The article describes the compilation of statistical tables, their types, requirements for their component parts. The algorithm of rational construction of statistical tables convenient for perception and analysis is presented. Examples of such tables are given. One of the most common methods for presenting systematic numerical information is a table. It is used in almost any area of life, both in the scientific environment (humanitarian and technical), and in the daily display of data from any fields of activity.
In order to be able to systematically and seamlessly present disparate numerical information, it must first be correctly processed and cleaned of secondary influence factors. Then it must be visualized for ease of further analysis. For this purpose tables also serve. There is science - statistics, which gives the concept of statistical tables, methods and features of constructing various varieties of these tables.
The essence of the statistical table
It should be understood that any incoherent and economically meaningless numerical data, even statistically processed and spaced, are not considered statistical tables. Most often, in the form of tables of a statistical nature, numerical attributes of phenomena are displayed, which are the result of grouping and information of various numerical series. A table is recognized as statistical, which makes it possible to quantitatively visually evaluate a certain statistical area of data obtained as a result of specialized information and grouping.
The benefits of displaying data in a tabular form
The main advantage of presenting information in a tabular form is the ability to conduct calculations of a comparative nature and analytical work on information reflected in a structured form of numbers. This information itself, as a rule, is already the subject of initial processing, grouping, and information on some basis. In such cases, tasks on statistics also involve the use of the table method.
The tabular method has the following advantages:
- improves external perception of data;
- facilitates the procedure and reduces the time of analysis, research of the phenomena indicated in the table;
- allows you to visually see the dynamics of the frequency of the phenomenon (when comparing);
- makes it possible to observe the relationship of information with several criteria;
- facilitates the creation of graphical models based on tabular information.
The most important elements that make up a statistical table
The subject and predicate tables are considered the most important components of any type of table. Most often, the table is placed vertically in the document, although there are horizontal options. These options are useful if the table has a large number of columns. With this version of the data, the vertical orientation will greatly complicate the understanding of information and its analysis.
Basic requirements for the subject of the statistical table
Part of the table in the form of a studied object, consisting of numerical values, is considered to be subject to the table. Several groups of numerical data collected together according to some criteria can also appear in the form of it. Most often, the subject is an enumeration of some elements of the phenomenon, which is examined in the form of a table. It acts as the name of the string. It is necessary to provide identical units of measurement of the same dimension in all cells of the table.
The elements that make up the statistical table should be verified, objective and consistent. The use of unique, not universally recognized reductions (thousand, million, etc.) is unacceptable. If the elements presented in the subject table are significantly greater than in the predicate, the predicate and subject should be mutually replaced.
Basic requirements for a predicate statistical table
A group of identifiers describing the object being studied (subject) is a predicate table. The predicate illustrates the elements, groups of the studied population. The predicate is played by headings, the contents of columns with a reasonable spatial distribution of values from left to right. Like the subject, it necessarily contains meters of the same dimension for the entire population.
The use of non-standard abbreviations in the predicate is also inappropriate. Frequent use in the predicate of commas and periods is not recommended. Such signs make it very difficult to understand the data and can lead to confusion and errors. It is imperative to remember that in Russian practice, tenths of an integer are separated by a dot or comma. In foreign practice, the point is often separated by every three zeros in a large integer. If there are several columns with the same names in the table, it is advisable to combine them.
Statistical table creation algorithm
The most rational option for compiling any kind of statistical table can be achieved using six simple rules. You must always follow these rules, it will allow the creation of statistical tables correctly, without errors, and the constructed tables will be quickly read and easy to read.
The construction of any statistical table begins with the assignment of a certain number to it. The serial number allows you to make each of them unique. By assigning a number to the table, it also needs to establish a general heading that briefly describes the content, topic and area of study. The heading may also include the date the information was compiled or received, as well as the period displayed. Headings can be lateral, top and general.
At the third stage, it is necessary to choose a table layout suitable for a given set of verbal-digital data. This is a rectangular field, divided by the intersection of rows of vertically and horizontally directed lines, forming rows and columns consisting of cells. It is in these fields that all information will be recorded. Columns of the table and its rows must be numbered sequentially for greater clarity, to avoid confusion and ease of transferring the table from one page of the document to another. Instead of a number, you can assign a unique alphabetic code.
