• In text, refer to every table and tell the reader what to look for.  Do not discuss every item of the table in text because it is unnecessary.
• The table should be readable without reference to the text.  Explain all abbreviations (except standard statistical abbreviations) and explain if you used special use of underlining, dashes, and parentheses. Identify units of measurement, as well.
• When citing tables in the text, refer to tables by their numbers. Never refer to tables by "the table above" or "the table on page 20."
  • Ex: ...as shown in Table 3, the response rate was...

Relation Between Tables:

• Identical columns or rows of data should not appear in two or more tables.
• Be consistent in how you present the tables.
• Use similar formats, titles, headings, and terminology.

Table Numbers:

• Use arabic numbers in the order in which the tables are mentioned in the text.
• Do not use suffix letters to label tables.
  • Ex:  Do not use "Table 5, 5a, 5b..."
• Do not combine related tables into one table.

Table Titles:

• The title should be clear, explanatory, and brief.
  • Ex: "Relation Between College Majors and Performance" (too telegraphic).
  • Ex: "Mean Performance Scores on Test A, Test B, and Test C of Students With Psychology, Physics, English, and Engineering Majors" (too detailed).
  • Es: "Mean Performace Scores of Students With Different College Majors" (good title).
• Do not use a specific footnote to clarify an element of the title.

Headings:

• Headings should be telegraphic and should not be many more characters than the widest entry of the column it spans.
• Abbreviations of technical terms, group names, etc. must be explained in a note to the table.
• Each column of a table must have a heading, even the leftmost column of the table (called the stub column, which lists the major independent variables).
• To sobordinate within the stub, it is easier to indent stub items instead of creating an additional column. Stubheads should be singular.
• A column head covers only one column.  A column spanner covers two or more columns, each with its own column head.  Headings such as this are called decked heads. Column spanners may be plural.
• Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of all haedings and word entries.

Body of a Table:

• Decimal Values: Express numerical values in the number of decimal places that the unit of measurement justifies. Do not change units of measurement or the number of decimal places in a column.
• Empty Cells: Leave a cell blank if data are not applicable.  Insert a dash in the cell if the data were not obtained or are not reported.
• Do not include columns of data that can be calculated easily from other columns.

Specific Types of Tables:

• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Tables
• Regression Tables
• Path and LISREL (linear structural relations) Tables
• Word Tables

Notes to a Table: Placed below the table.

• General Note: Explains information relating to the table as a whole and ends with an explanaiton of abbreviations, symbols, etc.
• Specific Note: Refers to a particular column, row, or individual entry.  They are indicated by superscript lowercase letters.
• Probability Note: Indicates the results of tests of significance.  Asterisks indicate values for which the null hypothesis is rejected, with the p value specified in the probability note.  Assign the same number of asterisks from table to table within the paper. To distinguish between one-tailed and two-tailed tests, use asterisks for the two-tailed p values and alternate symols for the one-tailed p values.
• Order the notes to a table in the following order: general note, specific note, probability note. The notes should be double-spaced and there should be no paragraph indentation on the new line below the table.

Other things to keep in mind:

• Use horizontal rather than vertical rules.
• Design a table to fit the width of a journal page. If the count of characters exceeds 60, the table will most likely not fit on a journal page.
• You must obtain permission to reproduce or adapt all or part of a table from a copyrighted source. Any reproduced table must be accompanied by a note at the bottom of the table giving credit to the original author and copyright holder.

For a checklist, click here.

APA Table Examples:

• Table Example 1
• Table Example 2
• Table Example 3
• Anova Table

back to Results