know I went to Capella, and frankly they didn't prepare us for research proposals. But someone liked mine well enough to recommend it.

I was asked to do a powerpoint, but is that all that is necessary? What makes for a good presentation about a specific topic?

BTW Topic is mental health practitioner burnout related so if anyone is also studying that, please post

 

[cara susanna]

You put together the poster and that's really it. You don't present in the way we typically use the term, people just come up and may comment or ask you questions. You should have copies of the poster or be prepared to write down email addresses to send copies to people who are interested.

 

[Ya Ya]

So are you doing a poster or a PowerPoint. You'll get different advice depending on which you'll be doing in the Fall.

 

[Ollie123]

Yeah, I'm happy to help but I'm a bit confused too. Which are you doing? Your thread title says posters, you mention "research proposals" (implying you don't have any data yet...is this just a study idea?), and then imply you are supposed to give a powerpoint presentation, not a poster.

 

[mewtoo]

Wait, are presenting at a conference? Cara's advice is good. Also you'll want to know your research well enough to do a 1-2 minute oral summary as many people are too lazy to actually read the whole thing and would rather listen. Also, make sure you print enough copies! We ran out during the middle of our presentation and our professor had to go find a copier and make some more in a rush.

I did my first presentation last semester. I was really nervous about it, but it went great. Everyone who came up thought our findings were interesting and we had some people staying for 10 minutes having discussions. We only had a few questions where we had to think, like someone asked how we would test and control for a few things and how we could expand upon our findings. I don't know if this is necessarily the same everywhere, but I wasn't really "prepared" for this either besides reading a chapter in a book about it and advice from other students so don't feel too left out to dry.

Also, if you are doing a poster presentation and not a presentation presentation, you make the poster on one slide. Its very easy and my uni had some templates available for use.

 

[JeyRo]

I was asked to do a powerpoint, but is that all that is necessary? What makes for a good presentation about a specific topic?

I actually *use* Powerpoint to create the poster itself. I don't know why you would want to create a powerpoint slide presentation in addition to a poster session, unless you want to have that available as a handout, I suppose.

In terms of what makes a poster good, I'd say punchy title, presentation of interesting pilot data (not that posters have to necessarily present data), maybe an eye-catching graphic to draw people in from across the convention floor.

My poster session at APA will include a very unusual medical (biofeedback, technically) device that I'll be demonstrating along with my poster. I hate to say, I've done boring posters before. I'm kind of psyched that this one will probably get a lot of visitors this time around.

 

[domineus]

wow thanks for the suggestions!

Which are you doing? Your thread title says posters, you mention "research proposals" (implying you don't have any data yet...is this just a study idea?), and then imply you are supposed to give a powerpoint presentation, not a poster.

Sorry was making this in post haste.
As you know I did go to Capella, but for my integrative project, I actually performed a mixed method research study to determine the impact of decreased federal spending had on a mental health hospital by measuring levels of burnout prior to the federal cuts and since the cuts have taken place in IL. While it went way above the call of duty (Capella just wanted a simulated research proposal), I began to ask my advisor if she knew anyone. So, she connected me to a professor at Kent University who was interested in me presenting my research so far.

And that takes us to the present. I have to present my research findings. I was a bit elated when i wrote the email so I wrote my initial post rather fast. So I do apologize on that. But I hope this clears somethings up. But the problem is that I went to Capella, and it really didn't prepare me to present research on a massive scale. Probably because it wasn't expected at the Master's level. But nevertheless...

You put together the poster and that's really it. You don't present in the way we typically use the term, people just come up and may comment or ask you questions. You should have copies of the poster or be prepared to write down email addresses to send copies to people who are interested.

Good to know! Frankly I do suck at the poster process and I was a bit anxious. That's also why I tossed around the idea.

Frankly, my research is a given especially for anyone whose even interned in mental health. But the issue is there hasn't been a super huge amount of research on burnout in America (and on a scale to measure levels of all clinical mental health practitioners) so I wanted to resume that in lieu of the changes occurring almost daily.

Now, finding funding...is another story =(

 

[cara susanna]

No offense, domineus, it's great that you went above and beyond what you had to. But the fact that actually collecting data and giving a poster presentation is "beyond" what is expected for a graduate program deeply saddens me.

 

[domineus]

No offense, domineus, it's great that you went above and beyond what you had to. But the fact that actually collecting data and giving a poster presentation is "beyond" what is expected for a graduate program deeply saddens me.

Capella is funny in that the expectation for an integrative project was to simulate a study. But I sort of knew I'd be going deeper in my studies for PhD. The way it is designed, it is like a 30 page topic proposal of varying methodology where you don't collect data. For the initial submisison I didn't include my data. But recently I did.

The thing that annoyed me was that there was no prep for it. While I get it is a MS program and its an integrative project, why not demand some research over the curriculum period of about two years? I understand people work while attending, but the fact its no research involved above simulation isn't adequate preparation for any PhD/PsyD program.

I've heard students say the PhD dissertation is a bit different though. Admittedly I can't really say because I'm switching gears and trying my best to beef up the CV so...the school thing can be overlooked.

Nevertheless I'm really excited about the prospect. But it is some work

 

[erg923]

Capella is funny in that the expectation for an integrative project was to simulate a study. But I sort of knew I'd be going deeper in my studies for PhD. The way it is designed, it is like a 30 page topic proposal of varying methodology where you don't collect data. For the initial submisison I didn't include my data. But recently I did.

The thing that annoyed me was that there was no prep for it. While I get it is a MS program and its an integrative project, why not demand some research over the curriculum period of about two years? I understand people work while attending, but the fact its no research involved above simulation isn't adequate preparation for any PhD/PsyD program.

I've heard students say the PhD dissertation is a bit different though. Admittedly I can't really say because I'm switching gears and trying my best to beef up the CV so...the school thing can be overlooked.

Nevertheless I'm really excited about the prospect. But it is some work

Why is that even called a Ph.D program? That sounds like a really ****ty Psy.D program...at best!!

 

[Ollie123]

So wait, I'm still confused. Is this a conference poster you did in collaboration with someone at Kent, or are you just presenting this to some researcher/their lab at another university? If you are just going to meet with a researcher and show them your work, a regular powerpoint (i.e. not a poster) is likely what they expect...if that. You implied this is something to build up your CV though, so I'm guessing its the former? I wouldn't recommend putting presenting at someone's lab on your CV, unless they organized a whole department-wide colloquia or something like that....

Regardless, the fact that a master's has not prepared you for this is utterly ridiculous. Needing to work is fine, but it doesn't justify them giving out the same degree for less work/knowledge. Presenting research is something many advanced undergrads do - it should be a given by the time one is at the MS level that they are fully prepared for this.

 

[domineus]

So wait, I'm still confused. Is this a conference poster you did in collaboration with someone at Kent, or are you just presenting this to some researcher/their lab at another university? If you are just going to meet with a researcher and show them your work, a regular powerpoint (i.e. not a poster) is likely what they expect...if that. You implied this is something to build up your CV though, so I'm guessing its the former? I wouldn't recommend putting presenting at someone's lab on your CV, unless they organized a whole department-wide colloquia or something like that....

Regardless, the fact that a master's has not prepared you for this is utterly ridiculous. Needing to work is fine, but it doesn't justify them giving out the same degree for less work/knowledge. Presenting research is something many advanced undergrads do - it should be a given by the time one is at the MS level that they are fully prepared for this.

it's a collaboration with someone at Kent
and I wouldn't put just a random meeting with someone at their lab for research. That's rather...silly
and they don't have a dept wide colloquia (sadly)

But it is what it is. I mean I made the choice to keep going and finish it up. So a Master's in title is almost fluffy to a degree because I had to learn a lot about the research process on my own...

eh..

 

[futureapppsy2]

Capella is funny in that the expectation for an integrative project was to simulate a study. But I sort of knew I'd be going deeper in my studies for PhD. The way it is designed, it is like a 30 page topic proposal of varying methodology where you don't collect data. For the initial submisison I didn't include my data. But recently I did.

The thing that annoyed me was that there was no prep for it. While I get it is a MS program and its an integrative project, why not demand some research over the curriculum period of about two years? I understand people work while attending, but the fact its no research involved above simulation isn't adequate preparation for any PhD/PsyD program.

I've heard students say the PhD dissertation is a bit different though. Admittedly I can't really say because I'm switching gears and trying my best to beef up the CV so...the school thing can be overlooked.

