Final answer:
The activity of preparing a poster to display research findings at a professional conference falls under the dissemination phase of a research study.
Step-by-step explanation:
At the completion of a study, when a researcher prepares a poster to display at a professional conference, this activity is part of the dissemination phase. The dissemination phase involves sharing the research findings with the scientific community and the public, often in the form of publications, presentations, posters, or through public speaking opportunities. This is a crucial phase as it allows for peer review and the opportunity for other researchers to build upon the findings. In contrast, the analytic phase refers to examining data for trends, the empirical phase involves the collection and direct observation or experimentation of data, and the conceptual phase typically relates to the initial development of ideas and theoretical framework.