Study Success at Sussex (S3)

Using graphs diagrams and images

Sometimes words aren't the most effective way to communicate. Using graphs, diagrams and charts can help your reader to get a clearer picture of your research findings and how they compare with other data.

Layout, labelling and referencing

All graphs, charts, drawings, diagrams and photographs should be numbered consecutively as Figures according to where they come in the text (e.g. Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3 etc). All tables should be numbered using a separate sequence (e.g. Table 1, Table 2 etc).

Make sure all your images are large enough, and of a high enough quality, to be read easily and that they are labelled clearly to explain what they show.

Remember: You will need to reference any diagrams and photos you use if they are not your own work.

Tables are useful when you need to present a quantity of numerical data in an accessible format and you need to show exact numbers.
Line graphs are especially effective at showing trends (how data changes over time) and relationships (how two variables interact).
Bar charts/graphs are good when you want to compare discrete items. The bars can be vertical or horizontal. Making them different colours can help the reader to differentiate each result..
Pie charts show the proportion of the whole that is taken by various parts.
Drawings and diagrams can be used to reinforce or supplement textual information, or where something is more clearly shown in diagrammatic form.		hhhBy Eric Pierce
Photographs can be useful as illustrations that help to explain what is being discussed in the text.		By K Kiser