At the fourth stage of constructing statistical tables, all the necessary data must be entered sequentially into the cells. At the penultimate, fifth stage of compiling the table, it is necessary to fill in the fields with information. It is advisable to do this, moving from column to column, introducing the necessary statistical indicators into it. Such an indicator is nothing but a numerical description expressing a certain parameter, characteristic, property of the phenomenon described in the table.
At the last stage of filling out any statistical table, notes are written for it, if necessary. The data source, the method of statistical processing, the sample size, the place of data collection, or the algorithm for working with the table are indicated.
Other construction features
Numerical and textual information are integral elements of which a statistical table is composed. Estimated values are entered after all statistical data has been entered. It is necessary to observe the uniform dimension of the data entered into the cells in any kind of statistical tables. It is advisable to enter numerical data so that the bits of these numbers in the cells of one column are located exactly under each other (a thousand - under a thousand, a million - under a million).
All numbers in the table must have the same number of decimal places. If the table contains only integers, then entering decimal places is impractical. If the table has an enumeration of numerical data line by line, it should contain a column with the resulting amounts for each row ("total" or "total"). Such a column can be either the first or the last in the location in the table. Lines for which data are absent or equal to zero are filled with special characters: "X" (not filled), "-" (absence) or the inscription "N / A" (no data).
Varieties of tables
Analysis of statistical tables reveals many of these objects of various types, methods of construction, purpose and orientation. They differ in the features of the numerical aggregates used, in the structures, in the interconnection of factors that determine the elements of each table.
The structural composition of the subject and predicate tables and the features of data grouping allow you to divide the table into four types:
- Combinational - the subject consists of several features.
- Mixed - carry the signs of both a group and a simple table.
- group - contain data grouped by some attribute.
- simple - represent the subject, formed by a simple enumeration of units of the studied population, without dividing into groups.
Simple tables are:
- Chronological (series of dynamics) - illustrate the change in subject data over time.
- Browns (distribution rows) - contain in the subject listing all objects of the studied ordered population.
- Monographic - reveal part of the data sorted by some attribute (group or part of the population).
- Territorial - together mention a list of geographical objects.
Statistics tasks may involve the appearance of other varieties of statistical tables.
Classification of tables by the nature of the subject
From the point of view of this criterion, there are simple tables and complex ones. The first of these types in the subject contains a list of some of the studied units of the population, together with the numerical characteristics of each object of study. The main purpose of such tables is to provide an initial summary of some data set. For a correct and complete understanding of the data in such a table, the observer does not require special statistical knowledge and skills.
Complex statistical tables are: mixed (there are signs related to both group and combinational), group (objects of the studied population are divided into groups according to a pre-selected attribute) and combinational (several signs inherent in the subject table).
Classification of tables by the nature of the predicate
The frequency of repetition of the values of a certain indicator and the degree of development of the predicate in the table allows us to distinguish the following types of statistical tables:
- Static - the indicator is defined in space and time; it is not repeated either in time or territorially.
- Dynamic - data is recorded for several moments, periods within the boundaries of the phenomenon under study.
- Spatial - information is repeated for different territories.
- Spatial-temporal - provides a comprehensive coverage of the phenomenon both in time and in space.
The complexity of constructing a statistical table determines the existence of a complex, simple and complex combined predicate. The presence of repeatability of individual indicator data is an attribute of a complex predicate. Simple means that the indicator is present in the table as a quantitative attribute of the phenomenon under study without taking into account its types. The presence of a combined grouping of data in the subject means that we have a table in which the model of a complex combined predicate is applied.
Special view - balance tables
In addition to those mentioned above, balance sheet tables exist. Their peculiarity is that the predicate is represented by balanced data defining the two sides of the process under study.
A typical example of a balance sheet type statistical table is a balance sheet divided into an asset and a liability, the equilibrium of which must be achieved when filling out.
Conclusion
Statistical tables are very important for the analysis of any aggregates of statistical data. The main elements that make up the statistical table are subject and predicate. They should always be filled in correctly, only verified, relevant information should be used.
The compilation and analysis of such tables usually does not require special statistical knowledge. They are easily applied in all spheres of the national economy, easy to understand and help to visualize and effectively present a large set of numerical data. Their use greatly facilitates the analysis, construction of trends and development models of the studied phenomena.