Researcher's Guide for the Preparation of Tables

Abstract

Almost all scientific articles include tables, but there is little guidance on how to prepare tables. Authors should enhance the focus on the tables’ data-ink, the essential information, and minimizing the no-data-ink, nonessential elements. The six principles of Gestalt on human perception can also be applied to the table to increase readability. Through this review, we provide a practical guide and an overview of how to prepare readable, informative tables. The five steps for the preparation of tables include (1) tables with a clear purpose; (2) using a universal layout; (3) selecting relevant data for Table 1 versus other tables; (4) simplifying variables by categorizing, standardizing, and reducing; and (5) enhancing the readability of numbers and decimals. This results in informative tables that contain data, serving a specific purpose for the reader and increasing readability.