The table is classified mainly on three bases-
1. According to Objectives
2. According to Originality
3. According to Construction
I. According to objectives :
Tables are of two types according to objectives
- Table with General Purpose: This table presents the data in tabulated form for , general use. Its purpose is to present data so that researchers can add different units immediately. These are also called reference tables because usually it is given with reports; Like – Table given with census report.
- Table of Specific Purpose: This table is prepared for a particular purpose. This table is mostly small, in which detailed data is not provided, these are also called summary tables.
II. According to Originality :
Tables are of two types according to originality-
- Primary Table : The primary table refers to such a table in which the data is presented in the same fundamental form, in the same way as they have been collected.
- Derived Table : The derived table is the table in which data is presented in form of percentage, ratio, etc.
III. According to Construction :
Tables are of two types according to construction-
- Simple Table : This table only describes one attribute of data.
- For example: a table showing the number of students in different classes of a school.
- Complex Table : A table Which explains more than one properties of relationships is called a complex table.
Based on the properties, it is classified as 3 classes, which are the following:
1. Dual-Property Table : This table displays two properties of data, so it is called a dual-property table.
For example – If the number of students studying in different classes in a school is divided into boys and girls, then such table will be called dual property table.
2. Triple-Property Table : Such tables show three characteristics of data.
For example: if the number of students studying in school is expressed on the basis of class, gender and housing, then such a table will be called a triple property table.
3. Multiple-Property Table : When the table displays more than 3 characteristics of data, then it is called multi-property table.
For example – If the number of students of the school is distributed by the class, gender, housing, family income, then this table is called multi-property table.