You've prepared a great presentation with credible and relevant sources, but how do you handle questions from your audience about them? Whether you're presenting in person or online, you need to be ready to explain and justify your research choices and methods. Here are some tips to help you answer questions about your presentation sources with confidence and clarity.
Before you present, make sure you have a thorough understanding of your sources, including their authors, dates, titles, publishers, and main points. You should also be able to summarize how each source supports your argument or purpose, and how it relates to other sources. This will help you avoid confusion or contradiction when answering questions. If possible, create a reference list or bibliography that you can share with your audience, either as a handout, a slide, or a link.
It's really important to consider the purpose of your slide deck or other presentation materials. I often want my presentation materials to be a quick reference that my audience can use later. This requires that it be detailed enough to summarize core concepts or rules, but I also don't want my slides to contain every last detail. This means highlighting the most relevant and insightful sources. To that end, I think it is helpful to have a slide dedicated to the most helpful sources, which can serve as an additional quick reference.
During your presentation, you should cite your sources whenever you use information, ideas, or quotes from them. You can use a citation style that suits your field or audience, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago. You should also mention the source name and date verbally, and show the full citation on the slide or screen. This will help your audience follow your logic and evidence, and also show respect for the original authors. It will also make it easier for you to answer questions about where you got your information from.
Sometimes, your audience may ask you about how you found, selected, or evaluated your sources. For example, they may want to know what keywords you used, what databases you searched, what criteria you applied, or what tools you used. To answer these questions, you should be able to explain your research methods clearly and concisely. You should also be able to justify why you chose those methods, and how they helped you answer your research question or achieve your presentation goal.
Another type of question you may face is about the challenges or limitations of your sources. For example, your audience may ask you about the reliability, validity, bias, or currency of your sources. They may also point out gaps, inconsistencies, or contradictions in your sources. To answer these questions, you should be honest and respectful. You should acknowledge the strengths and weaknesses of your sources, and explain how you dealt with them. You should also show how you balanced different perspectives and opinions, and how you verified or triangulated your information.
An example. I always start with the challenge and then I share the why, the what, and the how. Always honest approach is the beat approach to build this with your audience.
Finally, you should treat questions about your sources as an opportunity to learn from your audience and improve your presentation skills. You should listen carefully and attentively to the questions, and thank the questioners for their interest and input. You should also try to answer the questions in a clear, concise, and polite manner, without being defensive or arrogant. If you don't know the answer, you can admit it and offer to follow up later. You can also ask for feedback or suggestions on how to improve your research or presentation in the future.