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Formatting Tables & Presenting Figures Synopsis: APA style has strict requirements for formatting tables and graphics---imposed by the demands of typesetting for publication. These are not unique to APA style but are widely shared by other popular styles. Simplicity is a virtue, relevance is essential. The question of when to use tables and graphics is subject to discussion in the APA Manual. The focus of this lesson is on their presentation. |
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Body/Cells/Data Field. The body or data field of a table contains the data cells, the numbers in the table as distinct from title, headings, and notes. Caption. The title and/or description below a figure or graph. Column. The vertical alignment cells in of a table. Column Heading. The heading or description at the top of a column. Dependent Variable. The dependent variables in a table are its rows. Changes to the dependent variable are displayed horizontally across the table. Independent Variable. The variables presented vertically in the columns of a table. Legend. "In APA journals a legend explains the symbols used in a figure [or graph]" (APA, 2001, p.199). Some styles used the term interchangeably with caption. |
Probability Note. It is common to identify statistically significant results in a table. These are marked with asterisks in the data cells. A probability note then goes below the table and other notes to display the significance level, e.g., *p < .05, **p < .01. Row. The horizontal alignment of cells in a table. Rule. The horizontal line that spans a table. Stub/Stub head. The left side of the table is called the stub. The stub includes the row headings or descriptions as well as the stub head, the description of the dependent variables in the rows below. Stub (Row Heading). The description of the dependent variables at the left side of the table rows. Table Notes. Table notes are placed below a table. They come in three categories, (a) general notes, (b) specific notes, and (c) probability notes. |
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Tables and figures were high on the list of problem areas identified in the survey of journals editors by Brewer et al. (2001). This was discussed in lesson 1. The survey did not identify the specific source of the problem, that is, were the problems with presentation or formating? Or were the problems with expression or content? APA101 is focused on the presentation of research papers in APA style. Content issues are dealt with at length in the APA Manual, Chicago Manual, and the AMA Manual. However, the APA Manual presents a list of Standards for Figures that merits repeating, and readily applies to tables as well (2001, sec. 3.67). The standards for good figures [and tables] are simplicity, clarity, and continuity. A good figure [or table]: 
augments rather than duplicates the text;
coveys only essential facts;
omits distracting detail;
is easy to read---its elements (type, lines, labels, symbols, etc.) are large enough to be read with ease in printed form;
is easy to understand---its purpose is readily apparent;
is consistent with and is prepared in the same style as similar figures [and tables] in the same article; . . . and;
is carefully planned and prepared.
5.1. Formatting APA Tables
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