Displaying results in research

INTRODUCTION

Display: To show or make visible Result: Something that ensure from an action Displaying Results To show or make visible the outcomes that ensure from

an action.

ELECTRONIC WAYS

Word processing programs Spread sheet programs Statistical packages Highly specialized software

MANUAL WAYS

Table: Tables usually show numerical values or textual

information arranged in an orderly display of columns and rows.

Figure: A figure may be a chart, a graph, a photo graph, a

drawing or any other illustration or nontextual depiction.

GENERAL GUIDANCE

Purpose of data display Exploration Communication Calculation Storage Decoration

CONT….

Design and preparation Items to be compared next to each other Clarity in labeling Enough large font size Include relevant information Free of extraneous material

CONT…..

Graphical verses textual presentation Large number of tables and figures Large number of tables and figures verses small amount

of text Not always optimal for effective presentation

CONT….

Formatting tables and figures Word processing program Cut and pasted from computer output PDF images

CONT….

Table and figure numbers Use Arabic numerals Do not use Suffix letters (5a , 5b, 5c etc) Use same sequence Mention Appendix with capital letters and Arabic

numerals (Appendix A, Appendix B etc)

CONT…..

Permission to reproduce data display If you used tables and figures of any other author then

must take permission from copyright holder. Mention original author’s name.

“TABLES”

Conciseness in tables Limit the content to essential materials. Conciseness is necessary for both text tables and

supplement archives. Supplemental tables are in more detail than text tables. Tables should be concise but having enough detail which

can be easily understandable by the reader.

TABLES

Tables Layout Should be logical and easily grasped. Should be in sequences. Different indices should be in different lines of tables. Values used in tables should be comparable. Tables should be specific in nature.

TABLES

Standard forms Some data tables have standard forms. Reader can easily get information by standard forms.

STANDARD FORMS

younger

older

Level of difficulty

n M (SD) 95%Cl n M(SD) 95%Cl

Low 12 .05(.08)

[.02,.11]

18 .14(.15)

[.08,.22]

Mederate

15 .05(.07)

[.02,.10]

12 .17(.15)

[.08,.28]

high 16 .11(.10)

[.07,.17]

14 .26(.21)

[.15,.39]

TABLES

Relation of tables and texts In this relationship, tables are discussed in textual form. Discuss only the highlights of tables. If online tables are used then mention its existence in

form of brief articles.

TABLES

Relation between tables Use similar format, titles and headings and use same

terminology throughout.

TABLES

Table titles Tables have clear and explanatory titles. Too general: Table 1 Relation Between College Majors and Performance [It is

unclear what data are presented in the table.]

Too detailed: Table 1 Mean Performance Scores on Test A, Test B. and Test C

of Students With Psychology. Physics. English. and Engineering Majors

[This duplicates information in the headings of the table.]

Good title: Mean Performance Scores of Students With Different

College Majors

TABLES

Table headings A table heading should be brief but not lengthy. Abbreviation and symbols can be used for non technical

terms. (M, SD etc) Abbreviation of technical terms, group names must be

explained in the table title or in a note to the tables.

POOR BETTER

Grade Level Grade

3 3

4 4

5 5

TABLES

Table body Decimal Value (Express numerical values to the number

of decimal places that the precision of measurement justifies.)

Empty Cell (Point of intersection between row and columns is called Cell.) We leave the cell blank if the data in the point of intersection is not applicable.

Conciseness (Be selective in your presentation)

TABLES

Table Notes General Notes Specific Notes Probability Notes