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Researchers’ Corner

Preparation for Tabular Presentation: Tally Marking and Frequency Table

We have noted in a previous issue (Feb. 2012), that to make voluminous data readily usable

and easily comprehensible three forms of presentation, namely textual (descriptive), tabular

and diagrammatic (graphical), are possible. Summarising and displaying data in a concise/

compact and logical order for further analysis is the purpose of tabulation. It is a statistical

representation summarising and comparing frequencies, determining bases for and

computing percentages, etc. and usually presented in rows and columns as simple or

complex table with cells containing data based on accepted

general principles. Table-1 is conceptualised as data

presented in rows and columns along with some explanatory

notes. With cells containing data, table organises data for

further statistical treatment, drawing inference and

decision-making.

Tabular presentation of data presupposes tally marking to

prepare frequency table. Both preparation of frequency

table by tally marking and what are the parts of a table

have been taught to us in schools. But novice researchers

need to recapitulate the same before handling their data.

Frequency of an observation is the number of times a certain observation occurs in the raw

data of observation. Determination of frequency of each class is done by marking a vertical

line in tally sheet for each observation and a diagonal across for the fifth score so that

frequencies are easily consolidated by looking at the group of five as shown in the table.

Frequency table gives the class intervals and the frequencies associated with them in a

summarized way.

Table-1 : Frequency distribution of number of references in technical reports

No. of references (citations)

Tally Frequency (No. of technical reports)

<6 2

6-10 4

11-15 5

16-20 4

21-25 7

>25 8

Total 30

Volume 4 Issue 3 March 2012

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Parts of Table

i) Table number for identification purpose at the top or at the beginning of the title of the

table. Whole numbers are used in ascending order subscripted numbers are used if

there are many tables.

ii) Title, usually placed at the head, narrates about the contents of the table. Title should

be clearly, briefly and carefully worded so as to make interpretations from the table

clear and free from ambiguity.

iii) Captions or column headings are column designations to explain figures of the column

iv) Stab or row headings (stab column) are designations of the rows.

v) Body of the table contains the actual data in cells

vi) Unit of measurement is stated

along with the title of the unit

and it does not change

throughout the table. If

different units are used for

rows or columns, the same

are stated in row or column

heading. If stated figures are

large, they are rounded up

and indicated.

vii) Source note at the bottom of

the table is to indicate the

source of data presented.

viii) Foot note is the last part of the table to explain the specific feature of the data content,

which is not self explanatory and has not been explained earlier

It is wrong to presume that statistical software on its own ensures a sensible good tabular

presentation. One needs to properly perceive and plan necessary ingredients of desired and

suitable good tabular presentation. Tabulation can have one-way, two-way, or three-way

classification depending upon the number of characteristics involved. We will discuss four

steps to tabulation in the forthcoming issue.

M S Sridhar

sridhar@informindia.co.in

Table 2: Frequency distribution of price of school books

Price (in Rs.)

Frequency (No. of books)

Cumulative less than or equal frequency

Percentage Cumulative percentage

1 - 10 1 1 2 2

11 - 20 9 10 18 18

21 - 30 15 25 30 50

31 - 40 13 38 26 76

41 -- 50 4 42 8 84

51 - 60 4 46 8 92

61 - 70 2 48 4 96

71 - 80 1 49 2 98

81 - 90 0 49 0 98

91 - 100

1 50 2 100

Total 50

Note: Data collected from 50 random sample vernacular text books in the year 2002