Tabular Data

Abstract

Somewhat abstractly speaking a table consists of a set of cells. Each cell is characterized by a set of coordinates, consisting of combinations of scores on certain categorical variables. Often these variables are identifying variables. To each cell there corresponds a cell total, consisting of the (possibly weighted) sum of individual contributions. Because the cell total is the result of an addition, the variable associated with the cell total has to be a numerical variable. Often the tabulation variable is a sensitive variable.

Table talk, to be perfect, should be sincere without bigotry, differing without discord, sometimes grave, always agreeable, touching on deep points, dwelling most on seasonable ones, and letting everybody speak and be heard. —Leigh Hunt