Statistical Standards Program
Table of Contents Introduction 1. Development of Concepts and Methods 2. Planning and Design of Surveys 3. Collection of Data 4. Processing and Editing of Data 5. Analysis of Data / Production of Estimates or Projections 6. Establishment of Review Procedures 7. Dissemination of Data Glossary Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C ·Sample Table ·Introduction ·Major Types of Tables ·Tabular Format ·Table Titles ·Boxheads ·Table Stub ·Body ·Tabular Notes ·Sizing a Table ·Appendix Appendix D Download PDF (448KB) For help viewing PDF files, please click here |
APPENDIX C: NCES GUIDELINES FOR TABULAR PRESENTATIONS (2002 Edition) |
Body, or field, is the part of a table that contains the numerical data-below the column heads and to the right of the stub. It consists of cells, rows, and columns. A cell is the space occupied by one entry in the field. A row is a horizontal array of cells opposite a stub caption. A column is a vertical array of cells under a column heading. Units of Measurement in the Body Spanners Table 1. Number and percentage distribution of families, by family
Field spanners sometimes are used to reduce the length and increase the width of very narrow and long tables. They also may be used for placing long major group captions in the field when there is not enough room for them in the stub. These advantages are offset to some extent by their unfavorable location in the field where they break across the columns and separate the figures from the descriptive column headings. Decimals, Zeros, and Dollar and Percent Signs As shown below, the only exception to these rules is that in the case of a universe survey an absolute zero (0) is always expressed as a single zero without a decimal point; in a column of decimal fractions, it is positioned as shown. When all of the figures in a column pertain to money, the first figure in the column should be preceded by a dollar sign ($), even though the column heading or a headnote indicates the unit of measurement (e.g., millions of dollars). A percent sign (%) should not follow figures in the field. If all are percentages, the fact may be indicated in a headnote: if some columns or lines are percents, indicate in a spanner, individual column heads, stub entry, or title, as appropriate (e.g., "in percent"). The word "percent" instead of "percentage" is preferred in this context; the symbol (%) should be used only if there is no room to spell it out. Placing Figures in the Columns Arranging Figures for Ease of Comparison The following tabulations show identical universe data, but the vertical comparison in B emphasizes the within item comparisons over time. In any table, the comparisons that are the most important should be placed as close together as possible for maximum emphasis. |