You've got a study worth discussing, but the submission form asks you to choose a session format. It's tempting to select whichever sounds most prestigious or most familiar. A better starting question is what you want participants to do with the work.
The handbook describes several common formats. Their names and requirements vary by event, so read the actual call before deciding. Treat the descriptions below as a way to think through the choice.
A paper presentation: explain a focused contribution
A structured talk may suit work with a clear argument, methods, and findings to communicate. Consider what you can explain within the assigned time and what listeners need to follow it. Leave space for the discussion the session actually allows.
The aim isn't to fit a whole manuscript onto slides.
A poster: support short, specific conversations
A visual presentation can let attendees examine a question or result and ask about the details most relevant to them. Plan a readable display and a concise spoken explanation. Think about what someone should understand before you say a word.
A poster can serve substantial work; don't assume it represents a lower level of scholarship.
A roundtable: examine questions through discussion
Where the event uses a conversational format, identify the issue you want to explore and the questions that will move the exchange forward. Explain what evidence or experience you'll bring.
Check whether the organizers expect individual research discussion, a panel, or another arrangement. The label alone doesn't settle that.
A workshop: help participants practice something
If the purpose is learning a method or applying an approach, describe what participants will do, what they need, and what they can reasonably take away. A workshop proposal needs an activity plan, not simply a longer lecture.
Consider accessibility, materials, timing, and the range of experience participants may bring.
Match the format to the stage and purpose
Ask whether you need to report findings, test an explanation, examine a design question, or teach a skill. Then check which available format supports that purpose and fits the event's eligibility rules.
Write two sentences before choosing: 'I want participants to understand or do ___. The exchange would be useful because ___.' Use those answers to assess the format, instead of treating the menu as a ranking of your work.
Adapted from The New Faculty Handbook by Zafer Unal, pp. 100-102.
