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Gathering opinions and displaying graphs is basic functionality for all audience response systems.  However, the true power of the technology rests with you, the person who interprets the data.

Interpretation of the results is mostly science, but a true showman relies on artful delivery.  It's not unusual for the skilled presenter to look at the results and say something like, "I am very surprised to see that 63% of us feel that we are compensated fairly.  Does this cost the company too much, or does it save the company money because it results in a lower employee turnover rate?  Please raise your hand, and we'll get a microphone to you." 

Understanding what a graph is telling you is critical to most interactive presentations.  Many times it is inappropriate (or too time consuming) to discuss the results of every question.  But, all systems today allow you to save the results and print them later.  Once back at the office, you'll have time to focus on exactly what the data is telling you.

There are four or five basic graphic patterns that you must learn to recognize.  Rather than go into each one here, we suggest that you visit our network partner site's About Authoring Questions page. You'll find critically important information there. We feel that you must learn to interpret graphs before you attempt your first interactive meeting.

Our last word on the subject is simple, 'demographics'.  By that we mean demographic questions.  These are questions that ask things like:  What department are you in?   What is your management level?   How long have you worked for the company?   What area of the country are you from?  Are you male or female?   Which is your first language?

Whenever possible, you should include two or three of this type question.  Of course, use questions that are pertinent to your presentation.  The power of these questions is in the fact that they can be used to filter, or cut, the results of other questions. For example, you might find that 50% of the audience is happy in their job.  Well, okay.  But now, cut that data by the gender question and what you may find is that 85% of males said they were happy, whereas only 28% of the females said the were.  That puts the issue in a whole new light, which begs for a deeper understanding of the problem.

Use demographics.... they're extremely powerful.