How to Present Figures and Tables in Health Science Research
You can present figures and tables in health science research within text of your article to provide a visual representation of data. Figures and tables in text helps readers’ gain better understanding of your research. These visual aids also assists your audience to determine the key findings of your research.
Researchers should be able to present figures and tables properly in health science research. Besides its provision of knowledge, visualization aids help researchers deliver a clear, accurate, and proper transfer of information from their articles to readers.
In this guide, we will see the best ways to present figures and tables in health science research. We will also gain insight into the importance of figures and tables in health science research, guidelines for creating figures, best practices, figure integration, best presentation software, and so much more.
Take advantage of all the information in this guide to display visualization aids in your research to benefit your readers and improve the quality of your articles.
How to Present Figures and Tables in Health Science Research
1. Gather data
First, you need to gather data relevant to your study. After that, you must code data (for qualitative research only) and arrange in a table with appropriate headings.
2. Analyze data
You must engage data analysis to progress towards presenting figures and tables in your health science research. The analytical technique you choose should align with your data and be a valid statistical measure to extract findings from information. A reliable software program like SPSS or GraphPad PRISM can help you code, arrange, and analyze data to present as figures or in tables.
3. Create visualization aids
Most software programs have different options to help you create visualization aids after successful analysis of entered data. Take advantage of these tools and available options to create different figures to insert in your health science article.
4. Paste figures and tables in appropriate sections within text
You can export the created figures and tables from your preferred software directly to your manuscript. Place the figures and tables in areas where it aligns best with the flow of your article.
Importance of Figures and Tables in Health Science Research
The major importance of figures and tables in health science research include:
- Provision of clear, concise summary of complex information,
- Boosts the visual appeal of a research,
- Helps facilitate easy comparisons of data, and
- Assists the easy interpretation of results
The most common figures used in health science research are charts, graphs, images, diagrams, illustrations, and so much more.
Guidelines for Creating Figures
Choose the appropriate figure type
Select a figure type that suits the needs of your health science research. Common figures used in health science research are line graphs, bar graphs, scatter plots, pie charts, and diagrams.
Label and title
Provide clear labels for every axis, data point, or component of a particular figure. Also, include an informative title that shows the content of the figure correctly.
Use appropriate scales and units
Scales on both axes of your figures should be clear. Ensure you use standard units of measurements while creating your figures to avoid confusing reviewers or readers.
Keep it simple
Resist the urge to include unnecessary bits of information in your figures. Add only what is relevant to your research and leave out secondary points.
Enhance readability
Your figures should be easy to read and presented in the right font type, font size, and colors. Ensure complete readability of your figures at small, medium, and expanded scales.
Provide captions and legends
Captions and legends help readers see a brief description of figures presented in your article. You can add a legend at the side of figures if multiple color, line, and symbol elements need interpretation.
Best Practices for Designing Tables
Researchers can take advantage of these best practices while designing tables to include in health science research:
- Organize the data
- Use appropriate table format
- Label columns and rows
- Include necessary details
- Ensure consistency
Following these steps promotes the efficient representation of tables in health science studies.
Integrating Figures and Tables into the Text
You can integrate figures and tables into text in your health science research with proper referencing. Use references such as “Figure 1”, “Table 2” or “as displayed in Figure 2” to integrate visualization aids correctly into your research.
You also need to:
- Explain what each figure and table means in the interpretation,
- relate results from the interpretation and discuss their implications
- avoid duplication by providing additional context or explanations to complement your figures and tables
- use appropriate language to communicate the significance and message of figures and tables in a concise, clear manner
Best Software to Present Figures and Tables in Health Science Research
- Microsoft Excel
- GraphPad Prism
- SPSS
- R
- Tableau
- Adobe Illustrator
- MATLAB
- Python
- LaTeX
- Microsoft PowerPoint
FAQs
How can I ensure the readability of figures and tables?
You can ensure the readability of figures and tables in your health science articles when you present information in clear fonts. Choose the appropriate font type, font size, and text color to present your research.
Should I include all the data in the tables or figures?
You need to omit unnecessary data points from figures and tables to boost readability of crucial information and allow readers understand your findings with ease.
Should I duplicate the information from figures or tables in the text?
No, you shouldn’t duplicate the information from tables or figures into text. Provide additional information and perspectives from data displayed in tables or as figures to complement your visualization aids.
Final Word
Proper presentation of figures and tables in heath science research helps convey vital information to readers in simple, clear detail. It also helps researchers build the overall quality of their health science articles.
Follow the tips in this guide to allow users understand your research through the correct placement of figures and tables in your articles.