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How to Present Data & Numbers in Presentations (Like a Pro)

Data is more important than ever. But do you know how to present data? Your audience needs information in a way that's easy-to-follow. With charts and graphs, data comes to life.

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to present data. The intuitive presentation of data and information is essential so that your point comes across. With our tips, we'll help you take flat data tables and convert them to useful and explanatory charts.

Why Present Data and Numbers With Charts?

Often, you’ll find yourself presenting data in PowerPoint. It’s a useful tool to illustrate data and bring numbers to life. But if you go about it the wrong way, you’ll distract and confuse your audience. Remember, the goal of sharing data is to deliver insights.

When you think of how to present data, you've got several options. Words alone should be an automatic no-no. Clustering numerical data in text paragraphs will confuse an audience. Similarly, tables don’t go far enough.

Consider the example below. While this approach may work for a simple dataset, it’s hard to capture value insights at a glance. Keep in mind, you want a viewer to quickly grasp the fundamental meaning of the data instantly.

That’s why your best option is to present data and numbers with charts. These are two related ways to present data that take a truly visual approach. Charts and graphs are forms of infographics. An infographic is a visual illustration meant to show ideas. They look great, they're easy to read, and they work.

Recent research vividly shows their effectiveness. Infographics are read at a rate of 30:1 over text articles. Pair this with the fact that visual information represents 90% of what transmits to a reader’s brain . Clearly, these are tools to keep in your wheelhouse.

As you can see below, the table data above transforms from a complex table to a clear and concise visual. It’s the identical range of data! The magic happens in the display of it. Charts are the key to success in the presentation of data and information.

How to Present Data and Numbers in Presentations

We’ve learned that the best way to present data is with charts. Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, you've got many options to choose from.

Premium PowerPoint data presentation templates are your best friend. These take the hard work out of building and sharing data charts. They teach you how to present data in presentations with pre-built options. All you need is your dataset!

For our walkthrough tutorial, we’ll use the Chart Presentation template from Envato Elements. It’s a premium option with 24 custom slide designs inside. Each is easy to customize to meet your data presentation needs.

With the template downloaded and opened in PowerPoint, let’s get to work learning how to present data. Follow the principles below, and you’ll be ready to get started!

1. Assess Your Data

Charts come in all shapes and sizes. There are pie charts, column charts, line charts, and many more. All have many uses, but each is targeted towards different types of data. First, you’ll want to assess the data that you have, and how it would best be presented visually. Let’s work with a sample dataset like the one below.

As you can see, the data has several rows, each representing a different country. Beside these are three columns, each covering sales for a given year. In short, you’re looking at three years of sales forecasts for five countries.

Reading over the data, it’s tough to instantly gain any insights. Sure, if you look long enough, trends start to emerge. But this is a slow, manual process. And imagine if there were fifty countries and twelve years, for example!

Manual analysis would become nearly impossible in a presentation setting. But by using a chart, you can instantly illustrate trends and forecasts. Any viewer – even an untrained eye – can readily see all key points with a moment’s glance.

2. Choose a Visual

Now that you’ve analyzed your data, you can easily see that a chart is essential. But what kind? We briefly mentioned three styles of charts. When you think of how to present data in presentation form, the trick is to choose the style that best fits your data.

For our example, we’re looking at multiple data points for several categories. Here, these data points are three sales values, for five countries each. Keep these ideas for how to present numbers in mind:

• A logical visual would group each country together.
• Then, show each of the three sales figures side by side.
• You could also reverse it – group the years and show sales for all five countries.

In a case like this, a column chart is the ideal choice. These group data just as described.

But when might a different chart type be useful? Imagine if your data included details about Germany’s 2024 sales, for example. Suppose you’re presenting to your marketing team, and they’ve asked how sales of each individual product make up the total. Here, a pie chart would be the perfect option. These show how individual pieces form a whole.

But in this case, we’ve decided on a column chart. Find one in the deck, and let’s insert it. In our template, slide #15 contains a beautiful chart. It’s already built. All you need to do is add your own data.

To do that, click into the chart area, then right-click. From the menu, choose Edit Data. You’ll see an embedded Microsoft Excel spreadsheet launch right inside of PowerPoint. From here, you can simply replace the existing data with the table you already have. As you work, the chart instantly updates itself to match the new data.

In moments, you’ll be presenting data in PowerPoint with this beautiful chart!

