Comparison of Tables, Diagrams and Graphs
Data may be presented in the form of tables as well as using diagrams and graphs. Tables can be compared with graphs and diagrams on the basis of various characteristics as follows:
i. Table contains precise and accurate information, whereas graphs and diagrams give only an approximate idea.
ii. More information can be presented in tables than in graphs and diagrams.
iii. Tables require careful reading and are difficult to interpret, whereas diagrams and graphs are easily interpretable.
iv. For common men, graphs and diagrams are attractive and more appealing than tables.
v. Diagrams and graphs exhibit the inherent trends in the distribution easily on comparable mode than the tables.
vi. Graphs and diagrams can be easily misinterpreted than tables.
i. Diagrams can be drawn on plain papers, whereas graphs require graph papers.
ii. Diagrams are appropriate and effective to present information about one or more variables. Normally, it is difficult to draw graphs for more than one variable in the same graph.
iii. Graphs can be used for interpolation and/or extrapolation, but diagrams cannot be used for this purpose.
iv. Median can be determined using graphs, but not using diagrams.
v. Diagrams can be used for comparison of data/variables, whereas graphs can be used for determining the relationship between variables.