Organization and Presentation of Data

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms, definitions, advantages, and disadvantages discussed in the lecture on data organization and presentation.

Organization and Presentation of Data

The process of arranging, summarizing, and displaying data in textual, tabular, or graphical form so that information is clear and meaningful.

Textual Presentation

A method that describes data in sentences or paragraphs, enumerating key figures and highlighting important characteristics.

Advantages of Textual Presentation

Allows detailed interpretation, can include qualitative data, emphasizes key points, and is suitable for small data sets.

Disadvantages of Textual Presentation

Produces lengthy passages, hard to grasp at a glance, unsuitable for large data sets, and requires full reading to comprehend.

Tabular Presentation (Tabulation)

Systematic display of numerical data in rows and columns, offering a concise and organized alternative to textual form.

Table Number

A sequential identifier assigned to each table for easy reference.

Title (of a Table)

A brief statement explaining what, where, and when the data refer to.

Caption

A word or phrase that describes the contents of a column in a table.

Stubs

Words or phrases that describe the contents of rows in a table.

Body (of a Table)

The main part of the table containing the actual data entries.

Headnote

Supplementary note placed below the title to provide additional information about the table’s contents.

Footnote (in a Table)

Explanatory note at the bottom of a table used to clarify data or note exceptions.

Simple Table (One-Way Table)

Presents data classified by only one characteristic.

Double or Two-Way Table

Displays data cross-classified by two related characteristics.

Three-Way Table

Shows data divided simultaneously by three interrelated characteristics.

Manifold (Higher-Order) Table

A complex table presenting data for four or more interrelated characteristics.

Advantages of Tabular Presentation

Brief yet comprehensive, facilitates comparison, separates figures from text, and enhances clarity.

Graphical Representation

Use of diagrams—such as line, bar, pie, or scatter plots—to visually analyze numerical data.

Line Graph (Time Series Plot)

Graph that connects data points with line segments to show trends of a variable over continuous time.

Advantages of Line Graph

Easily compares multiple continuous data sets and allows interpolation of intermediate values.

Disadvantages of Line Graph

Suitable only for continuous data; inappropriate for categorical data.

Bar Graph

Chart using equally spaced, non-overlapping rectangles whose lengths represent quantities of categorical data.

Simple Bar Diagram

Bar graph illustrating only one characteristic per category.

Multiple Bar Diagram

Bar graph placing two or more bars side by side to compare several characteristics across categories.

Component (Sub-Divided) Bar Diagram

Single bars divided into segments to show components of a whole within each category.

Pie Chart (Circle Graph)

Circular graph divided into sectors representing each category’s percentage of the total.

Advantages of Pie Chart

Visually attractive and clearly shows each category’s share of the whole.

Disadvantages of Pie Chart

Lacks precise numerical values, hard to compare multiple data sets, can be misleading with many categories or an "other" group.

Pictograph (Picture Graph)

Graph that uses icons or pictures to represent data values, with a key indicating the value of each icon.

Advantages of Pictograph

Easy to read, visually engaging, and handles large data sets through keyed icons.

Disadvantages of Pictograph

Partial icons are hard to interpret, icon size must be consistent, and best limited to a few categories.

Cartogram (Map Graph)

Map that conveys data by shading regions or altering areas according to values, accompanied by a key.

Advantages of Cartogram

Provides strong visual appeal and highlights geographic trends effectively.

Disadvantages of Cartogram

Gives no exact numbers, requires limited categories, and color choices can affect perception.

Scatter Plot (Scatter Point Diagram)

Graph plotting paired numerical data points to show relationships and possible correlations between two variables.

Advantages of Scatter Plot

Reveals trends, maintains exact values, displays sample size, and highlights outliers.

Disadvantages of Scatter Plot

Can be hard to interpret with large data sets; a flat trend line may be inconclusive; requires continuous data on both axes.