3. Style Your Visual

With your chart placed on the slide, you now have an array of design options. Remember, the goal is to make the chart work perfectly for your own data. These options primarily live on the Chart Design menu, which you can find on PowerPoint’s ribbon. With the chart selected, click on Chart Design.

The template has a beautiful color palette, but you can add your own. It helps to choose a color profile with plenty of contrast. This makes your visual even clearer and easier to read.

To add a new palette, click on the Change Colors drop-down menu. You’ll see an array of color swatches display. Click on one, and it'll apply to your chart.

You can add a new background by launching the Chart Styles section in the center of the Chart Design menu. For example, you can choose one with a gray background to make the colors really stand out on the slide.

Also, it’s possible to add more context to the data. The horizontal axis in our example is clear enough, listing countries. But there isn’t any explanation of what the vertical axis represents, or the colorful bars. Follow these steps:

• Open the Add Chart Element dropdown near the upper left of the ribbon.
• Click  Axis Titles.
• Choose Primary Vertical.
• You’ll see Axis Title appear on the chart. This is a text box, which you can select and type into.

Finally, back on the Add Chart Element dropdown, choose Legend , and pick a location like Top . Three colorful squares listing the three years shown in the chart will be added to the drawing. These labels aid in the presentation of data and information.

It’s easy to see how to present numbers in chart form, using PowerPoint. Start with a premium template like this, and then customize the chart inside to fit your needs.

4. Add Notes Where Needed

You now know well that charts are the best way to present data. But they don’t have to stand on their own!

Often, it’s useful to add more context. Audiences may understand the data perfectly but have questions. For example: Why are sales for one country climbing, while they are falling in another?

By adding notes where needed, you can add supporting details. It’s best to keep these off of the chart itself. If you clutter up your visual, the value of it diminishes rapidly. Check out an improved example below.

On our slide example, the paragraph section on the left may become a series of quick bullet points. These add supporting details that more fully explain the data shown in the chart.

Again, you may not always need to do this. But never think that a chart must be all-encompassing, explaining every piece of information by itself. The trick is to boost understanding, while remaining clear and concise.

5. Consider an Appendix

You may have extra details that you need to include in your slides.

In our example, imagine that you've got three sales offices in each of the five countries featured. Each of the fifteen makes up a certain percentage of overall sales. This may be key data for your audience, but it would complicate the visual that you just created.

Here, it’s a good idea to add an appendix. An appendix (often at the end of your slide deck) includes more detailed data. You might not review it with a live audience, but they can look at it later in a handout or digital format.

To add an appendix, go to the end of your presentation, and click New Slide on the Home tab. Here, it might be appropriate to share the detailed data in the form of a table. Or, you can add a pie chart, suitable for this style of dataset.

To add a chart from scratch, go to the Insert tab, then choose Chart > Pie. The embedded Excel window will return, and again, you can insert your data.

An appendix may not always be necessary. But you should include one (or more) if you've got meaningful data that you aren’t placing into the main slide deck.

The Best Source for Data Presentation Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)

Envato Elements is the best place to find top data presentation templates . For a low monthly rate, you've got access to unlimited downloads of PPT chart templates. You can try as many as you want, finding those that work best for you.

Explore PowerPoint Chart Templates

And that isn’t all. As an Elements member, you also have unlimited access to stock photos, music, fonts, and more. These are digital assets that pair perfectly with your data presentation.

Elements is an unbeatable offer because of the unlimited flexibility. With premium templates, you gain access to powerful features not found in free designs:

• beautiful data visuals that are pre-built and ready to customize
• stylish, custom fonts to help text stand out
• media placeholders to add supporting images and videos
• fully flexible layouts that adapt to your data and other content

The advantages are many. You save hard work, by leaving the slide design tasks to experts. This gives you the time needed to refine your message. Plus, the finished product will wow any audience, thanks to the expertly-crafted graphics . Truly, Envato Elements is the best value for creatives today.

Need a template, but don't want an unlimited subscription? We've got you covered with templates from GraphicRiver . You'll pay-as-you-go, and these templates give you everything you need. They've got pre-made designs for the best way to present data with less work than ever before.

Now Practice the Best Way to Present Data in Presentations

You just learned new ways to present data. Essentially, you saw how to present data in presentations so that your audience  can understand it. Great presenters think of the audience first. They'll thank you for your thoughtful work in how to present numbers and more.

Now, it's your turn! Put these tips on how to present data in presentations to work. Take a flat table in a presentation and convert it with our tips for presenting data in PowerPoint. Just download a template and get started. 

