Overview from the Program Chair
It is that time of the year again, when we begin to focus our attention on the upcoming SIOP Annual Conference, the premier event within industrial-organizational psychology. The conference is a time when we come together to share our work and insights with one another, avail ourselves of the knowledge and experience of our ever-growing I-O community, and bolster our professional networks with new connections while strengthening existing ones. It is an event focused on both past achievements and future potential. Reflecting on where we’ve been, the past few years have seen the conference change substantially as organizers responded to the uncertainty of the pandemic. Thankfully, we have reached a point where we no longer need to be reactive but can instead be strategic and proactive about the overall conference direction and structure. The SIOP Program committee is hard at work already; we are dedicated to maintaining the quality programming of past conferences while also incorporating the feedback we have received, in particular, from the 2023 post-conference evaluation. However, we can’t do it without you. Our conference programming is built by the efforts of SIOP members, and I sincerely hope you will submit a proposal, in order for all conference attendees can benefit from your unique experiences and contributions in the I-O world, whether you are a seasoned conference-presenter or a first-time submitter.
Overall, there are only a few small differences in the programming planned for 2024 in Chicago compared to the 2023 conference. This was an intentional choice to establish stability in the wake of several years of change and to serve as a jumping-off point for exciting changes for future conferences. Please note, the submission deadline is October 11, 2023.
As in previous years, we will continue to have a virtual conference experience. I strongly encourage you to consider submitting a virtual proposal, as this modality facilitates the inclusion of a broader range of speakers unburdened by the requirement to attend the in-person conference. The virtual modality has made it possible for conference programming to include international speakers, as well as executives from non-I-O backgrounds who would not otherwise attend the conference. A virtual submission requires at least one speaker to attend the conference virtually (see Conference Programming Formats), but any speaker who is attending the conference in-person can participate in both session modalities (in-person and virtual). If any speaker in a session is virtual, then the session must be conducted in the virtual modality. We will be allocating quiet spaces in Chicago for in-person attendees to present virtually during the conference.
To offer greater flexibility between the two modalities in proposals, this year, the submission portal will have three options regarding the two modalities: in-person only, virtual only, and flexible. The last option indicates that speakers are open to presenting in either an in-person session or a virtual session. The session modality (in-person or virtual) will be assigned at the time of proposal acceptances, after which all speakers must abide by the aforementioned attendance requirements for that modality. This option is ideal for speakers who face uncertainty in attending the in-person conference. As we have learned in the past few years, the only thing that is certain is uncertainty.
One notable change this for the 2024 conference is that there will be no live-streaming of in-person conference sessions. Instead, designated in-person sessions will be recorded and subsequently uploaded into Whova, so this recorded content can be accessed later by both in-person and virtual attendees. However, virtual modality sessions will continue be conducted live, synchronously via Zoom.
Despite the aforementioned changes, the submission process remains mostly the same as last year. When submitting proposals, speaker and non-speaking contributor roles will need to be assigned. The Rule of Three (see Eligibility) is based on the designation of an individual as a speaker, not author order. Student members may submit a proposal, however, all proposals must have at least one speaker who is not a Student member (this rule does not apply to posters). Submissions can be either 50-minute or 80-minute sessions, but 50-minute sessions are preferred, as there are more 50-minute slots in the program schedule compared to the longer slots.
As the SIOP Program Committee, we welcome proposals that are aligned to SIOP’s vision, mission, values, and goals. All proposals should align with SIOP’s core values. Specifically, proposals should reflect excellence in the research, education, and practice of I-O psychology; they should inspire our effectiveness, foster a more inclusive and diverse professional community, and address real-world problems in a timely manner. Given the recent past which demonstrated our amazing ability to adapt to changing conditions, we call upon that creative thinking and innovation to maximize our potential positive impact with our conference programming.
Your feedback is always welcome. Help make a memorable and valuable conference experience for all attendees.
SIOP 2024 Program Committee
Vivian A. Woo, Chair (program@siop.org)