Page 50 - Essencials of Sociology

Research Methods (Designs) 23

TABLE 1.2 How to Read a Table

Tables summarize information. Because sociological findings are often presented in tables, it is important to understand how to read them.
Tables contain six elements: title, headnote, headings, columns, rows, and source. When you understand how these elements fit together,
you know how to read a table.

The title states the topic. The columns present
1 It is located at the top 4 information arranged
of the table. What is the Comparing Violent and Nonviolent Husbands vertically. What is the
title of this table? Please fourth number in the
determine your answer Based on interviews with 150 husbands and wives in a second column and the
before looking at the Midwestern city who were getting a divorce. second number in the
correct answer at the third column?
bottom of this page.
Violent Nonviolent
Husband’s Achievement Husbands Husbands
The headnote is not
2 always included in a table. and Job Satisfaction (n = 25) (n = 125) 5 The rows present infor-
When it is present, it is He started but failed 44% 27% mation arranged horizon-
located just below the to complete high school tally. In the fourth row,
title. Its purpose is to or college. which husbands are more
give more detailed infor- He is very dissatisfied 44% 18% likely to have less educa-
mation about how the with his job. tion than their wives?
data were collected or
how data are presented His income is a source 84% 24%
in the table. What are the of constant conflict.
first eight words of the He has less education 56% 14% The source of a table, usu-
headnote for this table? than his wife. 6 ally listed at the bottom,
His job has less prestige 37% 28% provides information on
than his father-in-law’s.
The headings tell what where the data in the
3 kind of information is table originated. Often, as
contained in the table. Source: Modification of Table 1 in O’Brien 1975. in this instance, the infor-
There are three headings mation is specific enough
in this table. What are for you to consult the
they? In the second head- original source. What is
ing, what does the source for this table?
n = 25 mean?

Some tables are much more complicated than this one, but all follow the same basic pattern.
To apply these concepts to a table with more information, see page 276. is an abbreviation for number, and n = 25 means that 25 violent husbands were in the sample. 6. A 1975 article by O’Brien (listed in the References section of this text). 5. Violent Husbands 4. 56%, 18% 3. Husband’s Achievement and Job Satisfaction, Violent Husbands, Nonviolent Husbands. The n 2. Based on interviews with 150 husbands and wives 1. Comparing Violent and Nonviolent Husbands ANSWERS