Taking the plunge: Tips for preparing, attending, and presenting at your first conference

Abstract

The first conference I attended was during the first year of my PhD studies and I gave an oral presentation. The conference was in experimental pragmatics (XPRAG) and was held in Chicago. XPRAG is a biannual conference which brings together people from a range of backgrounds, including psychology and linguistics, who have an interest in experimental approaches to studying pragmatic phenomena. Reflecting on my experience, I have compiled a list of hints and tips which I hope will help others when they come to presenting their research at conferences.