Nevertheless I'm really excited about the prospect. But it is some work

So, did you get IRB approval to collect this data? If not, you probably shouldn't be presenting it, tbh and definitely not publishing it. Because I'm a tad confused by your post, are you in masters or PhD program at Capella?

 

[domineus]

So, did you get IRB approval to collect this data? If not, you probably shouldn't be presenting it, tbh and definitely not publishing it. Because I'm a tad confused by your post, are you in masters or PhD program at Capella?

This is the weird thing about the IRB approval (which also has me a bit confused)
Even though I applied, and my advisor at the time said it was unorthodox but it was expedited, I never got any confirmation that it went through in writing. My advisor said oh it went through.

But tomorrow morning I can ask for some written statement before I continue

Assuming if I get some issue from my advisor about this, what should I do re: presenting this? I know it seems rather negative to assume, but ... covering my bases

 

[futureapppsy2]

This is the weird thing about the IRB approval (which also has me a bit confused)
Even though I applied, and my advisor at the time said it was unorthodox but it was expedited, I never got any confirmation that it went through in writing. My advisor said oh it went through.

But tomorrow morning I can ask for some written statement before I continue

Assuming if I get some issue from my advisor about this, what should I do re: presenting this? I know it seems rather negative to assume, but ... covering my bases

If you were the PI on the IRB, you definitely should have gotten something from the IRB in writing. Every IRB I've worked with or seen stuff from (n=3) has sent back formal paper work indicating approval.

 

[beantownpsych]

This is the weird thing about the IRB approval (which also has me a bit confused)
Even though I applied, and my advisor at the time said it was unorthodox but it was expedited, I never got any confirmation that it went through in writing. My advisor said oh it went through.

But tomorrow morning I can ask for some written statement before I continue

Assuming if I get some issue from my advisor about this, what should I do re: presenting this? I know it seems rather negative to assume, but ... covering my bases

I'm still confused as to what exactly your doing so take my advice with a grain of salt...

What do your consent forms say??? Every consent form I've used (from perhaps 10 different studies and 3 different IRBs) has contained a stamp from the IRB that includes (among other things) the date the study was IRB approved. I strongly advise you to check with your advisor about this before going forward. It could be the case that your study is exempt, although from what you said it seems to involve human subjects so wouldn't met criteria for exemption (even it is exempt you would still need documentation from the IRB attesting to that fact as they are the ones that make that final determination). If for some reason you don't have IRB approval it's not just a matter of not presenting, it's a matter of stopping the study all together (which from your post I assume is still ongoing).

 

[erg923]

This is the weird thing about the IRB approval (which also has me a bit confused)
Even though I applied, and my advisor at the time said it was unorthodox but it was expedited, I never got any confirmation that it went through in writing. My advisor said oh it went through.

But tomorrow morning I can ask for some written statement before I continue

Assuming if I get some issue from my advisor about this, what should I do re: presenting this? I know it seems rather negative to assume, but ... covering my bases

Where is the data from?

If it expedited review, they still have to keep records of it! And you need to have it on file in case it requested. Anyone can ask for this at anytime! This is research ethics 101!!!

 

[AcronymAllergy]

Where is the data from?

If it expedited review, they still have to keep records of it! And you need to have it on file in case it requested. Anyone can ask for this at anytime! This is research ethics 101!!!

I agree--you should've gotten a copy to begin with, but since you didn't, I'd definitely recommend you contact the IRB and request an additional copy so that you have one for your records.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I'm still confused as to what exactly your doing so take my advice with a grain of salt...

What do your consent forms say??? Every consent form I've used (from perhaps 10 different studies and 3 different IRBs) has contained a stamp from the IRB that includes (among other things) the date the study was IRB approved. I strongly advise you to check with your advisor about this before going forward. It could be the case that your study is exempt, although from what you said it seems to involve human subjects so wouldn't met criteria for exemption (even it is exempt you would still need documentation from the IRB attesting to that fact as they are the ones that make that final determination). If for some reason you don't have IRB approval it's not just a matter of not presenting, it's a matter of stopping the study all together (which from your post I assume is still ongoing).

Good point. Yeah, this sounds really sketchy from an IRB/research ethics standpoint. You definitely need to clear this up with your professor ASAP and stop data collection if you don't have written IRB notice or don't have it on your consent forms.