How to write about tables & figures in the result chapter: APA format
In this video, I discuss how to write something to supplement a table or a figure
WHEN SHOULD BE TABLES AND FIGURES BE USED?: Only use tables and figures if it is necessary. For example, when you must present lots of data to the reader.
Tables and figures provide details that would be difficult to present in an easy-to-read text.
IF YOU INCLUDE A TABLE OR A FIGURE, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING: Never insert a table or a figure if you're not going to do something with it in your report. If you don't say something about it, the reader will wonder, "Why do I have to see this data?"
DON'T DUPLICATE ALL THE DATA FROM THE TABLE OR THE FIGURE IN YOUR TEXT: When you use a table or a figure, don't duplicate much of the information. You shouldn't repeat too much information from the table or the figure in your text.
DON'T PROVIDE THE SAME DATA IN BOTH A TABLE AND A FIGURE: It's enough to provide the data in either a table or a figure, never both.
HOW TO WRITE SOMETHING TO SUPPLEMENT A TABLE OR A FIGURE: I know what questions you're thinking about: "If I cannot repeat information, how am I supposed to say something about the table or the figure?" You are allowed to have some overlap between tables and figures and the text in your result chapter. However, only emphasize the essential information.
In your text, highlight specific parts of all that data, for example, significant differences between groups.
WHAT TO CALL THE TABLES AND FIGURES: Every table and figure should have a unique number. Then you refer to those numbers when you talk about them, for example: "See Table 1" or "Figure 1." A classic beginner's mistake is to refer to them by their positions.
You cannot write, for example, "Figur 1 above" or "the figure above" because you will never know exactly where the tables and figures will end up in the final version of your report.
Even if you don't plan to publish it, make it your habit to always refer to them as "Table 1", "Figure 1", and so on.
USE A NEUTRAL VOICE: Don't interpret your findings in your result chapter.
Just use a neutral voice to emphasize the essential information in your tables and figures. In the next chapter, Discussion or Analysis, you will interpret all your findings.
IN SUMMARY: Report your findings in plain text until there is too much information for a written description, then use a table or a figure. The tables and figures provide the details for the readers, who can quickly and accurately absorb much information. Never repeat all the information from a table or a figure in your text. It's enough to highlight only the most relevant data.
Good luck, and have fun writing your epic result chapters!
Copyright
Text, video, and audio © Kent Löfgren, Sweden