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Present Your Data Like a Pro

• Joel Schwartzberg

Demystify the numbers. Your audience will thank you.

While a good presentation has data, data alone doesn’t guarantee a good presentation. It’s all about how that data is presented. The quickest way to confuse your audience is by sharing too many details at once. The only data points you should share are those that significantly support your point — and ideally, one point per chart. To avoid the debacle of sheepishly translating hard-to-see numbers and labels, rehearse your presentation with colleagues sitting as far away as the actual audience would. While you’ve been working with the same chart for weeks or months, your audience will be exposed to it for mere seconds. Give them the best chance of comprehending your data by using simple, clear, and complete language to identify X and Y axes, pie pieces, bars, and other diagrammatic elements. Try to avoid abbreviations that aren’t obvious, and don’t assume labeled components on one slide will be remembered on subsequent slides. Every valuable chart or pie graph has an “Aha!” zone — a number or range of data that reveals something crucial to your point. Make sure you visually highlight the “Aha!” zone, reinforcing the moment by explaining it to your audience.

With so many ways to spin and distort information these days, a presentation needs to do more than simply share great ideas — it needs to support those ideas with credible data. That’s true whether you’re an executive pitching new business clients, a vendor selling her services, or a CEO making a case for change.

• JS Joel Schwartzberg oversees executive communications for a major national nonprofit, is a professional presentation coach, and is the author of Get to the Point! Sharpen Your Message and Make Your Words Matter and The Language of Leadership: How to Engage and Inspire Your Team . You can find him on LinkedIn and X. TheJoelTruth

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Blog Data Visualization 10 Data Presentation Examples For Strategic Communication

10 Data Presentation Examples For Strategic Communication

Written by: Krystle Wong Sep 28, 2023

Knowing how to present data is like having a superpower. 

Data presentation today is no longer just about numbers on a screen; it’s storytelling with a purpose. It’s about captivating your audience, making complex stuff look simple and inspiring action. 

To help turn your data into stories that stick, influence decisions and make an impact, check out Venngage’s free chart maker or follow me on a tour into the world of data storytelling along with data presentation templates that work across different fields, from business boardrooms to the classroom and beyond. Keep scrolling to learn more! 

Click to jump ahead:

10 Essential data presentation examples + methods you should know

What should be included in a data presentation, what are some common mistakes to avoid when presenting data, faqs on data presentation examples, transform your message with impactful data storytelling.

Data presentation is a vital skill in today’s information-driven world. Whether you’re in business, academia, or simply want to convey information effectively, knowing the different ways of presenting data is crucial. For impactful data storytelling, consider these essential data presentation methods:

1. Bar graph

Ideal for comparing data across categories or showing trends over time.

Bar graphs, also known as bar charts are workhorses of data presentation. They’re like the Swiss Army knives of visualization methods because they can be used to compare data in different categories or display data changes over time. 

In a bar chart, categories are displayed on the x-axis and the corresponding values are represented by the height of the bars on the y-axis. 

It’s a straightforward and effective way to showcase raw data, making it a staple in business reports, academic presentations and beyond.

Make sure your bar charts are concise with easy-to-read labels. Whether your bars go up or sideways, keep it simple by not overloading with too many categories.

2. Line graph

Great for displaying trends and variations in data points over time or continuous variables.

Line charts or line graphs are your go-to when you want to visualize trends and variations in data sets over time.

One of the best quantitative data presentation examples, they work exceptionally well for showing continuous data, such as sales projections over the last couple of years or supply and demand fluctuations. 

The x-axis represents time or a continuous variable and the y-axis represents the data values. By connecting the data points with lines, you can easily spot trends and fluctuations.

A tip when presenting data with line charts is to minimize the lines and not make it too crowded. Highlight the big changes, put on some labels and give it a catchy title.

3. Pie chart

Useful for illustrating parts of a whole, such as percentages or proportions.

Pie charts are perfect for showing how a whole is divided into parts. They’re commonly used to represent percentages or proportions and are great for presenting survey results that involve demographic data. 

Each “slice” of the pie represents a portion of the whole and the size of each slice corresponds to its share of the total. 

While pie charts are handy for illustrating simple distributions, they can become confusing when dealing with too many categories or when the differences in proportions are subtle.

Don’t get too carried away with slices — label those slices with percentages or values so people know what’s what and consider using a legend for more categories.

4. Scatter plot

Effective for showing the relationship between two variables and identifying correlations.

Scatter plots are all about exploring relationships between two variables. They’re great for uncovering correlations, trends or patterns in data. 

