Parts, Types and Construction of Tables

Construction-of-statistical-table has some major parts and some minor parts.

Major parts:

1. The Title.
2. The Box head.
3. The Stub entries.
4. The body.

The Title: Title is the main heading written at the top of the table. It must explains, the contents of the table.

The Box Head: The vertical heading and subheadings are called Box Head, which is also known as column caption. The space where the column headings are written is called as Box head. Only the first letter of the Box head should be written in capital letters, and the remaining should be written in small letters.
The Stub Entries: The horizontal headings and sub headings of a row are called as the stub entries or row caption. The space where the row headings are written is called as stub.

The Body: The main part of the table is called as Body, which contains the numerical information classified with respect to row and column captions. Some other parts of the table are as follows:

Prefatory notes: As the name denotes, a statement which describes the unit of measurement. It appears below the Title, enclosed by brackets.

Foot notes: As usual it appears at the foot of the body giving further explanation.
Source notes: It indicates the time from when the source is taken from, and it comes under the table.

Types of Tables:

There are different types of table based on different basis. On the basis of the objective or purpose of the study, the tables are classified into two types viz. (1) General purpose table and (2) Specific purpose table or summary table. On the basis of nature of the data, the tables are classified into two types viz. (1) Primary, or original table and (2) Secondary, or derived table. Further, on the basis of the elements, or characteristics covered, tables are broadly classified into two types viz. (1) Simple and (2) Complex table.

Thus, the different types of table can be diagrammatically as under:

Construction of Tables

A statistical table has at least four major parts and some other minor parts.
(1) The Title
(2) The Box Head (column captions)
(3) The Stub (row captions)
(4) The Body
(5) Prefatory Notes
(6) Foot Notes
(7) Source Notes
The general sketch of table indicating its necessary parts is shown below:

—–THE TITLE—-
—-Prefatory Notes—-

Foot Notes…
Source Notes…

(1) The Title

The title is the main heading written in capitals shown at the top of the table. It must explain the contents of the table and throw light on the table, as whole different parts of the heading can be separated by commas. There are no full stops in the little.

(2) The Box Head (column captions)

The vertical heading and subheading of the column are called columns captions. The spaces where these column headings are written is called the box head. Only the first letter of the box head is in capital letters and the remaining words must be written in lowercase.

(3) The Stub (row captions)

The horizontal headings and sub heading of the row are called row captions and the space where these rows headings are written is called the stub.

(4) The Body

This is the main part of the table which contains the numerical information classified with respect to row and column captions.

(5) Prefatory Notes 

A statement given below the title and enclosed in brackets usually describes the units of measurement and is called the prefatory notes.

(6) Foot Notes

These appear immediately below the body of the table providing additional explanation.

(7) Source Notes

The source notes are given at the end of the table indicating the source the information has been taken from. It includes the information about compiling agency, publication, etc.

General Rules of Tabulation

• A table should be simple and attractive. There should be no need of further explanation (details).
• Proper and clear headings for columns and rows are necessary.
• Suitable approximation may be adopted and figures may be rounded off.
• The unit of measurement should be well defined.
• If the observations are large in numbers they can be broken into two or three tables.
• Thick lines should be used to separate the data under big classes and thin lines to separate the sub classes of data.