Effective Figures and Tables
8- 25
Tables
Tables enable the concise presentation of large quantities of data. Tables also allow for clear comparisons of large quantities of data, including non-numeric data. A table will typically have a number, a title, column headings and columns (at least 2 and preferably 3 or more), and row headings (called “row stubs”) and rows (again, at l east 2 and preferably 3 or more). Many tables also have explanatory footnotes. Each column should have a heading, which describes the data in the column and usually includes the units of measure (if any) for numbers in the column. Tables comparing subject (patient) or disease characteristics between 2 or more groups often have the units of measure in the row stubs instead of in the column headings. (This concept is illustrated in the section “Subject Characteristic Tables.”) Material that is to be directly compared should be adjacent in the table. Research has shown that readers usually prefer to make comparisons horizontally (across rows) rather than vertically (down columns). The best order of rows is the order that is most useful to readers for the type of data being presented. For example, if the rows show progression over time, then chronologic order will probably work best. If the rows show group characteristics, then ordering them by values, from largest to smallest, might work well. Rows showing related information (for example, tumors < 5 cm and tumors ≥ 5 cm) should be adjacent. Alphabetical order might be used if no other ordering principles are applicable. Spanning column headings are used to avoid repeating the same information in multiple column headings. Indenting row stub subcategories under main categories achieves a similar goal in the row stubs. (Both concepts are illustrated in the section “Model of a Good Table.”) It is not wrong to have repeated information in column headings or row stubs. Just be aware that sometimes tables become clearer if the repeated information is separated. The intersection of a column and a row is commonly referred to as a “cell.” Cells should be left blank only if no value is possible. If a value is possible but not known or otherwise lacking, use an em-dash (2 hyphens) or another designator that is defined in the footnotes (for example, “ND” for “not done” or “NA” for “not available”). If the value for that cell is 0 (for example, if no subjects in 1 group displayed a characteristic seen in other groups), use a 0.
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