Data Presentation

The key objective of statistics is to collect and organize data. One of the basics of data organization
comes from presentation of data in a recognizable form so that it can be interpreted easily. You can
organize data in the form of tables or you can present it pictorially, thus what is data presentation?

Data presentation as the term suggests a sequence of steps or operations for processing raw data to the
usable form. The processing of data can be done by number of data processing methods.

1. Textual Method
2. Tabular Method
3. Graphical Method

 Textual Method
As text – Raw data with proper formatting, categorization, indentation is most extensively used and very
effective way of presenting data. Text format is widely found in books, reports, research papers.
 Tabular Method
In tabular form – Tabular form is generally used to differentiate, categorizes, relate different datasets. It
is a way of presenting data in rows and columns. The table, so constructed, must include all the given
information. It should be simple enough and be presented in a concise format and in that sense
preparation of an ideal table is definitely a fair art. An orderly and systematic presentation of numerical
data in rows and columns are presented in the form of a self- explanatory table so as to clarify the
problem under consideration.
A complete table must possess the following parts in an order:
(i) Table number:
At the very beginning the table must contain a particular number at the top for its identification and
ready reference for future purposes.
(ii) Title:
A brief statement signifying the nature of information lying inside the table should be there next to the
table number.
(iii) Stub:
It is written at the extreme left part of the table and will express the specific issues taken horizontally in
rows.
(iv) Caption:
It is vertically placed at the upper part of the table in columns. Each column must have a definite
number and the unit in which the figures are noted inside.
(v) Body:
It represents the most important part of the table and usually placed at the middle of the entire table
expressing several numerical contents of it.
(vi) Footnote:
Further explanation on any item already included in the table, if felt necessary.
(vii) Sources of information:
And finally, at the bottom of the table, we must not forget to mention categorically the name of the
original source of the information
Types of Tabulation:
(a) Simple tabulation
(b) Cross sectional/Complex tabulation.
Information on a single variable showing only one important property when expressed in a tabular form
is called simple tabulation. A table can also consider more than one variable with a number of separate
properties exhibited therein is called Cross sectional/complex tabulation.
Simple Tabular Data
Table 7.2 Age Distribution of COVID 19 Patients in Region X

AGES GROUP IN YEARS NUMBER OF PATIENTS

19-24 5
25-30 7
31-36 5
37-42 8
43-49 9
50-55 4
56-61 10
Total 48

Table 7.3 Age Distribution of COVID 19 Patients in Region X

Age Grp. Male Female Grand
In Yrs. Residents Non- Total (A) Residents Non- Total (B) Total
Residents Residents (A+B)
19-24 1 2 3 1 1 2 5
25-30 2 1 3 2 2 4 7
31-36 1 1 2 1 2 3 5
37-42 3 1 4 1 3 4 8
43-49 1 6 7 1 1 2 9
50-55 1 1 2 0 2 2 4
56-61 3 2 5 2 3 5 10
Total 12 14 26 8 14 22 48
  Graphical Method
In graphical Form – Data can further be presented in a simpler and even easier form by means of using
graphics. It is no doubt, much difficult for the investigators to extract the true picture and the important
properties of the data through it. There are different types of statistical graph and these are:

Bar Charts :
A Pareto diagram or bar graph is a way to visually represent qualitative data. Data is displayed either
horizontally or vertically and allows viewers to compare items, such as amounts, characteristics, times,
and frequency. The bars are arranged in order of frequency, so more important categories are
emphasized. By looking at all the bars, it is easy to tell at a glance which categories in a set of data
dominate the others. Bar graphs can be either single, stacked, or grouped.

Vilfredo Pareto (1848–1923) developed the bar graph when he sought to give economic decision-making
a more "human" face by plotting data on graph paper.
Line Chart: Line diagram are used to show the trend of events with the passage of time. These are best
for showing the change in population, i.e., for showing the trends. These also work well for explaining
the growth of multiple areas at the same time.

Pie Charts:

Another common way to represent data graphically is a pie chart. It gets its name from the way it looks,
just like a circular pie that has been cut into several slices. This kind of graph is helpful when graphing
qualitative data, where the information describes a trait or attribute and is not numerical. Each slice of
pie represents a different category, and each trait corresponds to a different slice of the pie; some slices
usually noticeably larger than others. By looking at all of the pie pieces, you can compare how much of
the data fits in each category, or slice. These work best for representing the share of different
components from a total 100%. For example, contribution of different sectors to GDP, the population of
different regions in of our country, etc.
Picto- Gram:

Pictogram is a popular method of presenting data to the “man in the street” and to those who cannot
understand orthodox charts. Small pictures or symbols are used to present the data. A pictogram or
pictograph represents the frequency of data as pictures or symbols. Each picture or symbol may
represent one or more units of the data.

Example:

The following pictograph shows the number of students using the various types of transport to go to
school.

Walking

Bus

Tricycle

Car

Statistical Maps:

When statistical data refer to geographic or administrative areas, it is presented either as “Shaded
Maps” or “Dot Maps” according to suitability.

Demographic data provides an example. It shows the statistical characteristics of a population and is one
of the most common types of data shown on statistical maps. Demographic data, which can include data
for race, gender, age, employment status, and other factors, is tabulated over enumeration units such as
counties, census tracts, ZIP Code areas, or school districts.
Histogram

A histogram in another kind of graph that uses bars in its display. This type of graph is used with
quantitative data. Ranges of values, called classes, are listed at the bottom, and the classes with greater
frequencies have taller bars.
Frequency Polygon
A frequency polygon is a graphical form of representation of data. It is used to depict the shape of the
data and to depict trends. It is usually drawn with the help of a histogram but can be drawn without it as
well. A histogram is a series of rectangular bars with no space between them and is used to represent
frequency distributions.

Steps to Draw a Frequency Polygon

1. Mark the class intervals for each class on the horizontal axis. We will plot the frequency on the
vertical axis.
2. Calculate the classmark for each class interval. The formula for class mark is:
3. Classmark = (Upper limit + Lower limit) / 2
4. Mark all the class marks on the horizontal axis. It is also known as the mid-value of every class.
5. Corresponding to each class mark, plot the frequency as given to you. The height always depicts
the frequency. Make sure that the frequency is plotted against the class mark and not the upper
or lower limit of any class.
6. Join all the plotted points using a line segment. The curve obtained will be kinked.

Note that the above method is used to draw a frequency polygon without drawing a histogram. You can
also draw a histogram first by drawing rectangular bars against the given class intervals. After this, you
must join the midpoints of the bars to obtain the frequency polygon. Remember that the bars will have
no spaces between them in a histogram.

Illustration:
Construct a frequency polygon using the data given below:

Test Scores Frequency

49.5-59.5 5
59.5-69.5 10
69.5-79.5 30
79.5-89.5 40
89.5-99.5 15

We first need to calculate the cumulate frequency from the frequency given.

Test Scores Frequency Cumulative Frequency

49.5-59.5 5 5
59.5-69.5 10 15
69.5-79.5 30 45
79.5-89.5 40 85
89.5-99.5 15 100

We now start by plotting the class marks such as 54.5, 64.5, 74.5 and so on till 94.5. Note that we will
also plot the previous and next class marks to start and end the polygon, i.e. we plot 44.5 and 104.5 as
well.
Then, the frequencies corresponding to the class marks are plotted against each class mark. Like you can
see below, this makes sense as the frequency for class marks 44.5 and 104.5 are zero and touching the
x-axis. These plot points are used only to give a closed shape to the polygon. The polygon looks like this: