Q. What are the different parts of a table ? Draw a specimen of a table. Mention the rules of construction of a table.
Ans. A table is a Symmetric arrangement of statistical data in rows and columns. Rows are horizontal arrangements whereas columns are vertical arrangements.
● Parts of a Table: The number of parts of a table varies from case to case depending upon the given data. However, in general, a statistical table consists of following eight parts.
(i) Table Number: Each table should be given a number. Table number helps in distinguishing one table from the other tables. Usually tables are numbered according to the order of their appearance in a chapter. For example, the first table in the eighth chapter of a book should be given number 8.1 and the second table of the same chapter be given 8.2 and so on. Table number can be given at its top above the title or in the bottom towards the left of the table, provided the space permits.
(ii) Title of the Table: Every table should have a suitable title. It should be short, clear and self explanatory. Title should be such that one can know, what is the nature of the data contained in the table as well as where and when such data occurred. Title of table is either placed just below the table number or at its right.
(iii) Head Note: The Head-note is a brief explanatory statement applying to all or major part of the material in table. It usually contains the unit of measurement of data. It is placed just below the title or at the right hand top corner of the table in brackets.
(iv) Caption: Caption refers to the headings of the columns. It explains what the column represents. It may consist of one or more column heads. A caption should be brief, concise and self-explanatory. Column heading is written in the middle of a column in small letters.
(v) Stub: Stub refers to the headings of rows. Stubs perform the same functions for rows as the stubs do for columns. But stubs are usually wider than the column heading.
(vi) Body: This is the most important part of a table. It contains a number of cells. Cells are formed due to the intersection of rows and columns. Data are entered in these cells.
(vii) Foot Note: A foot note is given at the bottom of a table. It helps in clarifying the point which is not cleared in the table. A footnote may be keyed to the title or to any column or to any row heading. There are many ways to identify footnotes. One can be number them consecutively with small numbers 1,2,3,4 or letters a, b, c, d or by symbols such as *,+,@,£, etc.
(viii) Source Note: The source note shows the source of data presented in the table. Data can be verified from the source. This brings reliability and accuracy in data. The source note shows the name of the author, title, volume, page, publisher’s name, year and place of publication of the book or journal or survey or the report from which the data is compiled.
● Specimen of a table:
Table No.
Title of the table
| Head Note | |
| Stub Heading | Caption Heading- Column Heading |
| Stub Entries | Body |
| Footnotes |
● General Rules of Tabulation: It is very difficult to lay down any hard and fast for tabulation of data. But there are some points which serve as a guide for tabulation of data.
(i) A good table must contain all the essential parts, such as Table number, Title, Head note, Caption, Stub, Body, Foot note and source note.
(ii) A table should be simple, precise and attractive. It should not be necessary to go through the footnotes or explanation to properly understand a table.
(iii) Rows and columns of a table must be numbered. Proper and clear headings for columns and rows should be there.
(iv) Items should be arranged either in alphabetical, chronological or geographical order or according to size, importance or emphasis to facilitate comparison.
(v) Columns and rows to be compared with one another should be brought together.
(vi) The unit of measurement should be well defined mentioned in the head note.
(vii) The figures should be rounded off to the nearest hundred, or thousand or lakh. It helps in avoiding unnecessary details.
(viii) If the observations are large in number they can be broken into two or three tables.
(ix) Thick lines should be used to separate the data under big classes and thin lines to separate the sub classes of data.
(x) If certain figures are to be given some importance, then these should be placed in a box or circle.
(xi) The total of the rows should be given in the extreme right column and the total of the column at the foot.
(xii) Indicate a zero quantity by zero and do not use zero to indicate such information which is not available. Information which is not available should be indicated by the letters N.A. or by dash (-).
(xiii) Abbreviations should be avoided, particularly in titles and sub-titles.
(xiv) Ditto marks should be avoided in a table. Similarly, the expression ‘etc’ should not be used in a table.
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