This document discusses different methods of organizing and presenting data in tables. It defines what a table is, the objectives and rules of tabulation, and the key parts of an ideal table. It also describes the importance of tabulation and different types of tables including simple, complex, double, and manifold tables. Tabulation is presented as a systematic way to organize data using rows and columns to facilitate analysis and interpretation.

1. ORGANIZATION AND
PRESENTATION OF
DATA

2. INTRODUCTION
The classification of data leads to the problem of
presentation of data. The presentation of data means exhibition
of the data in such a clear and attractive manner that these are
easily understood and analyzed. There many forms of
presentation of data of which the following three are well
known:
(i). Textual Presentation,
(ii). Tabular Presentation,
(iii). Diagrammatic Presentation.
Here, we discuses in detail Tabular method of data

3. WHAT IS A TABLE:
A table is a symmetric arrangement of statistical data
in rows and columns.
A table presents data in a concise, systematic manner
from masses of statistical data. Tabulation is the first
step before data is used for further statistical analysis
and interpretation.

4. DEFINITIONS
“Table involves the orderly and systematic presentation
of numerical data in a form designed to elucidate the
problem under consideration.”
---According Prof.
L.R.Connor,”
“Table in its broadest sense is an orderly arrangement
of data in column and rows. “
---According to Prof. M.M.

5. MEANING
In the light of above mentioned definitions
we can say in brief, “Table is systematic
organization and presentation of data in the
form of rows and columns. Whereas rows are
horizontal arrangements and columns are
vertical arrangements.

6. OBJECTIVES OF DATA TABULATION
To carry out investigations
 To do comparisons
 To locate omissions and errors in the data
 To use space economically
 To study the trends
 To simplify data
 To use it as future references

7. RULES OF TABULATION
There are no hard and fast rules for the tabulation of data but for
constructing good table, following general rules should be observed
while tabulating statistical data.
The table should suit the size of the paper and, therefore, the width of
the column should be decided before hand.
 Number of columns and rows should neither be too large nor too
small.
 As far as possible figures should be approximated before tabulation.
This would reduce unnecessary details.
 Items should be arranged either in alphabetical, chronological or
geographical order or according to size.

8. The sub-total and total of the items of the table must be
written.
 Percentages are given in the tables if necessary.
 Ditto marks should not be used in a table because
sometimes it create confusion.
 Table should be simple and attractive.
 A table should be logical, well-balanced in length and
breadth and the comparable columns should be placed side
by side.
 Light/heavy/thick or double rulings may be used to
distinguish sub columns, main columns and totals.
 For large data more than one table may be used.

9. FEATURES OF A GOOD TABLE
Title as compatible with the objective of the study
 To facilitate comparison.
 Ideal Size
 Heading
Abbreviation
 Footnote
 Total
 Source of data
 Size of Columns
 Simple, Economical and Attractive

10. Parts of
an Ideal
Table
Title
Stubs
or
Row
designations
Date
Column
headings
Or
Captions
Body of the
table
Footnotes
&
references
Sourc
e
Table
number

11. PARTS OF AN IDEAL TABLE
Table number: A number must be allotted to the
table for identification, particularly when there are
many tables in a study.
Title: The title should explain what is contained in the
table. It should be clear, brief and set in bold type on
top of the table. It should also indicate the time and
place to which the data refer.

12. Date: The date of preparation of the table should be
given.
 Stubs or Row designations: Each row of the table
should be given a brief heading. Such designations of
rows are called “stubs”, or, “stub items” and the entire
column is called “stub column”.
 Column headings or Captions: Column designation is
designation is given on top of each column to explain
to what the figures in the column refer. It should be
clear and precise. This is called a “caption”, or,
“heading”. columns should be numbered if there are

13. Body of the table: The data should be arranged in
such a way that any figure can be located easily.
Various types of numerical variables should be
arranged in an ascending order, i.e., from left to right
in rows and from top to bottom in columns. Column
and row totals should be given.
Source: At the bottom of the table a note should be
added indicating the primary and secondary sources
from which data have been collected.
 Footnotes and references: If any item has not been
explained properly, a separate explanatory note
should be added at the bottom of the table.

