Tabulation, Diagrams and Representation

Tables are an effective way to organise data in a clear and concise manner.
They provide a visual representation of data that makes it easier to understand and analyse.
It is important to choose the appropriate table type for the data being presented – frequency tables, two-way tables, contingency tables, etc.
Frequency tables are especially useful for categorical data, showing how often each category appears in the data set.
Two-way tables or contingency tables present data that is categorised by two different variables.
Tables should be clearly labelled with rows, columns and headings for effective interpretation.

Diagrams are used to represent data visually, aiding understanding and interpretation.
Different types of diagrams include: bar charts, pie charts, histograms, box plots, scatterplots.
Bar charts can be used for both discrete and categorical data.
Pie charts are used for categorical data and for showing proportions or percentages of a whole.
Histograms are designed for continuous, interval or ratio data.
Box plots summarise the key aspects of a distribution.
Scatterplots are used to show the relationship between two numerical variables.
It is important to interpret diagrams correctly by looking at scale, labels, distribution, trends, outliers and other aspects.

Data representation allows us to express complex data in a simple and understandable format.
Key to data representation is the consideration of scale – too large a scale could omit important details, and too small could distort data.
Graphical representations (like line graphs, bar charts, and histograms) aid in visual understanding and analysis.
Use of appropriate labels, captions and legends in representations can make them more informative and easy to understand.
Pie charts are useful for visualising shares or proportions of a whole.
Histograms are suitable for presenting interval or ratio data.
Box plots (also known as box and whisker plots) summarise data based on the quartiles and highlight any outliers.
The choice of representation should always be governed by the specifics of the data and the aim of the analysis.