POSTER PRESENTATIONS IN PSYCHOLOGY

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Poster Guidelines Checklist*

A. Visual Appearance--Characteristics of the Heading

1. Title states the independent and dependent variables OR states the predictor and criterion variables.
2. Include the author(s) and affiliation(s)
3. Readable from at least two meters away; lettering at least 1 inch high
4. Title uses both capital and lower case lettering
5. Avoid the use of reverse type (i.e., white letters on black background)
6. No more than ten words

B. Visual Appearance--Characteristics of the Layout

The poster is a visual presentation of information. Rely sparingly on verbal print, rely a lot on graphs, charts, tables and pictures to communicatin information. What verbal text you use should focus on the main points of your design, rationale, etc. Your poster should NOT be a copy of your written paper glued onto poster board. Save descriptions of complex analyses, etc. for your complete paper (see D below).

1. Use colors to attract attention
2. Use graphs/tables to convey information
3. Use pictures where appropriate
4. Print can be read from at least one meter away (no smaller than Times 24 font)
5. Symmetrical in appearance, i.e, right/left and top/bottom halves balanced
6. Focus selectively on major findings (presents the details in the printed manuscript available as handouts)
7. Include major sections 
1. Introduction - Definition of hypothesis, variables, and why do you expect to find support for it.
2. Literature review - Summary of at least three primary research papers.
3. Conclusion and Discussion -  Did you find support for the hypothesis? What are the implications.
4. References (APA Style! Smaller font okay for references)
8. Sections are labeled and appear in a clear order.
9. Limit the text pages

C. Interacting with the Audience

Posters don't stand alone. Your availability and interaction style will also influence the number of people who read your poster and talk with you about it. Stand by your poster at all times during your session. Use inviting behaviors to initiate conversation. Viewers appreciate having important information pointed out to them.

• Do you display a professional appearance and demeanor?
• Are you responsive to questions about your research?
• Are you willing to approach people who appear interested in your poster?
• Are you able to talk about your study with different audiences?
• Do you know how your research fits into various fields of study?
• Are you enthusiastic about your research? Can you convey this to others?

*Adapted from Mitchell, J., Prevost, S. & Stoddart, R.M. (1995). And the survey says: An empirical study of effective poster presentations. Chicago: Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Conference.

• Guidelines for Poster Submission and Presentation. This web page contains poster guidelines for undergraduates membrs of Phi Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Xi who were giving presentations at the 1998 Annual Research Day at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
• Guidelines for Scientific Poster Design. National Center for Marine Biotechnology Research and Education, Baltimore. Initial preparations, developing an idea, putting it all together.