In a scatter plot, every data point appears as a dot on the chart, with one variable marked on the horizontal x-axis and the other on the vertical y-axis.

By examining the scatter of points, you can discern the nature of the relationship between the variables, whether it’s positive, negative or no correlation at all.

If you’re using scatter plots to reveal relationships between two variables, be sure to add trendlines or regression analysis when appropriate to clarify patterns. Label data points selectively or provide tooltips for detailed information.

5. Histogram

Best for visualizing the distribution and frequency of a single variable.

Histograms are your choice when you want to understand the distribution and frequency of a single variable. 

They divide the data into “bins” or intervals and the height of each bar represents the frequency or count of data points falling into that interval. 

Histograms are excellent for helping to identify trends in data distributions, such as peaks, gaps or skewness.

Here’s something to take note of — ensure that your histogram bins are appropriately sized to capture meaningful data patterns. Using clear axis labels and titles can also help explain the distribution of the data effectively.

6. Stacked bar chart

Useful for showing how different components contribute to a whole over multiple categories.

Stacked bar charts are a handy choice when you want to illustrate how different components contribute to a whole across multiple categories. 

Each bar represents a category and the bars are divided into segments to show the contribution of various components within each category. 

This method is ideal for highlighting both the individual and collective significance of each component, making it a valuable tool for comparative analysis.

Stacked bar charts are like data sandwiches—label each layer so people know what’s what. Keep the order logical and don’t forget the paintbrush for snazzy colors. Here’s a data analysis presentation example on writers’ productivity using stacked bar charts:

7. Area chart

Similar to line charts but with the area below the lines filled, making them suitable for showing cumulative data.

Area charts are close cousins of line charts but come with a twist. 

Imagine plotting the sales of a product over several months. In an area chart, the space between the line and the x-axis is filled, providing a visual representation of the cumulative total. 

This makes it easy to see how values stack up over time, making area charts a valuable tool for tracking trends in data.

For area charts, use them to visualize cumulative data and trends, but avoid overcrowding the chart. Add labels, especially at significant points and make sure the area under the lines is filled with a visually appealing color gradient.

8. Tabular presentation

Presenting data in rows and columns, often used for precise data values and comparisons.

Tabular data presentation is all about clarity and precision. Think of it as presenting numerical data in a structured grid, with rows and columns clearly displaying individual data points. 

A table is invaluable for showcasing detailed data, facilitating comparisons and presenting numerical information that needs to be exact. They’re commonly used in reports, spreadsheets and academic papers.

When presenting tabular data, organize it neatly with clear headers and appropriate column widths. Highlight important data points or patterns using shading or font formatting for better readability.

9. Textual data

Utilizing written or descriptive content to explain or complement data, such as annotations or explanatory text.

Textual data presentation may not involve charts or graphs, but it’s one of the most used qualitative data presentation examples. 

It involves using written content to provide context, explanations or annotations alongside data visuals. Think of it as the narrative that guides your audience through the data. 

Well-crafted textual data can make complex information more accessible and help your audience understand the significance of the numbers and visuals.

Textual data is your chance to tell a story. Break down complex information into bullet points or short paragraphs and use headings to guide the reader’s attention.

10. Pictogram

Using simple icons or images to represent data is especially useful for conveying information in a visually intuitive manner.

Pictograms are all about harnessing the power of images to convey data in an easy-to-understand way. 

Instead of using numbers or complex graphs, you use simple icons or images to represent data points. 

For instance, you could use a thumbs up emoji to illustrate customer satisfaction levels, where each face represents a different level of satisfaction. 

Pictograms are great for conveying data visually, so choose symbols that are easy to interpret and relevant to the data. Use consistent scaling and a legend to explain the symbols’ meanings, ensuring clarity in your presentation.

Looking for more data presentation ideas? Use the Venngage graph maker or browse through our gallery of chart templates to pick a template and get started! 

A comprehensive data presentation should include several key elements to effectively convey information and insights to your audience. Here’s a list of what should be included in a data presentation:

1. Title and objective

• Begin with a clear and informative title that sets the context for your presentation.
• State the primary objective or purpose of the presentation to provide a clear focus.

2. Key data points

• Present the most essential data points or findings that align with your objective.
• Use charts, graphical presentations or visuals to illustrate these key points for better comprehension.

3. Context and significance

• Provide a brief overview of the context in which the data was collected and why it’s significant.
• Explain how the data relates to the larger picture or the problem you’re addressing.

