Unit 3. Classification and Tabulation [3 Hrs.

]
3.1. Classification of data
3.2. Meaning and Importance of table
3.3. Parts of table
Introduction of Classification and Tabulation:
We have already discussed various methods of collecting the data in the
previous chapter. The data collected haphazardly is known as raw data. More often,
the data collected for any statistical investigation are so huge that they are un widely
and un comprehensible. So, after collecting and editing the data the next step is to
organize it. That means, classification and tabulation are made to present the data in
the condensed form so that it may highlight the important characteristics of the data.
Need of classification:
The data collected through a statistical investigation are a complex and un
organized mass of figures. These data are so voluminous that its significant features
can not be understood. Such data are also not fit for analysis and interpretation.
Classification of data helps to change the voluminous heterogenous data into
homogeneous groups so that its important characteristics can easily be grasped. It also
makes the data more useful for further processing such as tabulation, analysis and
interpretation of data.
3.3 Meaning of classification
Classification means the process of arranging the data into different groups or
classes according to their similarities. Thus classification is the first step in tabulation
because the items with similarities must be brought together before the data are
presented in the form of a table.
3.4 Objects of classification
The classification of data carries out the following important objectives:
(i) It presents the facts into a simplier form and pinpoints the significant features
of dataat a glance.
(ii) It condenses the huge mass of data by eliminating irrelevant details such that
points of similarities and dissimilarities can easily be brought out.
(iii) It facilitates comparison.
(iv) It helps to enable a statistical treatment of informations collected.
(v) It prepares the basis of tabulation.

Different types of classification

The collected data can be classified according to the following four ways:
 (a) Geographical classification.
(b) Chronological classification.
(c) Qualitative classification
(d) Quantitative classification
Geographical classification:
Under this classification, data are classified according to the geographical or
locational positions such as zones, districts etc. We have the following example:
Zone Population in 1981
Bagmati 17,82439
Narayani 14,38803
Koshi 14,23624

Chronological classification:
In this case, data are classified according to the variations of time. For example: The
productions of certain industrial concern in different period of time belong to this
classification.
Year Production of Agricultural
tools (in m. tonnes)

1983/84 481
1984/85 340
1985/86 391

Qualitative classification:
Data classified according to some quality such as religion, literacy, honesty, sex,
intelligence etc. belong to Qualitative classification.
When classification of data are made into two classes with respect to a given attribute
it is said to be simple classification. Examples of simple classifications are
"classification of given population into male or female, honesty or dishonesty etc.
When the data are classified into more than two classes with respect to a given
attribute, it is said to be manifold classification.
The following presentation shows simple as well as manifold classification.asn
Quantitative classification:
Classification of the data according to some characteristics which can be measured
quantitatively is known as Quantitative classification. The marks, heights, weights,
incomes etc. are the examples which can be measured quantitatively. Thier
classifications belong to quantitative classification.
For example:
Heights in No. of persons
cms
162 5
165 10
166 7
167 3

Variable
The quantitative characteristic under study is known as a variable or a 'variate'.
The values taken by the variable are known as variate values. There are two types of
variable; continuous and discrete. If a variable can take any numerical value within a
certain range, it is called a continuous variable. Height, weight, etc. are the examples
of continuous variable. Variable taking only discrete or exact value is known as
discrete variable. Family members, number of goals in a football match are the
examples of discrete variable.
Frequency
The number of times which a variate value occurs is known as frequency. The
variate value 5 repeats 7 times means the frequency of the variate value 5 is 7. In
example persons each of whose height is 162 cms. of quantitative classification, 5 is
the frequency of the variate value 162 cms. i.e. there are 5 persons each of whose hight
is 162 cms.
Frequency distribution
Frequency distribution is simply a table in which the collected and classified data
are presented into different classes and the number of cases which fall in each class are
recorded. There are two kinds of frequency distribution. Univariate and bivariate
frequency distribution.
Tabulation
Tabulation is the process of arranging the data in an orderly manner into rows
and columns. Rows are horizontal arrangements and columns, the vertical
arrangements. The purpose of the tabulation is to simplify the presentation of data and
to facilitate comparison between related informations. It is the final step of collection
of data and is a stepping stone to the analysis and interpretation of figures.

