(reading a table)

This is an example from a typical reading that might be given to a first year Psychology student. This is the kind of table that appears in many studies published in the social sciences

In order to extract useful information from a table like this, students should:

• recognise what comparisons the table is designed to facilitate
• recognise where to supplement understanding by reference to the accompanying text (for example to understand the references to High and Low Alcohol Consumption Organisations)
• recognise the statistical measures represented (What are M, SD and N?)
• know how to interpret the statistics given in order to understand the situation described in the study.