4. Key takeaways

• Summarize the main insights or conclusions that can be drawn from the data.
• Highlight the key takeaways that the audience should remember.

5. Visuals and charts

• Use clear and appropriate visual aids to complement the data.
• Ensure that visuals are easy to understand and support your narrative.

6. Implications or actions

• Discuss the practical implications of the data or any recommended actions.
• If applicable, outline next steps or decisions that should be taken based on the data.

7. Q&A and discussion

• Allocate time for questions and open discussion to engage the audience.
• Address queries and provide additional insights or context as needed.

Presenting data is a crucial skill in various professional fields, from business to academia and beyond. To ensure your data presentations hit the mark, here are some common mistakes that you should steer clear of:

Overloading with data

Presenting too much data at once can overwhelm your audience. Focus on the key points and relevant information to keep the presentation concise and focused. Here are some free data visualization tools you can use to convey data in an engaging and impactful way. 

Assuming everyone’s on the same page

It’s easy to assume that your audience understands as much about the topic as you do. But this can lead to either dumbing things down too much or diving into a bunch of jargon that leaves folks scratching their heads. Take a beat to figure out where your audience is coming from and tailor your presentation accordingly.

Misleading visuals

Using misleading visuals, such as distorted scales or inappropriate chart types can distort the data’s meaning. Pick the right data infographics and understandable charts to ensure that your visual representations accurately reflect the data.

Not providing context

Data without context is like a puzzle piece with no picture on it. Without proper context, data may be meaningless or misinterpreted. Explain the background, methodology and significance of the data.

Not citing sources properly

Neglecting to cite sources and provide citations for your data can erode its credibility. Always attribute data to its source and utilize reliable sources for your presentation.

Not telling a story

Avoid simply presenting numbers. If your presentation lacks a clear, engaging story that takes your audience on a journey from the beginning (setting the scene) through the middle (data analysis) to the end (the big insights and recommendations), you’re likely to lose their interest.

Infographics are great for storytelling because they mix cool visuals with short and sweet text to explain complicated stuff in a fun and easy way. Create one with Venngage’s free infographic maker to create a memorable story that your audience will remember.

Ignoring data quality

Presenting data without first checking its quality and accuracy can lead to misinformation. Validate and clean your data before presenting it.

Simplify your visuals

Fancy charts might look cool, but if they confuse people, what’s the point? Go for the simplest visual that gets your message across. Having a dilemma between presenting data with infographics v.s data design? This article on the difference between data design and infographics might help you out. 

Missing the emotional connection

Data isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people and real-life situations. Don’t forget to sprinkle in some human touch, whether it’s through relatable stories, examples or showing how the data impacts real lives.

Skipping the actionable insights

At the end of the day, your audience wants to know what they should do with all the data. If you don’t wrap up with clear, actionable insights or recommendations, you’re leaving them hanging. Always finish up with practical takeaways and the next steps.

Can you provide some data presentation examples for business reports?

Business reports often benefit from data presentation through bar charts showing sales trends over time, pie charts displaying market share,or tables presenting financial performance metrics like revenue and profit margins.

What are some creative data presentation examples for academic presentations?

Creative data presentation ideas for academic presentations include using statistical infographics to illustrate research findings and statistical data, incorporating storytelling techniques to engage the audience or utilizing heat maps to visualize data patterns.

What are the key considerations when choosing the right data presentation format?

When choosing a chart format , consider factors like data complexity, audience expertise and the message you want to convey. Options include charts (e.g., bar, line, pie), tables, heat maps, data visualization infographics and interactive dashboards.

Knowing the type of data visualization that best serves your data is just half the battle. Here are some best practices for data visualization to make sure that the final output is optimized. 

How can I choose the right data presentation method for my data?

To select the right data presentation method, start by defining your presentation’s purpose and audience. Then, match your data type (e.g., quantitative, qualitative) with suitable visualization techniques (e.g., histograms, word clouds) and choose an appropriate presentation format (e.g., slide deck, report, live demo).

For more presentation ideas , check out this guide on how to make a good presentation or use a presentation software to simplify the process.  

How can I make my data presentations more engaging and informative?

To enhance data presentations, use compelling narratives, relatable examples and fun data infographics that simplify complex data. Encourage audience interaction, offer actionable insights and incorporate storytelling elements to engage and inform effectively.

The opening of your presentation holds immense power in setting the stage for your audience. To design a presentation and convey your data in an engaging and informative, try out Venngage’s free presentation maker to pick the right presentation design for your audience and topic. 