14. IMPORTANCE OF TABULATION
Under tabulation, data is divided into various parts and
for each part there are totals and sub totals. Therefore,
relationship between different parts can be easily
known.
 Since data are arranged in a table with a title and a
number so these can be easily identified and used for
the required purpose
 Tabulation makes the data brief. Therefore, it can be
easily presented in the form of graphs.
 Tabulation presents the numerical figures in an

15. Tabulation makes complex data simple and as a result
of this, it becomes easy to understand the data.
This form of the presentation of data is helpful in
finding mistakes.
 Tabulation is useful in condensing the collected data.
 Tabulation makes it easy to analyze the data from
tables.
 Tabulation is a very cheap mode to present the data. It
saves time as well as space.
 Tabulation is a device to summaries the large scattered
data. So, the maximum information may be collected

16. METHODS OF TABULATION
Simple tabulation: Simple tabulation is when the data
are tabulated to one characteristic. For example, the
survey that determined the frequency or number of
employees of a firm owning different brands of mobile
phones like Blackberry, Nokia, I phone, etc.
 Double tabulation: Double tabulation is when two
characteristics of data are tabulated. For example,
frequency or number of male and female employees in
the firm owning different brand of mobile phones like
Blackberry, Nokia, Iphone, etc.

17. Complex tabulation: Complex tabulation of data that
includes more than two characteristics. For example,
frequency or number of male, female and the total
employees owning different brand of mobile phones
like Blackberry, Nokia, I phone, etc. Cross tabulations,
is also a sub-type of complex tabulation that includes
cross-classifying factors to build a contingency table
of counts or frequencies at each combination of factor
levels. A contingency table is a display format used to
analyze and record the possible relationship between
two or more categorical variables

18. TYPES OF TABLES
There are three basis of classifying tables.
I. Purpose of a table
II. Originality of a table
III. Construction of a table.

19. Kinds of Tables
General
Purpose
Table
According
to
Constructio
n
According
to
Originality
Accordin
g to
Purpose
Drived
table
Original
table
Specific
Purpose
Table
Complex
table
Simple
or one
way
table
Manifold
table
Treble
table
Double
or two
way
table

20. I. ACCORDING TO PURPOSE
General Purpose Table: General purpose table is that
table which is of general use. It is does not serve any
specific purpose or specific problem under
consideration.
 Special Purpose Table: Special Purpose table is that
table which is prepared with some specific purpose in
mind.

21. II. ACCORDING TO ORIGINALITY
Original Table: An original table is that in which data
are presented in the same form and manner in which
they are collected.
 Derived Table: A derived table is that in which data
are not presented in the form or manner in which
these are collected. Instead the data are first
converted into ratios or percentage and then
presented.

22. III. ACCORDING TO CONSTRUCTION
Simple Table
Complex Tables
 Double or Two-Way Table
Three-Way Table
Manifold (or Higher Order) Table

23. SIMPLE TABLE
• In a simple table (also known as one-way table), data
are presented based on only one characteristic. Table
1.1 illustrates the concept.
Faculties Number of Users
Science 50
Commerce 70
Arts 90
Total 210
Table 1.1 Faculty-wise Library Users

24. COMPLEX TABLES
In a complex table (also known as a manifold
table) data are presented according to two or more
characteristics simultaneously. The complex tables are
two-way or three-way tables according to whether two
or three characteristics are presented simultaneously.
Double or Two-Way Table
Three-Way Table
Manifold (or Higher Order) Table

25. DOUBLE OR TWO-WAY TABLE
• In such a table, the variable under study is further
subdivided into two groups according to two inter-
related characteristics. The two-way table is shown in
Table 1.2.
Faculties Numbers of User Total
Girls Girls
science 20 30 50
Commerce 30 40 70
Arts 35 55 90
total 85 125 210
Table 1.2 Faculty-wise Library Users

26. THREE-WAY TABLE
• In such a table, the variable under study is divided
according to three interrelated characteristics.
Faculties Number of users Total
(1)+(2)
Girls Boys
I Sem II Sem Total (1) I Sem II Sem Total (2)
Science 15 20 35 20 30 50 85
Commerc
e
35 30 65 45 40 85 150
Art 25 35 60 35 55 90 150
Total 75 85 160 100 125 225 385
Table 1.3 Faculty-wise Library Users

27. MANIFOLD (OR HIGHER ORDER) TABLE
• Such tables provide information about a large no of
interrelated characteristics in the data set.
Faculties Number of users Total
(1)+(2)
Girls Boys
I
Sem
II
Se
m
I
Sem
II
Sem
Total (1) I
Sem
II
Sem
I
Se
m
II
Sem
Total (2)
Science 15 34 20 54 123 20 45 30 27 122 245
Commerce 35 23 30 122 122 45 37 40 29 151 273
Art 25 56 35 22 138 35 34 55 36 160 298
Table 1.4 Faculty-wise Library Users