INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING POSTER PRESENTATIONS

The major advantage of participation in a poster session is that it provides an opportunity for the presenter and the audience to talk with one another. A physical arrangement similar to an exhibit area is used to foster this interaction. Each presenter will be assigned a 32" x 60" space (32" x three 20" sections). During the session, the audience will move through the poster displays, stopping to interact with those who are presenting research that is of interest to them. Thus, the interaction between the presenters and the audience is likely to be more meaningful for both than is typically the case in one-speaker paper sessions or symposia.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT POSTER SESSIONS

Poster sessions are popular at psychology conventions. Poster sessions resemble high school science fairs. Posters are presented in very large rooms having row after row of bulletin boards. The presenter is assigned a board upon which she/he arranges a display. The display, or poster, is arranged to clearly tell someone about the research study. Generally, the poster's written part is a narrative written in APA style, but is somewhat more brief than a formal APA style paper (it covers the main points). The presenter also prepares 25 or more copies of a brief version of the paper to be given to those who are interested. If you run out of copies, have a sign-up sheet so visitors can request for you to mail them a copy after the convention.

Besides reducing public speaking anxiety, poster sessions permit a much greater number of simultaneous presentations than possible with paper sessions, and encourage good discussions between researchers with similar interests. Finally, poster session presenters usually have their name(s), institutional affiliation and poster title listed in the convention program. Therefore, the presenter is expected to show up on time, remain near the poster and keep oneself available to answer questions. Because it is an honor to be asked to present a poster, the presenter should dress appropriately - obviously not in beach clothes. Also, please avoid extended conversations with one person while others must wait to ask questions; and don't wander off somewhere, or put the poster up and leave!

PREPARING A POSTER PRESENTATION

In constructing your poster, you should attempt to exploit the opportunities provided by this extended visual mode of presentation.

1. Therefore, it is recommended that in preparing your poster, you should:
   1. Construct the poster to include the title, the author(s), affiliation(s), and a description of the research, which highlights the major elements that are covered in the abstract of your work.
   2. Minimize detail and try to use simple, jargon-free statements.
   3. Remember that pictures, tables and figures are amenable to a poster display.
   4. If you can, use color in your visuals.
   5. Make sure that your lettering is neatly done and is large enough to be read from a distance. Do not simply pin up set of typed pages - reserve these for your handouts.
   6. Consider using a flow chart or some other method of providing the viewer with a guide to inspecting your display.
   7. Above all, don't overwhelm the viewer with excessive amounts of information, rather construct a poster display that enhances conversation.
   8. Be ready to set up and take down your poster at specified times.
2. You should have available for distribution, copies of a printed version of your paper with the details of the research (about 25 or more), and/or a sign-up sheet on which interested people can request the paper. Be sure to indicate on the paper your name and your college, and whether others have your permission to quote or reproduce your paper.
3. You have an obligation to prepare a neat, well-organized display and to be present at your display for the entire poster session period. With a little thought and creativity, you can make your presentation a very pleasing one for both you and your audience.

POSTER LAYOUT

CHECKLIST - POSTER CONTENT

General poster layout is attractive and professional looking (not "artsy"- remember, this isn't an art contest!)

• Poster is readable
• The illustrated materials (e.g., figures) are well-prepared and effectively utilized
• The problem/hypothesis is clearly stated
• The method is sound and well controlled (or are there possible extraneous variables?)
• The presented conclusions be logically reached from the data that are presented
• The presenter is present and near the poster during the scheduled poster session
• The presenter is dressed appropriately (not, for example, in beach togs)
• The presenter is reasonably available (not in extended one-on-one conversations making others to have to wait around to ask questions about the research)

APA STYLE CHECKLIST*

General Typing and Organization

• 1" margins all around
• The parts of the poster are all there and they are in the correct order: Title and institutional affiliation, Abstract, Introduction, Method (method may include Subjects, Apparatus, Procedure), Results, Discussion, References
• Text of poster is in 18 point font for easy reading
• Since you are using a larger font size (18 point), don't double-space the text
• Five-space paragraph indents throughout the main body of the report, but not the abstract
• Typed all the title and headings in upper and lowercase letters
• Entire written part of poster has been checked for spelling errors
• Narrative is written in past tense and third person, mostly avoiding personal pronouns such as "I," "we," "our"

Title Section

• Length of title 15 words or less
• Title, your name, and your institutional affiliation are in very large font and positioned along the top border of the poster
• Abstract
• Abstract headed by the centered word "Abstract"
• Abstract 100 to 150 words in length
• First line of abstract not indented

Introduction Section

• Introduction is headed by the word "Introduction"
• All reference citations complete, accurate, and correctly formatted
• The introduction section moves from general to specific. In other words...
  • the introduction begins with a general statement about the area being studied,
  • the literature review moves from general to more specific references related to the topic of the current paper,
  • after the literature review, the introduction section ends with the study's purpose followed by the hypotheses
• The Introduction section is written in past tense
• All reference citations are properly formatted

* This information may be useful for preparing your poster, but doesn't cover everything.

Consult the APA Publication Manual when in doubt.

Method Section

• The method section follows immediately after the end of the introduction
• The method section is headed by the centered word "Method"
• The titles for the subsections are underlined (e.g., Subjects)
• Titles for the subsections are flush with left margin
• Method section is written in past tense

Results Section

• The results section begins immediately after the end of the method section
• The results section is headed by the centered word "Results"
• If appropriate, the results section is organized into subsections using underlined margin headings
• If interactions are discussed, the independent variables are capitalized when linked by an X (e.g., Time X Difficulty interaction)
• The statistical symbols are in italics and underlined (e.g., t = 2.5, f = 4.68, p > .05, etc.)
• Proper form used for the insertion of tables and figures in the appropriate place (Rather than using the "insert figure/table about here" approach, it is best to place each table or figure within the results section narrative.)

Discussion Section

• Discussion section begins immediately after the end of the results section
• Discussion section is headed by the centered word "Discussion"
• Past tense is used to describe your results and to refer to other research cited in the introduction
• Present tense used to discuss theories, speculations, conclusions
• Future tense used to suggest additional research which could further the present state of knowledge
• Discussion section is written from specific to general. In other words...
• the Discussion begins immediately by stating if the results did nor did not support your hypothesis,
• then goes on to relate your findings to similar studies cited in the introduction,
• then goes on to describe design features or procedures which would have improved the present study if you could do it over,
• then goes on to suggest further research
• Where appropriate, the discussion again cites research literature (i.e., some of the references cited in the introduction are cited again in the discussion section)
• Citations are properly formatted

Tables

• Each table is numbered consecutively according to its order in the results section of the report
• Each table is identified by the heading "Table" and a number, typed flush with the left margin of the table
• Each table has a concise title located between the heading "Table" and the table itself
• Each table title is underlined
• The first letter of each word in the title is capitalized (except for prepositions, etc.)
• All lines within the table are at least double-spaced
• In the body of the table, each column has a heading
• All lines in the table are horizontal (there should be no vertical lines)

Figures

• Each figure is numbered consecutively, corresponding to its order in the results
• Lines are drawn perfectly straight with a ruler, graphics materials, or a computer program
• The vertical axis is about two-thirds the length of the horizontal axis
• The independent variable is on the horizontal axis, the dependent variable is on the vertical axis
• The units on each axis are labeled and spaced equally
• The IV and DV axis labels are typed in capital letters, parallel to their respective axes
• If appropriate, a legend is used to identify the lines in the graph

Adapted from the WPA guidelines.

 Last Updated On: 11/16/05