Transcript AMA Manual of Style

Visual Presentation of Data
Azam Raufee,
Kowsar Medical Institute,
Visual Presentation of Data
• Tables
• Figures
• Nontabular Material
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Tables
• Large amounts of detailed quantitative
information in a smaller space
• Item-to-item comparisons
• Many quantitative values simultaneously
• Individual data values precisely
• Complex relationships in data
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
• Essential component - > present detailed
information effectively and in ways that text
alone cannot
• Study results -> Summarize, organize, and
condense complex or detailed data
NOTE
A proper table -> doesn’t require explanation
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Note:
Table Position
As referred
to in the text
Present numerical data
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Tabulation (a brief, in-text table)
* placed directly in the text
*Unnecessary titles, numbering, and rules
1 or 2 columns
boldface
headings
requires the text to
explain meaning
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
column
Matrix (a tabular structure )
To depict relationships among columns and rows -> uses
numbers, short words (eg, no, yes), or symbols (eg, bullets, check
marks)
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Nontabular Material
(Boxes, Sidebars)
• Does not contain cells
• Set off from the text
• References should also appear in the reference
list and be numbered in order of their appearance
Sometimes the box or sidebar is cited in the text
(following the citation rules for tables) and other
times (eg, in news articles) it is not
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Boxes
• Contains words, phrases, or sentences
• Often in list form
• To emphasize key points, summarize information,
and/or reduce the narrative text
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Sidebar of sources for further reading
Sidebars
supplementary
information, including
related topics or lists of
sources for further reading
Sidebar from a news story on influenza
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Organizing Information in Tables
* Tabulating
all collected study data is unnecessary
and actually may distract and overwhelm the reader.
* The length of the table should also be considered.
• 2 or more smaller tables
• set in smaller type
• publish the table in electronic form
• in print publications -> up to 9 or 10 columns of data
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
The
second
table more
easily
allows the
reader to
compare
the changes
over time.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Table Components
•
•
•
•
•
Title
Column headings
Stubs (row headings)
Body (data field)
Footnotes
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Title
• brief, specific, descriptive
• usually written as a phrase
• Distinguishes the table from other data
displays in the article
• Convey the topic of the table
• (not detailed background information or
summary of results)
• Numbered according to the text order
• The word “Table” and the table number are
part of the title.
• Only 1 table in the article -> “Table”
• The capitalization style -> as article titles
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Column Headings
• main categories -> separate columns
• Each column -> a brief heading
• Independent and dependent variables
• the independent variables -> left-hand column
• the dependent variables -> right-hand column
• unit of measure -> indicated in the column
heading (unless it is given in the table stub)
• preceded by a comma
• boldface type
• Column subheadings may be used
• Complex headings -> braces, or footnotes
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
• All elements in a column are equal (female
sex) -> delete the column -> indicate in
footnote or table title
• Numbers and abbreviations may be relaxed
with abbreviations expanded in a footnote
• When space allows , expansions are preferable
to abbreviations.
• The capitalization style -> as article titles
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Table Stubs
(Row Headings)
Left-justified
Unit of measure if
It is not included in
column heading
Some publications
use bold stubs or shading
Capitalization:
sentences, NOT titles
the first word should be capitalized
Indentions:
Depict hierarchical
components of the stubs
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Cut-in headings
• A table divided into parts to enhance
clarity
• 2 closely related tables that would be
better combined
• Above the table columns
(below the column heads)
• Boldface
• Centered
N0TE
Both column headings and stubs should be consistent in
style and presentation between tables in the same article.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Field (body)
• Numerals, text, symbols, or a combination
• Data arranged logically -> find data point easily. e.g.
•
•
•
time order should be used for data collected in sequence
Similar types of data should be grouped.
Numbers that are added or averaged should be placed in the
same column.
• Capitalization -> Sentences style
• Avoid blank space (ambiguity) unless an entry in a cell
does not contain data.
– The numeral 0 should be used
– Ellipsis (...) -> no data available or the category is not applicable
for a cell
– Other designations such as NA, meaning in footnote
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Sex and age were matching variables, no data appear in those cells
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Totals
• Corresponded to values in the text and abstract
• Explain discrepancies
rounding) in a footnote.
(eg,
because
of
• Discretion in Boldface type for true totals (ie,
those that represent sums of values in the
table)
• Do not boldface to emphasize data (eg,
significant odds ratios or P values).
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Alignment of Data
Horizontal alignment (across rows)
Stub line exceed the width
of the stub column
aligned across the first line
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Vertical alignment
• Lengthy text -> the flush-left format should be
used with an indent for run over lines.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Rules and Shading
•
For JAMA and the Archives Journals, tables
should be submitted without rules or shading.
• Many journals add rules and shading, JAMA
uses horizontal rules to separate rows of data
(Example T8). Other journals may use
shading.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Footnotes
•
•
•
•
•
•
Order -> placement in the table
The letter for entire table -> after the table title
1 or 2 columns or rows -> after the column heading(s) or stub(s)
A single or several individual entries -> at the end of each entry
listed at the bottom , each on its own line
To save space -> 2 columns
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
• Superscript lowercase letters in alphabetical
order (a-z)
• Font size -> large enough to see clearly
without appearing to be part of the actual data
• Using symbols (JAMA and the Archives
Journals) -> are limited in number (*,† , etc)
• Care -> superscript footnote letters are
distinguished clearly from superscripts used
for data elements (Blood Groups, Platelet
Antigens) -> symbols may avoid confusion
• Phrases or complete sentences
• Operational signs (P = .01) is considered a
complete sentence.
• Footnote letters before the text
• Followed by a space for clarity
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
• JAMA and the Archives Journals -> abbreviations and units
of measure conversion first
• AND Set off with an introductory word or phrase instead of
a letter
• Abbreviations -> in alphabetical order
• Units of measure and applicable conversion factors ->
separate footnote
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
• Several tables share long footnote -> refer to the
first table (eg. Study acronyms are explained in the first footnote to
Table 1. )
• The reader may be referred to a relevant
discussion in the text. (eg. See the “Statistical Analysis”
section for a description of this procedure.)
• N0TE 1: References -> numbered as the text
• N0TE 2: References at the end of table titles are
ambiguous. Instead, a footnote should be added
with an explanation that it was
• Adapted from ...
• Reproduced with permission from ...
• Data were derived from ...
• Both footnote letter and reference number:
• 1. the reference number,
• 2. the letter (eg. 427 Patients5,b ).
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.
Some examples of footnotes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To expand abbreviations: Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR,
odds ratio.
To designate reporting of numerical values: a Scores are based on a
scale of 1 to 10, with 1 indicating least severe and 10, most severe.
To provide information on statistical analyses or experimental methods:
b Adjusted for age, smoking status, and body mass index.
To explain a discrepancy in numerical data: a Because of rounding,
percentages may not total 100.
To cite references for information used in the table. References are
given as in the text and are designated with superscript arabic numbers:
c Classified using International Classification of Health Problems in
Primary Care.
To acknowledge that data in the table are taken from or based on data
from another source: a Data from the US Census Bureau.
To acknowledge credit for reproduction of a table. If the table has been
reprinted or modified with permission from another source, credit
should be given in a footnote: a Adapted with permission from the
American Medical Association.
Azam Raufee
Kowsar Corp.