Presenting Research — Talks, Posters, Vivas

This module develops learners' ability to present research persuasively across the formats a postgraduate encounters: conference talk, poster, elevator pitch, and viva voce. Learners design slides and posters that respect visual perception, structure talks around a narrative arc, rehearse Q&A, and defend a thesis under hostile questioning without losing composure. Mastery is demonstrated when a learner delivers a timed talk, a legible poster, and a mock-viva performance that an external examiner would judge competent.

Learning Outcomes

Structure a conference talk using narrative arcs and signposting appropriate to time budget.

Design slides that follow assertion-evidence and visual-perception principles.

Compose posters that pass the 10-foot/3-foot test and respect typographic hierarchy.

Rehearse and deliver with vocal variety, pacing, and anxiety-management techniques.

Answer Q&A using the acknowledge-answer-bridge pattern and hostile-question frames.

Defend a thesis in a viva voce by articulating contribution, limitations, and future work.

Adapt the same research for lay, specialist, and funder audiences.

Critique peers' presentations and revise own on the basis of feedback.

Topics Covered

Audience analysis: lay, specialist, funder, examiner

Narrative structures: problem-solution, pyramid, hero's journey, SCQA

Slide design: assertion-evidence, Mayer's multimedia principles, cognitive load

Data visualisation ethics: axis integrity, colour accessibility, chart choice

Typography and layout for posters: hierarchy, grid, white space, 10-foot test

Poster patterns: traditional IMRaD, Better Poster, graphical abstract hybrid

Elevator pitch and three-minute thesis (3MT) craft

Vocal delivery: pitch, pace, pause, projection; non-verbal communication

Rehearsal strategies: deliberate practice, timed rehearsal, video review

Managing performance anxiety: cognitive, somatic, behavioural techniques

Q&A technique: acknowledge-answer-bridge, parking-lot, repeat-and-reframe

Hostile and ambiguous questions: steel-manning, bridging, graceful deferral

Viva voce preparation: contribution, originality, limitations, mock vivas

Chairing, moderating, and panel discussion etiquette

Virtual and hybrid presentations: camera framing, lighting, platform craft

Skills Developed

Slide design Poster design Public speaking Q&A technique Viva defence Rehearsal Audience analysis Visual storytelling

Suggested Resources

Alley, M. (2013). The Craft of Scientific Presentations, 2nd ed., Springer

Duarte, N. (2010). Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences, Wiley

Reynolds, G. (2019). Presentation Zen, 3rd ed., New Riders

Tufte, E.R. (2001). The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, 2nd ed., Graphics Press

Trafford, V. & Leshem, S. (2008). Stepping Stones to Achieving your Doctorate, Open University Press

Murray, R. (2015). How to Survive Your Viva, 3rd ed., Open University Press

Morrison, M. (2019). The Better Poster: templates and rationale (betterposter.com)

Assessment

Assessment is performance-oriented: learners are judged on live delivery and designed artefacts, with mock-viva work weighted to reflect doctoral stakes.

Timed conference-style talk (12 minutes plus Q&A) with slide deck35%

Research poster plus three-minute pitch25%

Mock viva voce performance and reflective memo30%

MCQ examination on presentation theory and Q&A technique10%

Practice bank: 200 MCQs · Timed mock & self-paced modes

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