We teach you how to configure an APA standard table
Many times you will have information to share in your scientific article or thesis that is better displayed in a table. This usually happens when the amount of data is excessive and it is displayed much better organized in a box. If this is your case, today we are going to explain how to make an APA standard table, including how to set up your Microsoft Word to make the process that much easier.
Why use tables?
The graphic elements are quite striking for the reader, but they should not be abused. If you decide to present a table in your degree work, Think carefully about the reasons for doing it and if it is really worth it.
Tables and figures are usually included to make information easier to read and understand. It may be that you have too much information on a topic and want to summarize it in a table, or that you want to present the results of the exploratory data and analysis in a simpler and more visual way. Tables are also ideal for discussing statistics and estimating results.
Guidelines for the presentation of tables in APA format
You always have to keep in mind that the main purpose of tables is communication, although this does not mean that they should have a poor design. The designs must be pleasing to the eye and, for this, it is It is essential to choose very well what data will be added to the figure in question. The information should be easy to read and its purpose should be immediately understood.
In addition to this, it is important to know that the tables must be numbered with Arabic numerals, placed in the order in which they are mentioned in the text.
If you're reproducing someone else's chart, it's best to have that person's permission and be sure to give them proper credit so you don't incur copyright infringement. These graphs will be a complement to the text, so every time you want to refer to a table, you must explain to the reader where they can find it and what they are seeing.
The tables are structured in rows and columns in which the information will be organized. You should never repeat the same data in different tables. If you are designing an apa table, keep the font you are using in the text of the document.
elements of a table
APA tables have two important elements: the number and the title. The number (to identify the table) is written on the title of the same in bold, with alignment to the left and without using a period.
Each table must have a clear and concise title. This is in upper and lower case (upper and lower) and in italics and there should be a double-spaced line between the table number and the title.
You can do this by selecting the table number text. when doing right click You will see the paragraph options and under line spacing you should choose Double.
Initial recommendations for your APA standard table
If you are going to use an apa norm table in your research, we suggest that you create it directly in the word processing program in which you are writing your dissertation. Many make the mistake of designing them in other programs (usually Excel) and then copying and pasting them into their word processor. The result is that the table loses formatting and that you will have to do many edits to comply with the guidelines given by the standards of the American Psychological Association (WHAT).
Another tip is to move away from the space bar (also known as the tab key) to create the look of tables. It is quite possible that if you resort to this, your table will have alignment and formatting errors.
Create your table in Word
As we already suggested, it is best to design your table directly in the Microsoft Word program, as this way you will have a better handling of its formatting.
To create a table, the first thing you need to know is how many rows and columns you will need. Make a mental sketch (or you can even draw it on paper) of what the data representation will look like.
In the Word program, go to Insert and select Table, If there are applications and web pages that are responsible for making the citations and references of each of the sources for us, it is not surprising that there are these "pages" that we only have to download and take care of "filling" with our information. Insert Table. There you will establish the number of rows and columns that you will need.
The next step is to configure the size of the cells and their alignment. According to the seventh edition of the APA standards, you can use a space, a space and a half or double space for this. Select the table, go to the Layout tab and apply a height of 0.8 1.2 or 1.6 centimeters in cell height. Be sure to select the entire table so the formatting applies to the entire chart.
Now go to the alignment options and choose horizontal and vertical center alignment.
The first rows of the table will be used to write the headers of the table. Their names will vary depending on the data you want to share in your table. These should be aligned centered and written up and down, always starting with a capital letter. They are written in the singular, unless they refer to a group.
Now we go with the body of the table. Here you will empty all the information (data) you have for the table. The body is aligned to the center. You will only be able to change this if its reading is much more legible when you align it to the left.
Another point that you should not forget is that numerical data is always expressed in the same unit of measure and with the same number of decimal places. You can total the data in an extra column or row.
If there is a field you don't have data for, leave it blank. Of course, you must explain the reason for this using a general note or a hyphen in the cells.
As you can see, creating tables in APA format is extremely simple. You just have to be very clear about how you will distribute the information and get down to work, although it is much more important to determine the true usefulness of the table. Is it worth inserting a table? Think very well. Don't deplete or use a resource that isn't really needed for the investigation.