{"id":1939,"date":"2016-06-27T08:23:33","date_gmt":"2016-06-27T02:53:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=1939"},"modified":"2021-04-22T19:19:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T13:19:26","slug":"question-answer-session-research-presentation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/question-answer-session-research-presentation\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Handle a Question and Answer Session in a Research Presentation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The question and answer part of a lecture is a short but crucial part of a research\u00a0presentation<\/a>. Listeners get a chance to clarify parts of the presentation and ask the speaker to expand on interesting topics. The answers may be the most memorable parts of the presentation. On the other hand a badly handled Q&A will be disappointing to the listeners or even embarrassing to the speaker. Here are some tips to make the most of the opportunity.<\/p>\n

Repeat<\/h2>\n

The acoustics of a large lecture hall may be poor. A question from the front row will be easy for the speaker to hear but listeners a few rows behind may hear nothing but a mumble\u00a0(audience members\u2014please stand when asking a question!) In this case, the speaker should repeat the question before answering it.<\/p>\n

Clarify<\/h2>\n

Question may be clumsily expressed. If so, don\u2019t try to answer until you are sure what\u2019s being asked. Politely ask for clarification: \u201cIf I understand the question, you are asking . . .?\u201d<\/p>\n

Think<\/h2>\n

Take a second or two to compose your thoughts for a response. Perhaps there are several points that should be discussed in a certain order. A brief pause will help you organize an answer<\/a>. A thoughtful pause is much more effective than casting about for something to say. The audience will be impressed: they appreciate that you value them enough to take their questions seriously<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Stick to the Topic<\/h2>\n

Researchers love talking about their work and a question may be a starting point for a rambling digression. Resist the urge. Many other audience members may be waiting to ask questions.<\/p>\n

Plain Language<\/h2>\n

During the Q&A you might not be able to refer back to a visual to illustrate a response<\/a>. This makes it all the more important that responses be delivered in plain, easy to understand language, with a minimum of jargon.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Know? Say So<\/h2>\n

No matter how well prepared a speaker is, there will be times when he cannot answer a question. In this case, it\u2019s best to admit it rather than trying to fake an answer. Perhaps no one can answer the question\u2014the data is not there. In this case you might speculate on possibilities, or better, suggest experiments that could be done to find the answer. If you don\u2019t know the answer to a question because it\u2019s not your area of expertise or you haven\u2019t read a certain paper, don\u2019t be afraid to say so. I\u2019ve heard distinguished professors jovially decline to answer a question because, \u201cThat\u2019s in an area I know nothing about.\u201d Audiences admire a speaker who will give it to them straight.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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