Decide the purpose of the poster and the makeup of the audience that will be viewing it to determine the tone, language, layout and included information.
Make a rough outline of the topics and information that will be covered based upon your primary topic, content and thesis. Organize the outline based on the parts of the research addressed in the poster. This almost always includes an introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusion and references. These sections contain the same type of information as they would in a paper. Based upon the type of poster and academic department, some of these sections may be combined, eliminated or altered. This is also true if the poster attempts to solve a problem instead of presenting research.
Decide upon layout and formatting for the poster, including any graphics used to illustrate statistics or to depict the topic. Choose fonts that are eye-catching but legible and not distracting. A poster is much briefer than a paper, and the information presented needs to convey important points. Bullet points often meet this need.
Write the introduction, which includes information on the need for the research and any background information on the topic.
Summarize how the data was gathered in the method section. This includes participant demographics, tools, measures used and the procedure employed to gather data.
Use the data and statistics data analyzed to write the results section. Often, this section includes few sentences and several charts or graphs. This is a visual part of the poster when possible, as readers will generally not wish to read lengthy statistics.
Write the discussion and conclusion. Often, these are combined. The discussion reports how the results apply to hypothesis, future applications and proposed actions in light of the data. The conclusion notes any discrepancies or lack of credibility in the research and brings the research to closure.
Prepare resources in the field's chosen format (such as APA or MLA). These may not be used in the poster, but they need to be available for anyone who wants to see them.
Edit the formatting to fit the data while conforming to the poster format. If you're using PowerPoint, the poster will fit on a single slide, and each section will have a bordered text box. The physical poster will be split into two halves. The sections should be stacked in order beginning at the top left side going downward and then continuing to the right side in the same pattern. The title should be bold and centered, with the author(s) names in smaller text centered immediately under the title.
Create the poster by blowing up and printing on 36-by-48-inch paper. This can be done with printing equipment or by placing the content on a disc or flash drive and taking it to a facility capable of printing this larger format.
Decide whether handouts are needed for the session. Often handouts are used to assist in remaining memorable, providing additional information or simply leaving an email address for questions.
Prepare the handout to meet the aforementioned needs. This can be a business card handout with your contact information, a smaller version of the poster or a separate handout with references, additional data or other information.
Test the handout's effectiveness by giving the handout to a person unrelated to the research, and ask the person about the information he learned from it. Make any necessary revisions based on his feedback.
Review the data presented on the poster carefully. Associated data not conveyed on the poster needs to be known as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the research.
Write down all anticipated questions. They will often focus on research formulation, data, implications and uses, although any questions about the topic and research methods are fair game.
Practice answering these questions and more. Stand in front of a mirror, and talk about the poster. A successful poster presentation requires full preparation in all areas.
Prepare adequate dress, depending on the code of the session. Your professional appearance will lend credibility to the presentation.
Ask a professional colleague or faculty member to interrogate you about the poster information.