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编者按:本文由意得辑特约撰稿人Velany Rodrigues执笔,首发于意得辑专家视点,经编译后重新发布。
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图文结合已烙印在论文的写作体裁中,不论是图片抑或表格,其直观性都将繁复的研究结果、关系、趋势、模式变得简单而有条理。[1~8][11][13][14]也有研究表明,善用图表能令文章篇幅缩短,达到字数限制。[3][5][13][15]而从实际的角度出发,图表也是最受读者青睐的内容之一,许多人先通过速读摘要与图表初步了解研究,再决定是否读下去。[7]若要图表发挥其所长,选对形式和修饰细节很重要,因错用图表而影响表达的例子不在少数。[16]可将本文视作图表使用的基本准则。
写作筹备期,决定何时用表、何时用图
个人认为在撰文之初规划好粗略的作图任务,能令图表的制作流程顺畅,呈现效果最佳。如你已确定目标期刊,别忘查看其投稿要求,许多期刊对图表的数量、格式有特殊规定,后期微调或许会增加你返工的时间。
图表的选用自然还是要回到研究本身,预先规划需传递的关键信息,再依内容性质选择最适宜的形式。表1提供了初阶判断思路。
表1:论文中的数据展示之如何在表格、图表、文字间选择
配图绘制原则
一般原则
1. 图表本身应具有独立性。编辑、审稿人及部分读者在通读全文之前,会将眼光放在图表中。完整的图表无需背景信息辅助即可理解。[6][8][9][12][16][20]
2. 复述但不复读。在正文写作中可用图表数据佐证观点,但需要注意引用表格以说理与描述表格内容是不同的。[5][12][16][19][21][22]譬如我们可以说“We found that the treatment was effective in only 24% of the cases, as shown in Figure 1.”,但对表中具体数值不宜多作重复,如“As Table 2 shows, 32% of the subjects chose Option 1, 12% chose Option 2, 10% chose Option 3, and 46% chose Option 4.”。从数据中提取结论将其书面化能将表格功效发挥至最佳,照本宣科白描数据则令表格失去其可视化意义。
3. 图表与正文具一致性。即表内信息与论文中的数值、专有名词,如缩写、研究对象代称、方案名等,需能够对应。[6][9][12][17]
4. 标题简练,容纳关键信息。图表标题含蓄不得,直接描述图表是什么或为何而作,[16][17]如“Advantages and disadvantages of using sleep therapy with patients suffering from schizophrenia”。此外,可利用表头、坐标注、图注作补充说明。
5. 明确格式要求。带着目的去读期刊的投稿要求,通常会有专门板块述明稿件中应含配图的数量、编号方式、标题格式、分辨率等信息。[18][23]
适用于表格的原则
1. 合并重复表格。作者需要把控论文信息的出场方式,如有多张表格标题雷同,或内容重叠,或许应重新布局文章结构及内容,对现有表格作删减。重复信息对文章表达将产生负面影响。[8][12]
2. 将数据分类。当表中信息量过大,应将数据合理分类,并以表头和标注中的解释性信息辅助说明。[7]
3. 善用补充材料。出现在正文中的表格的面积应适中,若数据体量过大,可考虑将表格置于补充材料中,避免出现“图多字少”的视觉效果。[8]
4. 格式照顾观感。如表格的行列间隙如何做到适宜,信息如何陈列才不至过于无从看起,都需要作者在实践中揣摩。[7]
适用于图表的原则
1. 元素完整。如在地图中附注比例尺、经纬度数,标注所涉及的单位,坐标说明等。[6][7][16][18]
2. 善用图注。图表的文字说明有时可以补足信息,不论是提取重点加强说明,还是注明缩写及符号的含义,都有助于达到图文结合的理想效果。[25]
3. 图表与可读性。作者需留意字体是否清晰;图表与背景是否适配,一些背景颜色会弱数据呈现等等。[24]
案例分析
我将以两张现有文献中的配图为例,浅谈其特色及好在哪里。
表格图例
下表摘自一项马可罗尼企鹅育雏的饮食研究,[26]我将其列为范本的原因如下:
标题长度适中,交代了数据是什么,且严谨附注补充信息。
表头明确地描述出数据性质,且单位具在;以行为单位将数据分类,直观清楚。
该表可独立存在,未曾阅读论文者也能读懂。
以上标字母为图注标志,提供了解释说明及信息出处。
行列间距适中,版式利落,字体易辨认。
图表图例
下图摘自一项牡蛎礁作为天然防浪堤效果几何的研究,[27]其分析如下:
标题简单含信息量。
坐标轴指示明确。
图例分别注释了折线与柱状元素的含义。
底部图注引导读者读图,明确图表意欲传达的关键信息。且交代了数据来源。
尽管对比了两组数据,视觉上却显得十分清爽,无交错杂乱感。
参考文献
[1] Council of Science Editors. Journal Style and Format. In Council of Science Editors(Eds.), Scientific Style and Format: The CSE Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers, 7th Edition (p. 460). Reston, VA: Rockefeller University Press, 2006.
