2.1.1. Types of tables

The Oxford English dictionary defines a table as "a set of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns".

Three main types of tables I distinguish (although variations on these exist) are:

• Frequency tables
• Grouped frequency tables
• Contingency tables

A frequency table simply lists the possible values and the corresponding frequencies (counts). Table 2 shows an example of a simple frequency table.

Table 2
Example of a Frequency Table

Gender	Frequency
Female	28
Male	21

A grouped frequency table is similar as a frequency table but now the data has been grouped into classes, to avoid long tables. Table 3 shows and example of a grouped frequency table.

Table 3
Example of a Grouped Frequency Table

Income	Frequency
0 < 10	8
10 < 20	12
20 < 50	22
50 or more	5

A contingency table (or cross table) shows two variables; one in the rows and the other in the columns as for example shown in Table 4.

Table 4
Example of a Cross Table

	Gender
Income	Female	Male
0 < 10	4	6
10 < 20	8	12
20 < 50	10	13
50 or more	7	5

Next entry: About constructing tables in general