What is the difference between data visualization and data presentation?

Data presentation typically involves conveying data reports and insights to an audience, often using visuals like charts and graphs. Data visualization , on the other hand, focuses on creating those visual representations of data to facilitate understanding and analysis. 

Now that you’ve learned a thing or two about how to use these methods of data presentation to tell a compelling data story , it’s time to take these strategies and make them your own. 

But here’s the deal: these aren’t just one-size-fits-all solutions. Remember that each example we’ve uncovered here is not a rigid template but a source of inspiration. It’s all about making your audience go, “Wow, I get it now!”

Think of your data presentations as your canvas – it’s where you paint your story, convey meaningful insights and make real change happen. 

So, go forth, present your data with confidence and purpose and watch as your strategic influence grows, one compelling presentation at a time.

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Data Presentation - Tables

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Tables are a useful way to organize information using rows and columns. Tables are a versatile organization tool and can be used to communicate information on their own, or they can be used to accompany another data representation type (like a graph). Tables support a variety of parameters and can be used to keep track of frequencies, variable associations, and more.

For example, given below are the weights of 20 students in grade 10: \[50, 45, 48, 39, 40, 48, 54, 50, 48, 48, \\ 50, 39, 41, 46, 44, 43, 54, 57, 60, 45.\]

To find the frequency of \(48\) in this data, count the number of times that \(48\) appears in the list. There are \(4\) students that have this weight.

The list above has information about the weight of \(20\) students, and since the data has been arranged haphazardly, it is difficult to classify the students properly.

To make the information more clear, tabulate the given data.

\[\begin{array} \\ \text{Weights in kg} & & & \text{Frequency} \\ 39 & & & 2 \\ 40 & & & 1 \\ 41 & & & 1 \\ 43 & & & 1 \\ 44 & & & 1 \\ 45 & & & 2 \\ 46 & & & 1 \\ 48 & & & 4 \\ 50 & & & 3 \\ 54 & & & 2 \\ 57 & & & 1 \\ 60 & & & 1 \end{array}\]

This table makes the data more easy to understand.

Making a Table

Making and using tables.

To make a table, first decide how many rows and columns are needed to clearly display the data. To do this, consider how many variables are included in the data set.

The following is an example of a table where there are two variables.

The following is an example of a table with three variables.

A table is good for organizing quantitative data in a way that it is easy to look things up. For example, a table would be good way to associate a person’s name, age, and favorite food. However, when trying to communicate relations, such as how a person’s favorite food changes over time, a graph would be a better choice.

Using the table below, determine the average age of the group?

Good practices for making tables Label what each row or column represents Include units in labels when data is numerical Format data consistently (use consistent units and formatting)

What is wrong with this table? Flavor of Ice Cream Number Sold (cones) Chocolate 104 Vanilla two-hundred Strawberry 143 Coconut thirty Mango 126 Show answer Answer: The data isn’t consistently formatted. The number of cones sold is written in numbers in both symbols and words. It would be easier to understand if all entries were numerical symbols.

What is wrong with this table? Jack blue Sarah yellow Billy green Ron red Christina blue Margret purple Show answer Answer: There are no labels on the columns. It is not clear what the table is displaying — does the table show what color shirt each person is wearing? Do it show what each person's favorite color is? It isn't clear because labels are missing.

Many word processing softwares include tools for making tables. You can easily make tables in Microsoft Word and Excel and in Google Docs and Sheets.

Here is an example table (left blank) with which you could record information about a person's age, weight, and height.

Tables are used to present information in all types of fields. Geologists might make a table to record data about types of rocks they find while doing field work, political researchers might create a table to record information about potential voters, and physicists might make a table to record observations about the speed of a ball rolled on various surfaces.

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Home Blog Design Understanding Data Presentations (Guide + Examples)

Understanding Data Presentations (Guide + Examples)

In this age of overwhelming information, the skill to effectively convey data has become extremely valuable. Initiating a discussion on data presentation types involves thoughtful consideration of the nature of your data and the message you aim to convey. Different types of visualizations serve distinct purposes. Whether you’re dealing with how to develop a report or simply trying to communicate complex information, how you present data influences how well your audience understands and engages with it. This extensive guide leads you through the different ways of data presentation.

Table of Contents

What is a Data Presentation?

What should a data presentation include, line graphs, treemap chart, scatter plot, how to choose a data presentation type, recommended data presentation templates, common mistakes done in data presentation.

