How to make an effective table:

• Purpose
• Data
• Format
• Conventions

How to make an effective table:

• Purpose
• Data
• Format
• Conventions

Purpose of our example lab

Assume we have just conducted an engineering lab. The purpose of the lab was to answer the question:

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What are “Property A” and “Property B” of a steel and an aluminum alloy?

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The purpose of results (table) is to help answer the lab’s question for the audience.

How to make an effective table:

• Purpose
• Data
• Format
• Conventions

Raw Data: data collected during the lab

• For our example, raw data is provided here:

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Results: raw data may need to be analyzed 🡪 create results to answer the lab’s question

• We’ve added columns to include “Property A” and “Property B” (calculated from raw data):

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We’ve decided that averages are meaningful for this lab.

Our new table has all the information we need to create either a table or graph for our report.

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How to make an effective table:

• Purpose
• Data
• Format
• Conventions

Format

• Determine best way to communicate results to the audience
• Graphs can effectively communicate trends or relationships
• Tables can effectively communicate specific values

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• In our example, we are asked to determine specific values (“Property A” and “Property B”) of two different materials so making a table to display results would be a good choice.

Raw data 🡪 RESULTS

• Raw data was collected during lab and analyzed.
• Results include only data that helps answer the lab’s question.
• Make a table to show results:

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Format:

Format the table, making clear and concise.

Adjust column widths, text alignment, etc. Make it very easy to read!

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Adjust columns:

Align text:

How to make an effective table:

• Purpose
• Data
• Format
• Conventions

Conventions: Readers expect certain conventions.

• Table headers should include units, numbers should have appropriate significant figures.  Meaningful labels are used.
• Tables and figures are numbered consecutively
• Captions must be descriptive 
• The number and caption should be above tables and below figures

Include units, appropriate significant figures, meaningful labels

Units

Significant figures:

Header labels:

Numbered consecutively, descriptive caption, the number and caption should be above tables.

Table 1 – Property A and Property B for steel and aluminum (averages from 2 samples of each)

CLEAR, CONCISE, COMPLETE = DONE!

The lab report…

• Our table is now ready to be included in the report’s results
• In the report’s discussion, the table must be discussed:

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“As shown in Table 1, Property A for the steel (61%RA) was nearly double that of the aluminum (32%RA); therefore…” etc.

Conclusion

The audience cares about clear, concise and complete results! It took time and thought to achieve this, but well worth it!

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Table 1 – Property A and Property B for steel and aluminum (averages from 2 samples of each)

Raw data:

Results:

Review:

• Purpose: The purpose of each table must be clear and obvious to the reader; tables must support the purpose of the lab report.
• Data: transform raw data into results. Results are the data that directly support the purpose of the lab
• Format: show the results clearly, concisely, completely
• Conventions: adhere to established conventions
• Table headers should include units.  Numbers should have appropriate significant figures.  Meaningful labels are used.
• Tables and figures are numbered consecutively (Table 1 is before Table 2, etc.).
• Captions should be descriptive. 
• The number and caption should be above tables and below figures