Your paper has been scheduled in a poster session during the annual convention of the American Psychological Association this year. By facilitating informal discussions between presenters and their audience, poster sessions provide a more intimate forum for exchange than do regular paper presentations. Ideally, a well-constructed poster will be self-explanatory and free you from answering obvious questions so that you are available to supplement and discuss particular points of interest.

Successful poster presentations are those which achieve both coverage and clarity.

Coverage: Have you provided all the obvious information? Will a casual observer walk away understanding your major findings after a quick perusal of your material? Will a more careful reader learn enough to ask informed questions?
     In addition to a title/author label and abstract, most successful posters provide brief statements of introduction, method, subjects, procedure, results, and conclusions. Ask yourself, "What would I need to know if I were viewing this material for the first time?" and then state that information clearly.

Clarity: Is the sequence of information evident? Indicate the ordering of your material with numbers, letters, or arrows, when necessary. Is the content being communicated clearly? Keep it simple. Place your major points in the poster and save the nonessential but interesting sidelights for informal discussion. Be selective. Your final conclusions or summary should leave ob-servers focused on a concise statement of your most important findings.

Guidelines for Presenters
     Poster boards mounted on stands will be provided by APA and placed in rows in the designated meeting room. Your place among the poster boards will be indicated by the number listed next to your paper in the Convention Program, e.g., A-1, A-2, etc. Participants should plan to place their materials on the poster board during the ten minutes immediately preceding the hour when the poster session is scheduled.
     Poster boards provided for divisional poster sessions are covered by fabric on which a Velcro "hook" can be used. You may wish to use Velcro backings (use "hook" side) in order to attach your materials to these poster boards. (Note: Velcro backings will not be provided at the convention. Thumbtacks will be available in the room.)
     Materials must be removed from the poster board at the end of each poster session. Poster sessions must end PROMPTLY at 50 minutes after the hour in order to provide time for individuals in the next poster session to set up their posters.
     At least 50 copies of your complete paper should be available for distribution to interested persons. Copies of your paper and all illustrative materials must be prepared BEFORE the convention. APA does not have reproductive or graphic facilities at the meeting. Electrical outlets, projection equipment, and tape recorders will not be provided in the poster session room. All graphics are to be displayed on the poster board. You may find it useful to have on hand a tablet of sketch paper and suitable drawing materials to assist you in explanations to observers. Please note that it is NOT possible to write or paint on the poster boards.

Requirements for Making Posters
     The poster board surface area is 4 feet high and 6 feet wide and is blue. Prepare a label indicating (a) the title of your paper and (b) the author(s) for the top of your poster space. The lettering for this section should not be less than 1 inch high. A copy of your abstract (300 words or less), in large typescript, should be posted in the upper lefthand corner of the poster board. Do not mount illustrations on heavy board because these may be difficult to keep in posi-tion on the poster board.
     Bear in mind that your illustrations will be viewed from distances of 3 feet or more. All lettering should be at least 3/8 inches high, preferably in a bold font, or if hand-lettered, written with a regular felt-tip pen (not fine-point). Be sure to provide clear labels for each section of your presentation.

Summary
(1) Set up poster 10 minutes before session begins.
(2) Prepare title/author label with lettering at least 1 inch high for the top of your poster space.
(3) Prepare an abstract (300 words or less) with lettering at least 3/8 inches high for the upper lefthand corner of your space.
(4) Indicate clearly the sections and sequence of your materials. Keep it simple.
(5) Bring at least 50 copies of your paper with you for distribution. On-site reproduction will NOT be available.
(6) Remove poster 10 minutes before the hour in which the next session is scheduled to begin.