How to Create Effective Tables and Figures for Your Dissertation

By Dr. Patricia N., DNP, PhD in Nursing Science. Reviewed by Dr. Amanda R.. 2025-09-22.

Get expert help with this chapter | University guides | Dissertation writing services

Key takeaways

• Use tables for exact values and figures for patterns and trends
• Never present the same data in both a table and a figure
• Follow APA formatting: horizontal lines only, no vertical or grid lines
• Include error bars on statistical figures and explain them in notes
• Avoid 3D effects, rainbow colors, and cluttered designs
• Export at 300+ DPI and ensure figures work in black and white

When to Use Tables vs. Figures

Tables and figures serve different communication purposes, and choosing the wrong format can obscure rather than clarify your data. Understanding when to use each is essential for effective dissertation writing.

Use tables when you need to present exact numerical values that readers may want to look up or compare precisely. Correlation matrices, regression results, demographic characteristics, and measurement properties are best presented in tables. Tables excel at communicating specific values across multiple variables.

Use figures (charts, graphs, plots) when you want to illustrate patterns, trends, relationships, or distributions. Line graphs show change over time, bar charts compare groups, scatter plots reveal relationships between continuous variables, and box plots display distributions. Figures are better than tables at conveying the 'shape' of your data.

Never present the same data in both a table and a figure, choose one. And don't create tables or figures for simple data that can be communicated more efficiently in text. A one-row, two-column table wastes space; just state the values in a sentence.

APA Table Formatting Rules

In APA 7th edition, tables follow specific formatting conventions. Each table needs a number (Table 1, Table 2, etc.) in bold, a descriptive title in italics on the line below the number, and a body with clearly labeled columns and rows.

Use horizontal lines sparingly: one below the title, one below column headers, and one at the bottom of the table. No vertical lines. No grid lines inside the table. This clean format is standard in academic publishing and produces professional-looking results.

Column headings should be brief but descriptive. Use standard abbreviations (M, SD, n, df, p) in tables to save space, but define them in a note if they might be unfamiliar. Left-align text columns and center numerical columns. Use consistent decimal places within each column.

Include table notes as needed: general notes apply to the entire table, specific notes reference particular cells (using superscript letters), and probability notes explain significance symbols (* p < .05, ** p < .01, *** p < .001). Reference every table in the text before it appears.

Creating Effective Figures and Common Mistakes

Effective figures are simple, clean, and self-explanatory. Each figure needs a number and descriptive title (same format as tables). Label all axes clearly with measurement units. Use legible font sizes, nothing smaller than 8-point when the figure is at its final printed size.

Common mistakes include: 3D effects on bar charts (they distort proportions and add no information), excessive gridlines, rainbow color schemes (use colorblind-friendly palettes), truncated y-axes that exaggerate differences, and cluttered legends. Every visual element should serve a purpose.

For statistical figures, include error bars (standard error or confidence intervals) on bar charts and scatter plots. Specify in the figure note what the error bars represent. If you're showing regression lines, include the equation and R² value.

Ensure all figures remain clear when printed in black and white, unless you're certain your committee will review in color. Use different line styles (solid, dashed, dotted) and marker shapes in addition to color. Export figures at high resolution (300 DPI minimum) to avoid pixelation.