A data presentation is a slide deck that aims to disclose quantitative information to an audience through the use of visual formats and narrative techniques derived from data analysis, making complex data understandable and actionable. This process requires a series of tools, such as charts, graphs, tables, infographics, dashboards, and so on, supported by concise textual explanations to improve understanding and boost retention rate.

Data presentations require us to cull data in a format that allows the presenter to highlight trends, patterns, and insights so that the audience can act upon the shared information. In a few words, the goal of data presentations is to enable viewers to grasp complicated concepts or trends quickly, facilitating informed decision-making or deeper analysis.

Data presentations go beyond the mere usage of graphical elements. Seasoned presenters encompass visuals with the art of data storytelling , so the speech skillfully connects the points through a narrative that resonates with the audience. Depending on the purpose – inspire, persuade, inform, support decision-making processes, etc. – is the data presentation format that is better suited to help us in this journey.

To nail your upcoming data presentation, ensure to count with the following elements:

• Clear Objectives: Understand the intent of your presentation before selecting the graphical layout and metaphors to make content easier to grasp.
• Engaging introduction: Use a powerful hook from the get-go. For instance, you can ask a big question or present a problem that your data will answer. Take a look at our guide on how to start a presentation for tips & insights.
• Structured Narrative: Your data presentation must tell a coherent story. This means a beginning where you present the context, a middle section in which you present the data, and an ending that uses a call-to-action. Check our guide on presentation structure for further information.
• Visual Elements: These are the charts, graphs, and other elements of visual communication we ought to use to present data. This article will cover one by one the different types of data representation methods we can use, and provide further guidance on choosing between them.
• Insights and Analysis: This is not just showcasing a graph and letting people get an idea about it. A proper data presentation includes the interpretation of that data, the reason why it’s included, and why it matters to your research.
• Conclusion & CTA: Ending your presentation with a call to action is necessary. Whether you intend to wow your audience into acquiring your services, inspire them to change the world, or whatever the purpose of your presentation, there must be a stage in which you convey all that you shared and show the path to staying in touch. Plan ahead whether you want to use a thank-you slide, a video presentation, or which method is apt and tailored to the kind of presentation you deliver.
• Q&A Session: After your speech is concluded, allocate 3-5 minutes for the audience to raise any questions about the information you disclosed. This is an extra chance to establish your authority on the topic. Check our guide on questions and answer sessions in presentations here.

Bar charts are a graphical representation of data using rectangular bars to show quantities or frequencies in an established category. They make it easy for readers to spot patterns or trends. Bar charts can be horizontal or vertical, although the vertical format is commonly known as a column chart. They display categorical, discrete, or continuous variables grouped in class intervals [1] . They include an axis and a set of labeled bars horizontally or vertically. These bars represent the frequencies of variable values or the values themselves. Numbers on the y-axis of a vertical bar chart or the x-axis of a horizontal bar chart are called the scale.

Real-Life Application of Bar Charts

Let’s say a sales manager is presenting sales to their audience. Using a bar chart, he follows these steps.

Step 1: Selecting Data

The first step is to identify the specific data you will present to your audience.

The sales manager has highlighted these products for the presentation.

• Product A: Men’s Shoes
• Product B: Women’s Apparel
• Product C: Electronics
• Product D: Home Decor

Step 2: Choosing Orientation

Opt for a vertical layout for simplicity. Vertical bar charts help compare different categories in case there are not too many categories [1] . They can also help show different trends. A vertical bar chart is used where each bar represents one of the four chosen products. After plotting the data, it is seen that the height of each bar directly represents the sales performance of the respective product.

It is visible that the tallest bar (Electronics – Product C) is showing the highest sales. However, the shorter bars (Women’s Apparel – Product B and Home Decor – Product D) need attention. It indicates areas that require further analysis or strategies for improvement.

Step 3: Colorful Insights

Different colors are used to differentiate each product. It is essential to show a color-coded chart where the audience can distinguish between products.

• Men’s Shoes (Product A): Yellow
• Women’s Apparel (Product B): Orange
• Electronics (Product C): Violet
• Home Decor (Product D): Blue

Bar charts are straightforward and easily understandable for presenting data. They are versatile when comparing products or any categorical data [2] . Bar charts adapt seamlessly to retail scenarios. Despite that, bar charts have a few shortcomings. They cannot illustrate data trends over time. Besides, overloading the chart with numerous products can lead to visual clutter, diminishing its effectiveness.

