One Step Ahead: Presenting Numbers, Tables, and Charts

Exercise 2 Patterns and exceptions

This table shows the percentage of staff who replied 'yes' when asked if they were generally satisfied with aspects of their working conditions.

Staff satisfaction, August 2003: percentage of respondents

Branch	Bristol	Derby	London	York	Average
Health and Safety	75	78	73	73	75
Hours	88	90	79	87	86
Management	68	71	81	67	72
Parking facilities	76	84	69	12	60
Average	77	81	86	60

(a) Reorder the columns and rows from largest to smallest by average size. What are the main patterns and exceptions in the data?

(b) Go back to the original table. Can you now see the patterns and exceptions?

(c) Can you suggest other ways in which the readability of this table can be improved?

You'll find the answers to this exercise in One Step Ahead: Presenting Number, Tables, and Charts.