Poster Presentation Guide

Last updated: 4/3/2023

Presenting a talk instead? Click here for instructions.

Spoken Presentation Guide
Statistical Guidelines
Draft Abstract Book

 Overview
Poster sessions are a forum for information exchange that allows attendees to quickly skim your material, and presenters to engage interested viewers in direct, informal, one-on-one discussion. Unlike a spoken presentation where research is presented to an audience of multiple people, a poster presentation can be more conversational. The poster itself should be self-explanatory, allowing viewers to quickly discern the most important points of your research and encouraging further dialogue. The 2023 Annual Meeting in San Francisco includes multiple poster sessions, and all presentations will be held in-person only.

 Location
Grand Ballroom, Grand Ballroom level (accessible via Elevators 1 & 2), Hilton San Francisco Union Square
333 O'Farrell Street, San Francisco, California, 94102, USA

 Abstract Numbering
Each poster abstract is assigned a four-digit number.

The first digit identifies the poster session. There are five sessions: (Times may be subject to change.)

Session 1: Thursday, November 16 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
Session 2: Friday, November 17 (12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Session 3: Friday, November 17 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)
Session 4: Saturday, November 18 (12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.)
Session 5: Saturday, November 18 (6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.)

The last three digits range between 001 and 200. This is the poster board number in a poster session (i.e., “001” refers to board #1 and “125” refers to board #125). Example Abstract Numbers:

Abstract #2125 = Poster Session 2, board #125.
Abstract #4010 = Poster Session 4, board #010.
Abstract #5150 = Poster Session 5, board #150.

 Dimensions
For proper display at the venue, your poster should have a horizontal (or landscape) orientation and be smaller than the following dimensions:

4 feet (1.22 meters) tall by 8 feet (2.44 meters) wide

Posters are typically printed in one of the following sizes. Choose the size that's best for you based on the material you're presenting and your budget. Printing costs vary by size.

36" tall x 48" wide
48" tall x 60" wide
48" tall x 96" wide

 Poster Preparation and Design
Poster Design Basics
Review the General Information section above for important information about presenting a poster at the 2023 Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting. Your poster should be designed to best present your research. It may be beneficial to seek advice from a colleague at your institution who has experience presenting a poster.

Title/Banner
The title of your poster should be prominent, generally a banner across the top and visible to attendees from a distance. Lettering should be at least 1-inch (2.54 cm) high.

Poster boards are numbered and ordered by the abstract code included in the email with your schedule. It is recommended that you include the poster number at the top of your poster, generally in the top left corner.

The title and poster number should be the same as the corresponding abstract in the program and mobile app.

Presenter and Co-author Names
The poster should include the names and affiliations of all the contributing authors included with the abstract in the program. The name and affiliation of the presenting author should be clearly indicated.

Illustrations
Figures should be designed to be viewed from a distance, using clear, visible graphics. Although each figure should illustrate no more than one or two major points, figures need not be simple. The main points should be clear without extended viewing, but detail can be included for the knowledgeable viewer.

Each figure or table should have a heading of one or two lines in large type stating the “take-home” message. Detailed information should be in smaller type in a legend below the graphic. Because there is no text accompanying a poster, the figure legend should contain commentary that would normally appear in the text of a manuscript (results and discussion). It should describe concisely not only the content of the figure but also the conclusions derived from it. Details of methodology should be kept brief and should be placed at the end of the legend.

Statistics
Please follow the Psychonomic Society Statistical Guidelines. Effect sizes should be reported and error bars with appropriate labels should be included on all graphs.

Layout
Arrange materials in columns rather than in rows. It is easier to scan a poster by moving systematically along it rather than by zigzagging back and forth in front of it. An introduction should be placed at the upper left and a conclusion at the lower right, both in large type. The sequence of illustrations should be indicated with numbers or letters at least 1-inch high, preferably in bold print.

You may find it convenient to have a separate section describing methods, but it is quite effective to include this information as part of the data presentation, as described above. Carefully chosen photographs of apparatus, or schematic diagrams of procedures, can convey a great deal of information about methods without much text. Most viewers will tend to skim or ignore long textual passages.

Poster Printing
You may print your poster ahead of time and bring it with you, or you may order a printed version of your poster from a nearby print shop. If you choose to use a local print shop, we strongly encourage you to contact them far in advance of the conference for instructions on how to submit your poster for printing and a printing timeline. Print shops often cannot print posters at the last minute. Planning ahead is strongly advised.

Print Shops*
Bay Area Poster Board
Phone: (510) 395-5893
Email: info@bayareaposterboard.com
Web: https://bayareaposterboard.com
Download the poster printing order form.

ARC
100 Hooper Street, Suite 20, San Francisco, CA 94107
Phone: (415) 495-8700 | Manager: Andy Villarosa
Email: sanfrancisco@e-arc.com
Web: https://www.e-arc.com/

FedEx Office Print & Ship Center
335 Powell St., San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (628) 263-6144
Email: USA1193@fedex.com
Web: View the online order form

*Please note that the list above is not endorsed by the Psychonomic Society. PS cannot guarantee poster printing prices and is not responsible for the cost of printing your poster or the time it takes to print the poster.

Questions?
Contact Member Services at info@psychonomic.org or +1 847-375-3696.
Member Services is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., U.S. Central Time.