9.4.3 Simple Tabular Presentations
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Interprets simple Tabular Presentations: 2×2 Table, Frequency Table and Frequency Distribution
Interpreting simple tabular presentations is an essential skill for understanding research findings. Three types of tabular presentations are frequently used in research: 2×2 tables, frequency tables, and frequency distributions.
2×2 table:
A 2×2 table is a table with two rows and two columns, used to present data on the association between two categorical variables. It is commonly used to present data on sensitivity and specificity in diagnostic tests. Sensitivity refers to the proportion of true positive results, while specificity refers to the proportion of true negative results. By examining a 2×2 table, it is possible to determine the accuracy of a diagnostic test.
| Disease (+) | Disease (-) | Total | |
| Test (+) | A | B | A+B |
| Test (-) | C | D | C+D |
| Total | A+C | B+D | A+B+C+D |
or
| Disease (+) | Disease (-) | Total | |
| Test (+) | 100 | 200 | 300 |
| Test (-) | 50 | 650 | 700 |
| Total | 150 | 850 | 1000 |
Frequency table:
A frequency table is a table that presents data on the frequency of a categorical or continuous variable. For categorical variables, the table displays the number and percentage of observations in each category. For continuous variables, the table displays the number of observations within each category or interval. Frequency tables can provide a visual summary of data distribution and can help identify outliers.
| Age group | Frequency |
| 0-10 | 20 |
| 11-20 | 35 |
| 21-30 | 50 |
| 31-40 | 45 |
| 41-50 | 30 |
| 51-60 | 15 |
| 61-70 | 5 |
| Total | 200 |
Frequency distribution:
A frequency distribution is a table that presents data on the frequency of a continuous variable. The table displays the number of observations within each interval or class, along with the midpoint of each interval. A frequency distribution can provide a visual summary of data distribution and can help identify outliers.
| Score | Frequency |
| 10 | 5 |
| 20 | 10 |
| 30 | 20 |
| 40 | 25 |
| 50 | 30 |
| 60 | 25 |
| 70 | 20 |
| 80 | 15 |
| 90 | 10 |
| 100 | 5 |
It is essential to interpret tabular presentations accurately to draw valid conclusions from research findings. By understanding the structure of different types of tables, researchers can identify patterns in the data and draw conclusions about the research question.
References:
- Kirkwood, B. R., & Sterne, J. A. (2003). Essential medical statistics. Blackwell Science Ltd.
- Levin, R. I., & Rubin, D. S. (2010). Statistics for management. Pearson.