Guidelines for Successful Poster Sessions
The International Studies Association recognizes poster sessions as an important element of the 2011 ISA Convention. A poster session is an alternative method to traditional panels that provides a visual and concise method for disseminating and evaluating research. Poster presentations are organized by theme or substantive topic in ways that encourage discussion and debate between presenter and convention delegates. All poster panels are assigned a panel discussant. Each presenter is assigned a specific date, time, and location as indicated in the convention program listings. Every poster location has its own 8’x4’ display board, table for handouts and materials, and two chairs. Presenters attach materials that visually capture the essence of their work onto the display boards in a setting that encourages a more informal and in-depth discussion of the work than is possible in a traditional panel session.
A poster presented at the 2005 Annual Convention in Honolulu. Note the use of photos as well as color to frame the photos and text. Also note the copies of the paper available for participants to take and a guest book so participants can leave their contact info or business card.
The increasing popularity of this medium for presenting individual research is reflected in the number of posters presented this year. Approximately 180 presentations are scheduled over the four days of the convention. Poster sessions begin at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday and continue on a regular schedule until 12:15 p.m. Saturday. In the convention program you will find the poster listings at the end of each day’s panel sessions. Poster sessions will be conducted in the Hochelaga 3 meeting room, Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, Convention Floor Level.
Poster identifications are coded similar to panels but have a suffix of 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 or 99. Each suffix represents a thematic grouping of poster presentations. For example, a poster session listed as TA94 would be on Thursday (“T”), 8:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (“A” time slot) in the Hochelaga 3 room at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth hotel.
As other convention delegates come into the poster area and look over your presentation, you have the opportunity to engage in a much more detailed discussion of your research, the methodology and your findings than you might otherwise in a traditional panel format. While you do not make a formal delivery of your paper, you will be able to engage in a more informal and more in depth discussion of your work. You are expected to post your paper to the online paper archive. You may also find it convenient to bring a few copies of your paper to distribute during your poster session and for the delegates at large. The number of copies you bring is up to you.
Information for Presenters:
Individual posters are presented alphabetically by paper title, as shown in the program for each session. At the start of each poster session, signage in the Poster Lounge will indicate the physical board location for each presenter. Push pins and a wastebasket are provided at each station. Please install and remove your materials on time. ISA Staff personnel will be available at the start and end of each session to provide assistance as needed.
ISA will provide the following for each session:
- Poster board -- 8' long x 4' tall
- Draped table -- 6' long for handouts
Presenters should begin displaying their posters 15 minutes before their scheduled section so that meeting attendees who cannot attend a poster session because of a scheduling conflict may still have time to see it. Presenters are not required to remain with their poster during this time.
Things To Avoid
Here are some helpful suggestions on things to avoid in your poster presentation:
- DO NOT mount the text of your paper as the poster! Instead, have copies of your paper at your table for viewers to take.
- DO NOT use less than 16 font for any text you mount. Most viewers will be at least three feet away from your poster.
- DO NOT be absent from your scheduled poster time! The whole idea of a poster session is to create additional opportunities for you to interact with other interested scholars!
A survey was conducted by the American Psychology Association at their 1993 meeting regarding poster sessions.[2] They found that the "… most commonly noted distracting mannerism was involvement of the presenter in conversation unrelated to the poster" (Welch & Waehler, 1996: 43). They also found that overzealous presenters, those who were arrogant, uninviting, and not available for questions were also unpleasant (43). What particularly impressed the respondents were:
Things To Do
Here are our suggestions on things to do for a successful poster presentation:
- Divide the contents of your poster into appropriate sections. For instance -- title of paper, author, institutional affiliation; abstract; methodology; data; results; conclusions. Be sure to include each section on a separate sheet(s) of paper.
- Use larger (at least 16 font) lettering for the poster's title, author and institutional affiliation. Make the lettering at least one inch high. This text should be visible from as far away as five feet.
- Avoid fonts that are script or difficult to read.
- If hand lettering is required, use a black felt-tip pen (Sharpie).
- Be concise with your written material. Save elaborative points for discussion/interaction with viewers. For conclusions, focus on a central finding that lends itself to informal discussion.
- Use graphs, charts and/or tables (color if possible) to show results. Graphics help make your poster interesting.
- A neutral poster or matte board is more amenable to the eye than a bright colored background. A splash of color here and there, perhaps highlighting central finding(s) or provocative results, will make your poster "stand out" from the crowd.
- A mailing tube or portfolio case is recommended for transporting your poster.
- Have a notepad handy when presenting at your poster session. It may be helpful in elaborating on your findings, or for taking names & addresses of people interested in your research.
Examples
Here are some excellent sources of helpful information for producing effective posters:
- KUMC - Effective Presentations
- ASP - Expanded guidelines for Giving a Poster Presentation
- NCSU - An Effective Poster
- BIO 801 - Scientific Literature and Writing Poster Presentations
Email us your feedback: isa@isanet.org
[1] Much of this information was gathered from David R. White & John A. Garcia's article, "Poster Sessions and the APSA Convention: Developments and Guidelines" and Garcia's website: www.u.arizona.edu/~jag/poster.html
[2] Welch, Andrea A. & Charles A. Waehler. 1996. "Preferences about Poster Presentations." Teaching of Psychology, vol. 23, no. 1 (February), pp. 42-44.