Advantage of Tabulation:
Some of the advantages of tabulation are given below:
i) Tabulation helps in easy understanding of the data. The main features of the data can
be noticed at a glance by looking at the table.
ii) Tabulation facilitates comparison between two or more series.
iii) As a huge mass of data can be reduced into rows and columns, tabulation saves
time and money.
iv) Once the data have been tabulated, the statistical measure and interpretation of data
become very easy.

Different parts of a table

The different parts of a table depends upon the nature of the data and the purpose of
investigation. Generally, the main parts of a table are mentioned below:
clear, simple and self-explanatory.
1. Title of the table: Every table should have a suitable title. Title should be brief,
2. Table number: Every table must have a number for proper identification and for
easy and ready reference for future. The number in the table must be placed at the top
of the table.
3. Caption: The heading of a column is known as a 'caption'. The wording of caption
should also be simple and brief.
4. Stubs: Stubs mean the row headings. Its function is same as that of caption.
5. Body of the table: This is the important part of the table. The body of the table is
formed by the arrangement of the data according to the description given in the
captions and stubs.
6. Headnote: Headnote is a statement written below the title centred and enclosed in
footnotes. Footnotes are written directly below the body of the table.
7. Footnote: Anything in a table which needs explanation for the data is written in
8. Source: The source from which the data have been taken should be mentioned. The
source should be given at the bottom of the table, just below the footnote.

General rules for tabulation

There are no hard and fast rules for constructing statistical tables. However, the
following considerations can serve as very helpful guidelines in this respect.
1. Table should be adjusted to the space available but its size should be visible at a
glance .
2. The captions and the stubs should be arranged according to the following
conditions: (a) Alphabetically (b) chronologically (d) numerical importance of the item
(c) conventionally (e) Geographically
3. Units of measurement should clearly be shown. As for example: height in cms,
weight in kg. etc.
4. Figures may Figures may be rounded off with the standard of accuracy.
5. If certain figures are to be emphasized then they should be distinctive type or in a
'box' or 'circle' or beween thick lines.
6. Table should not be overloaded with details. If many characteristics are to be shown,
it is not necessary to load them in one table. A number of tables should be constructed,
each table complete in itself and serving a particular purpose.
7. Figures to be compared should be placed in adjacent columns or rows. It should
however be remembered that 'adjacent columns' are better for easy comparison
between two series than adjecent rows.
8. Ratios, percentages facilitate comparison. Such devices are particularly useful when
the absolute figures to be compared are large. In such cases, additional columns should
be inserted in the table and the percentages (or ratios) computed are entered.
9. For not available information, use N.A. or- (dash) and not use zero '0'. Use zero only
for the quantity zero.
10. Do not use abbreviation specially in title and headings. For example: 'yr.' should
not be used for 'year' .
11. Do not write etc. in the table.
12. Do not use ditto marks ("). If the figure is repeated, show it each time.
13. To eliminate errors, checking and re-checking of the entries in the table
should be made.

Types of table :
Generally threre are two types of tables which are classified according to the
following basis:
i) On the basis of construction
ii) On the basis of purpose

(i) On the basis of construction

On the basis of construction, the table may further be divided into the
following two catagories:
(a) Simple
(b) Complex
(a) Simple table: A simple table is one in which the data are presented according
to only one character. It is also known as one-way table. The following is an
example of a simple table.

(b) Complex table: A table in which the data are presented according to two or more
inter-related characteristics simultaneously is said to be a complex table. If two
characteristics are shown in a table, it is said to be two-way table. Similarly the table
showing three characteristics is said to be three-way table.

The examples of two-way table and three-way table are shown below.
(ii) On the basis of purpose
On the basis of purpose, the table may be of two types
a) General purpose
b) Special purpose
(a) General purpose table: These types of tables are also known as reference tables
or repository tables. They provide informations for general use or reference. They
usually contain detail informations but these informations are not for comparative
studies. Most of the such tables are prepared by government agencies.
(b) Special purpose table: These types of tables known as summary tables are
prepared for the comparative studies and studying the relationship and the significance
of the figures provided by the data. In such table, ratios, percentages etc. are used to
facilitate comparison.