Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles Course Workbook

Effective Figures and Tables

8- 3

When to Use Figures

In general, use a figure to

Highlight patterns or trends in data.

▪ Demonstrate changes or differences over time.

▪ Display complex relationships among quantitative variables.

Clarify or explain methods.

▪ Provide information to enhance understanding of complex concepts.

▪ Provide visual data to illustrate findings (for example, slides, photographs, maps). ▪ Illustrate scientific or clinical concepts, mechanisms, or pathophysiology.

For example, the following figure shows changes over time:

Tum

or

Volu

me

(mm 3

)

Figure 2. Effects of the 3 treatments on tumor growth over time.

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