Asking Good Questions at Conferences

Write Down Your Questions
As you listen to the talk, jot down questions that come to mind about the speaker’s methods, results, or interpretations.
Use This Quick Internal Checklist Before Asking:

Is my question really to seek clarification or more information?
For example, instead of saying:
“In my experience, method Y is better, so why didn’t you use it?”
try to ask:
“Could you clarify why you selected method X over other assessment tools commonly used in aphasia studies?”
Am I pointing out a factual error?
If you spot a minor labeling mistake in a brain region or test score, don’t point it out in a Q& A period.
Will my question contribute positively to the discussion?
Ask questions that extend the conversation. For example:
“Your study focused on non-fluent aphasia. Do you think your findings would generalize to fluent aphasia patients, or would different mechanisms be involved?”

Compliment Before You Question
Begin by highlighting something you appreciated:
"I really liked your use of longitudinal data to track recovery patterns in aphasia patients. Could you explain how you controlled for spontaneous recovery effects over time?

Avoid Being “That Person”
If the talk didn’t resonate or your question feels like nitpicking, it’s often kinder to stay quiet.

Make Questions Open-Ended and Specific
Good questions invite explanation:
"How do you think the variability in lesion location among participants influenced your results on language recovery?"

Clarification question:
“You mentioned using the Western Aphasia Battery for assessment. Did you consider supplementing it with connected speech analysis to capture subtle improvements?”
Building on a point:
“Your findings suggest that therapy effectiveness varies with lesion size. How might this influence clinical decision-making for individualized treatment plans?”
Future directions:
“What are your thoughts on integrating neurostimulation techniques alongside behavioral therapy to enhance recovery in aphasia patients?”