Presenting Research › Module 1: The message
Know your audience
Lesson 2 of 3 · 2 min
The same research needs a different talk for different audiences. The first question to ask isn't "what do I want to say?" but "who's listening, and what do they already know?"
Three common audiences
| Audience | What they need |
|---|---|
| Specialists in your exact area | Details, methods, how it compares with their own work |
| Researchers in nearby fields | Why it matters, the key idea, enough background to follow |
| General public, funders, family | The problem in everyday terms, why it matters to people, one clear finding |
- Specialists in your exact area
- What they need: Details, methods, how it compares with their own work
- Researchers in nearby fields
- What they need: Why it matters, the key idea, enough background to follow
- General public, funders, family
- What they need: The problem in everyday terms, why it matters to people, one clear finding
Practical rules
- Define every term your audience might not know, or don't use it.
- Match the background to them: more context for broader audiences, less for specialists.
- Choose examples they care about.
- Respect their time: finish on time, or early. Overrunning is the most common and most resented mistake at conferences.
Find out in advance
Ask the organiser: who comes, how many, how long, what format (slides, questions, online). Look at past talks in the same series.
Mixed audiences
Aim at the smart outsider, and add a slide or two of depth for specialists. Specialists rarely mind a clear explanation; outsiders always mind being lost.
RememberAsk who's listening and what they know. When in doubt, explain for the smart outsider, and finish on time.