The document provides guidelines for designing tables according to the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). It discusses the components of tables, including the table number, title, headings, body, and notes. Specific guidelines are provided for labeling columns, designing the table to stand on its own, avoiding decorative elements, and using standard abbreviations. Examples of basic table components and sample tables are also included to demonstrate proper APA table design.

1. APA Style
Guidelines for Tables
K.THIYAGU,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Education,
Central University of
Kerala, Kasaragod
(Research Article / Dissertation / Thesis)

2. The primary purpose of
any table
is to facilitate readers’
understanding of the work.
Tables

3. Tables
Unique
Table
Number
Bold
Heading

4. Principles of Designing Tables
• Label all columns in tables.
• Place labels next to the elements they are labeling.Label
• Design the table so it can be understood on its own (meaning
readers do not have to refer to the text to understand it).
• Tables or figures designated as supplemental materials should
also contain enough information to be understood on their own.
Design
• Avoid decorative flourishes, which are distracting and can
interfere with readers’ comprehension; instead, ensure that every
element supports the goal of effective communication.
Avoid Decorative
Flourishes
Use the following principles when designing tables

5. Table Components
Number
Appear:
Above the table
Font:
Bold Font
Example:
Table 1
Title
Appear;
One double-
spaced line
below the table
number
Font Style:
Italic Title Case
Heading
Consist:
Variety of
headings
depending on
the nature and
arrangement of
the data.
Include:
Column headings
& a stub heading.
Appear:
Heading for the
leftmost column
Body
Includes:
All the rows and
columns of a
table
Cell:
It is the point of
intersection
between a row
and a column.
Space:
Single or
one-and-a-half-
or
double-spaced.
Notes
Types:
General,
Specific, &
Probability,
Appear:
Below the table as
needed to describe
contents of the
table that cannot be
understood from
the table title or
body alone
Hint:
Not all tables
include table notes

6. Basic Components of a Table
Source:
7th Edition :
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association

7. Table Number
•Above the
Table
•Flush Left
•Arabic•Bold
Font Numerals
AppearPosition
Table 1,
Table 2 &
Table 3
Not
indented or
Centered

8. Table Titles
Every table should have a brief title
(clear and explanatory)
Write the table title in italic title case
below the table number and double-
space the table number and title.
Abbreviations may also be defined in a
general note to the table
Do not use a specific note to clarify an
element of the title.
Table Source:
7th Edition :
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association

9. Table Headings
Table headings should be brief
Provide a heading for every column in a
table
Stub Heading: Heading that describes the
leftmost column
Column Spanner: Heading that describes the
entries in two or more column in the table
body
Stub Column: Leftmost column of the table,
usually list the major independent or
predictor variable
Table spanner: Heading that covers the
entire width of the table body, allowing for
further divisions.
Table Source: 7th Edition : Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association

10. Table Body
Table body may be in the form of numbers, words,
or a mixture of both
The body of the table (including table headings) may
be single-spaced, one-and-a-half-spaced, or double-
spaced, depending on which presentation most
effectively conveys information to readers
Decimal Values. Numerical values should be
centered in the column and may also be aligned on
the decimal if desired
Empty Cells. If a cell cannot be filled because data
are not applicable, leave the cell blank.
Conciseness. Be selective in your presentation. Do not
include columns of data that can be calculated easily
from other columns. For

11. Table Notes
General Note
•A general note qualifies,
explains, or provides
information relating to the table
as a whole and explains any
abbreviations; symbols; special
use of italics, bold, or
parentheses; and the like.
•General notes are designated
by the word “Note” (italicized)
followed by a period
•Explanations of abbreviations
and copyright attributions for
reprinted or adapted tables
appear at the end of the
general note, in that order.
Specific Note
•A specific note refers to a
particular column, row, or cell.
Specific notes are indicated by
superscript lowercase letters
(e.g., a, b, c).
•Do not add specific notes to a
table title; instead, use a
general note. Within each table
that has specific notes, order the
superscripts from left to right
and from top to bottom, starting
at the top left and beginning
with the letter “a” (see, e.g.,
Tables 7.2, 7.10, and 7.15 in Section
7.21).
•The corresponding specific note
below the table begins with the
same superscript letter. Place a
superscript space before the
superscript letter in the table
body (e.g., Group a).
Probability Note
•A probability note describes
how asterisks and other
symbols are used in a table to
indicate p values and thus the
significance of the results of
statistical hypothesis testing.
•To report the results of
significance testing, it is best to
provide the exact probabilities
to two or three decimal places
(e.g., p = .023; see, e.g., Tables
7.8–7.9 in Section 7.21; see also
Section 3.7 and Section 6.36).
However, when p values are
less than .001, it is acceptable to
write the value as “<.001.”

12. One-Tailed Versus Two-Tailed Tests
Use an asterisk for the
two tailed p values
*p < .05, two-tailed.
**p < .01, two-tailed.
An alternate symbol (e.g.,
dagger) for the one-tailed
p values
†p < .05, one-tailed.
††p < .01, one-tailed.

13. Standard
Abbreviations
in
Tables
Use standard abbreviations and symbols
for all statistics (e.g., M, SD, SE, F, df, n, p),
Greek letters (e.g., α, β, χ2), and units of
measurement (see Tables 6.4–6.5) used in
tables without defining them in a note.
The abbreviation “no.” (for “number”)
and the symbol “%” (for “percent”) may
also be used without providing a
definition.

14. Source: 7th Edition- Publication Manual of the
AmericanPsychological Association

15. Source:7thEdition-PublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation

16. Source: 7th Edition - PublicationManual of the
AmericanPsychological Association
Source:7thEdition-PublicationManualoftheAmericanPsychologicalAssociation

17. Sample Tables

18. Basic Components of a Table
Source:
7th Edition :
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association

19. Sample Table
Source:
7th Edition :
Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association

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31. Thank You