AuthorAID Workshop on Research Writing

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AuthorAID Workshopon Research Writing

• Nepal
• March 2011

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Tables and FiguresSome Basic Advice

• Ravi Murugesan, MS, ELS
• Training Coordinator
• AuthorAID_at_INASP

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The Big Picture

• IMRaD format in scientific papers
• Introduction, Materials and methods, Results, and
  Discussion
• You will learn more about these sections in the
  coming days
• Where are tables and figures in IMRaD?
• Can be associated with any section
• Tables and figures are an established element of
  scientific research papers

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Tables

• Rule of thumb Use tables to present data that is
  detailed and that is important
• Tables are expensive in terms of space
  requirements and formatting demands
• Consider using text instead of tables if data is
• Not detailed One or two sentences can be used to
  describe the data
• Not important The entire data does not need to
  be presented instead, a summary can be given in
  text

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Rows and Columns

• Tables should be formatted so that they have to
  be read horizontally (left to right) the
  natural reading style
• Not vertically (top to bottom)
• Arrange data in a table such that each row is
  complete in itself, and the different rows can be
  compared to each other

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Checking Tables

• Units are given in the column headings for all
  columns that require units
• Numerical data are presented accurately
• When dealing with large quantities, consider
  using exponents in the column headings
• Table formatting meets journal requirements
• Usually only three horizontal lines (above and
  below the column headings, below the table) and
  no vertical lines
• Footnotes, if used, are correctly linked to the
  appropriate parts of the table
• The table is descriptive enough to be
  understandable without the text

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Figures

• Rule of thumb Use figures to
• Show trends in data (as graphs)
• Present schematic diagrams, images, photographs,
  and maps

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Figures Diagrams, Images, Photographs, Maps

• Clarity Make sure that all the parts of the
  figure are clear and legible at the figure size
  you have used
• Completeness
• Label the important parts of schematic diagrams
• Insert scale in images and maps
• Formatting Check journal instructions
• Resolution of images/photographs (usually given
  in dpi)
• Size limitations

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Figures Graphs

• Tables or graphs?
• Use tables to present detailed, important data
• Use graphs to show trends in data
• Common data-presentation formats in figures
• Column charts/bar charts
• Line charts
• Scatter plots

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Checking Graphs

• X and Y axes have labels and units
• Minor axes are used appropriately to indicate
  data points
• Space in the figure is properly used and there is
  minimal white space
• If you use MS Excel to create a graph, dont
  assume that the default options will give you a
  good graph
• You may have to tweak the settings to produce a
  graph that is appropriate for your paper
• The graph does not look cluttered

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Relating Tables and Figures to Text

• Do not restate all the information from
  tables/figures in the text of the paper
• Tables/figures should not be used to highlight
  what has already been said in the paper
• Refer to all the tables/figures in the text
• Point out the relevant part(s) of a table/figure
  when referring to it
• Refer to tables/figures with their numbers (e.g.,
  Table 1) do not refer to their location (like
  in the table below)

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A Final Point

• Journals often have specific, rigid guidelines
  for tables and figures
• Read the instructions to authors before you
  design your tables and figures
• Note Some journals redraw figures to suit their
  own format. However, even for these journals,
  the submitted figures should be accurately,
  clearly, and neatly prepared.

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Discussion Question

• If you have data that could be presented in
  either a table or a figure, how do you decide
  which one to use?

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A General Suggestion

• Look at tables and figures in journal articles
  presenting research similar to yours
• In your target journal
• In other good journals
• Use these tables and figures as models when
  designing your own tables and figures.

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Sources of Further Information

• Almost Everything You Wanted to Know About
  Making Tables and Figures, Department of
  Biology, Bates College, (http//abacus.bates.edu/
  ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWtablefigs.ht
  ml)
• Writing and Publishing Scientific Papers, Part 2
  (from China Medical Board course), accessible at
  http//www.authoraid.info/resource-library?typeal
  lsubjectpreparing_tables_and_figureslangall

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Thank you!