Contents

CHAPTER 13: Communication in Psychology 435numbers. Each table should also have a brief explanatory title, and the columnsand rows of the table should be labeled clearly. The data entries in the tableshould all be reported to the same degree of precision (i.e., all values shouldhave the same number of decimal places), and the values should be consistentlyaligned with the corresponding row and column headings. You will wantto refer to the Publication Manual in order to see the various ways tables areconstructed according to APA stylistic requirements (see especially Chapter 5of the Manual).Presenting Data in Figures Figures, like tables, are a concise way to present largeamounts of information. A figure has two principal axes: the horizontal axis, orx-axis, and the vertical axis, or y-axis. Typically, the levels of the independentvariable are plotted on the x-axis, and those of the dependent variable are plottedon the y-axis. When there are two or more independent variables, the levelsof the second and succeeding independent variables serve as labels for the datawithin the figure or are indicated in a figure legend. In Figure 13.1 the valuesof the dependent variable (mean number recalled) are plotted on the y-axis,and the levels of one independent variable (serial position) are indicated onthe x-axis. The levels of the second independent variable (cued [C] or noncued[NC]) label the data within the figures, and the levels of the third independentvariable (instructions) serve as the headings for each of the two separate panelsof the figure.Two general types of figures are commonly used in psychology: line graphsand bar graphs. The most common type of figure is the line graph like the oneFIGURE 13.1Mean number of words recalled (of a possible 10) as a function of serial position within blocks,cuing (C Cued; NC Noncued), and instructional condition.7.0IntentionalConditionsIncidentalConditions6.0Mean Number Recalled5.04.03.0NCCNC2.0C1.01–2 3–4 5–6 7–8 1–2 3–4 5–6 7–8Serial Position Within Blocks