[2] American Psychological Association. APA Editorial Style. In Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association,5th Edition (pp. 147–201). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2001.
[3] International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals: Writing and Editing for Biomedical Publication [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.ICMJE.org.
[4] Cooper RJ, Schriger DL, Wallace RC, Mikulich VJ, Wilkes MS. The Quantity and Quality of Scientific Graphs in Pharmaceutical Advertisements. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2003; 18: 294–297.
[5] Durbin CG Jr. Effective Use of Tables and Figures in Abstracts, Presentations, and Papers. Respiratory Care, 2004; 49(10): 1233–1237.
[6] EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research. Reporting Results in Tables and Figures. In Guidelines in the Analysis Phase (pp. 14–16). [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.emgo.nl/kc/div/Guidelines%20in%20Analysis%20Phase.pdf.
[7] Springer. The Importance of Figures and Tables. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.springer.com/authors/journal+authors/training?SGWID=0-1726414-12-837813-0.
[8] Clark JC. Effective Tables and Figures. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from:http://ion.uwinnipeg.ca/~clark/research/comm/C12_FIGU.pdf.
[9] McMillan VE. Using Tables and Figures. In Writing Papers in the Biological Sciences (pp. 30–50). New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1988.
[10] Smith LD, Best LA, Stubbs DA, Archibald AB, Roberson-Nay R. Constructing Knowledge: The Role of Graphs and Tables in Hard and Soft Psychology. American Psychologist, 2002; 57(10): 749–761.
[11] Purdue Online Writing Lab. APA Tables and Figures 1. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/19/.
[12] SAGE Publications. How to Get Your Journal Article Published. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journalgateway/files/how_to_get_published.pdf.
[13] Paradise C. How to Record and Present Your Data Graphically Using Excel. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/midorcas/research/herpstaff/StevePrice/BIO%20112
/Lab/Exercise_1.pdf.
[14] Schriger DL, Sinha R, Schroter S, Liu P, Altman D. From Submission to Publication: A Retrospective Review of the Tables and Figures in a Cohort of Randomized Controlled Trials Submitted to the British Medical Journal. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 2006; 48(6): 750–756.
[15] Institute of Food Technologists. Author Guidelines. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from:http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center/Read-IFT-Publications/Journal-of-Food-Science/Authors-Corner/Author-Guidelines.aspx.
[16] The University of ReadingStatistical Services Centre. Informative Presentation of Tables, Graphs and Statistics. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.reading.ac.uk/ssc/n/resources/Docs/PresentationOfTablesGraphsAndStatistics.pdf.
[17] Hoagland N. Using Tables and Figures in an Academic Research Paper. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://polaris.umuc.edu/~nhoaglan/COMM600/Tables%20and%20Figures.pdf.
[18] Author Aid Resource Library. Tables and Figures: Some Basic Advice. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from:http://www.authoraid.info/resource-library/authoraid-workshop-on-research-writing-march-2011/Nepal-RM_01a-Tables%20and%20Figures-minus%20photos.ppt/at_download/file.
[19] Northwestern’s Online Writing Resources. Visual Communication: Document Design, Figures, and Tables. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://nuwrite.northwestern.edu/communities/design/docs/engineering-design-and-communication-principles-and-practice/chapter_20.pdf.
[20] Marine Ecology Progress Series. Guidelines for MEPS Authors. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.int-res.com/journals/meps/guidelines-for-meps-authors/.
[21] BMJ Publishing Group. The Essentials of BMJ Style. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from:http://resources.bmj.com/bmj/authors/bmj-house-style.
[22] The Geological Society of America. Geology Guidelines. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/geoguid6.htm.
[23] Wiley-Blackwell. Author Services: Electronic Artwork Guidelines. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/illustration.asp.
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[25] PLOS Biology. PLOS Biology Guidelines for Authors. [Accessed: Aug 8, 2011] Available from: http://www.plosbiology.org/static/guidelines.action#figures.
[26] Deagle BE, Gales NJ, Evans K, Jarman SN, Robinson S, et al. Studying Seabird Diet through Genetic Analysis of Faeces: A Case Study on Macaroni Penguins (Eudypteschrysolophus). PLoS ONE 2007; 2(9): e831.
[27] cyphers SB, Powers SP, Heck KL Jr, Byron D. Oyster Reefs as Natural Breakwaters Mitigate Shoreline Loss and Facilitate Fisheries.PLoS ONE2011; 6(8): e22396.
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