How to make a 15-minute research presentation

Summary

This guide outlines the essential steps for preparing a 15-minute research presentation based on an empirical paper. It focuses on answering five critical questions: research question, contribution to literature, data and methods used, the answer to the question, and its implications. The structure includes six key slides: title, literature review and contribution, data, methods, results, and conclusion. Practical tips for slide design, presentation delivery, and audience engagement are also emphasized, stressing the importance of simplicity, practice, and adapting to the audience. The goal is to communicate research clearly and effectively within a concise timeframe.

Takeaways

• 😀 Define the 5 key questions to answer in a research presentation: What is your research question? What is your contribution? What data/methods are used? What is the answer? What does the answer mean?
• 😀 Structure your presentation around 6 slides: Title slide, Contribution, Data, Method, Results, and Conclusion.
• 😀 The first slide should clearly state your research question, either through the title or the introduction.
• 😀 The second slide should explain your contribution, providing a brief literature review and highlighting how your approach differs from existing studies.
• 😀 The third slide should describe the data used in the research, including its collection and why it’s appropriate for answering the research question.
• 😀 The fourth slide should discuss the methods used, including their intuition and relevance. Avoid going into technicalities if your audience is not familiar with the specific field.
• 😀 The fifth slide should present the results creatively, avoiding raw regression tables. Use visuals to communicate the findings and offer interpretations.
• 😀 The sixth slide should provide a conclusion, discussing the implications of your results, their importance, and suggesting future research questions.
• 😀 Keep the presentation simple, avoiding excessive graphics and text. Focus on clarity, contrast, and fewer words.
• 😀 Practice your presentation in front of a mirror, be flexible, and maintain your personality. Don’t rely on a script, but use it to practice before presenting.

Q & A

What are the five important questions to answer when creating a research presentation?

The five important questions are: 1) What is your research question and why is it important? 2) What is your contribution to the existing literature? 3) What data and methods are used to answer the question? 4) What is the answer? 5) What does the answer mean?

How should the organization of slides align with the research questions?

The slides should be structured to answer the five key questions, ensuring that each slide addresses a specific part of your research: the title slide (research question), the contribution slide (literature review), data slide, methods slide, results slide, and conclusion slide.

What should the first slide of the presentation focus on?

The first slide should clearly present the title of your paper and use your words to explain your research question, providing the audience with a clear understanding of the problem you're addressing.

What is the purpose of the second slide in the presentation?

The second slide should highlight your contribution to the existing literature. This involves providing a brief literature review, citing important articles, and demonstrating how your approach differs from previous research.

What should be discussed in the third slide?

The third slide should focus on the data used in your research. Explain what data you used, how it was collected, and why it is appropriate for answering your research question.

How should you approach explaining your methods in the fourth slide?

In the fourth slide, describe the methods used to analyze the data. If your audience consists of economists, use economic terminology; otherwise, focus on describing the intuition behind the method and why it is appropriate for your research.

What is the key consideration when presenting results in the fifth slide?

The fifth slide should present your results in an accessible way, avoiding just placing a regression table on the slide. Use visuals and explain the results in plain language, interpreting them for the audience.

What should the final slide of your presentation focus on?

The final slide should provide your conclusions. Discuss what the answer means, its implications, and why the research was important. You should also include suggestions for future research or unanswered questions.

How should you handle slide design and presentation style?

Keep the slides simple with minimal text, using contrasting colors for readability. Avoid overloading the audience with too much information at once. Incorporate pictures, figures, and tables to help convey your message more effectively.

Why is practicing the presentation important, and how should you prepare?

Practice is crucial to ensure smooth delivery. Write a script to guide your presentation, but avoid reading from it. Practice in front of a mirror to observe your body language, gestures, and eye contact. Mistakes during practice should be seen as normal, and pausing to regroup is perfectly acceptable during the actual presentation.