For more information, check our collection of bar chart templates for PowerPoint .

Line graphs help illustrate data trends, progressions, or fluctuations by connecting a series of data points called ‘markers’ with straight line segments. This provides a straightforward representation of how values change [5] . Their versatility makes them invaluable for scenarios requiring a visual understanding of continuous data. In addition, line graphs are also useful for comparing multiple datasets over the same timeline. Using multiple line graphs allows us to compare more than one data set. They simplify complex information so the audience can quickly grasp the ups and downs of values. From tracking stock prices to analyzing experimental results, you can use line graphs to show how data changes over a continuous timeline. They show trends with simplicity and clarity.

Real-life Application of Line Graphs

To understand line graphs thoroughly, we will use a real case. Imagine you’re a financial analyst presenting a tech company’s monthly sales for a licensed product over the past year. Investors want insights into sales behavior by month, how market trends may have influenced sales performance and reception to the new pricing strategy. To present data via a line graph, you will complete these steps.

First, you need to gather the data. In this case, your data will be the sales numbers. For example:

• January: $45,000
• February: $55,000
• March: $45,000
• April: $60,000
• May: $ 70,000
• June: $65,000
• July: $62,000
• August: $68,000
• September: $81,000
• October: $76,000
• November: $87,000
• December: $91,000

After choosing the data, the next step is to select the orientation. Like bar charts, you can use vertical or horizontal line graphs. However, we want to keep this simple, so we will keep the timeline (x-axis) horizontal while the sales numbers (y-axis) vertical.

Step 3: Connecting Trends

After adding the data to your preferred software, you will plot a line graph. In the graph, each month’s sales are represented by data points connected by a line.

Step 4: Adding Clarity with Color

If there are multiple lines, you can also add colors to highlight each one, making it easier to follow.

Line graphs excel at visually presenting trends over time. These presentation aids identify patterns, like upward or downward trends. However, too many data points can clutter the graph, making it harder to interpret. Line graphs work best with continuous data but are not suitable for categories.

For more information, check our collection of line chart templates for PowerPoint and our article about how to make a presentation graph .

A data dashboard is a visual tool for analyzing information. Different graphs, charts, and tables are consolidated in a layout to showcase the information required to achieve one or more objectives. Dashboards help quickly see Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). You don’t make new visuals in the dashboard; instead, you use it to display visuals you’ve already made in worksheets [3] .

Keeping the number of visuals on a dashboard to three or four is recommended. Adding too many can make it hard to see the main points [4]. Dashboards can be used for business analytics to analyze sales, revenue, and marketing metrics at a time. They are also used in the manufacturing industry, as they allow users to grasp the entire production scenario at the moment while tracking the core KPIs for each line.

Real-Life Application of a Dashboard

Consider a project manager presenting a software development project’s progress to a tech company’s leadership team. He follows the following steps.

Step 1: Defining Key Metrics

To effectively communicate the project’s status, identify key metrics such as completion status, budget, and bug resolution rates. Then, choose measurable metrics aligned with project objectives.

Step 2: Choosing Visualization Widgets

After finalizing the data, presentation aids that align with each metric are selected. For this project, the project manager chooses a progress bar for the completion status and uses bar charts for budget allocation. Likewise, he implements line charts for bug resolution rates.

Step 3: Dashboard Layout

Key metrics are prominently placed in the dashboard for easy visibility, and the manager ensures that it appears clean and organized.

Dashboards provide a comprehensive view of key project metrics. Users can interact with data, customize views, and drill down for detailed analysis. However, creating an effective dashboard requires careful planning to avoid clutter. Besides, dashboards rely on the availability and accuracy of underlying data sources.

For more information, check our article on how to design a dashboard presentation , and discover our collection of dashboard PowerPoint templates .

Treemap charts represent hierarchical data structured in a series of nested rectangles [6] . As each branch of the ‘tree’ is given a rectangle, smaller tiles can be seen representing sub-branches, meaning elements on a lower hierarchical level than the parent rectangle. Each one of those rectangular nodes is built by representing an area proportional to the specified data dimension.

Treemaps are useful for visualizing large datasets in compact space. It is easy to identify patterns, such as which categories are dominant. Common applications of the treemap chart are seen in the IT industry, such as resource allocation, disk space management, website analytics, etc. Also, they can be used in multiple industries like healthcare data analysis, market share across different product categories, or even in finance to visualize portfolios.

Real-Life Application of a Treemap Chart

Let’s consider a financial scenario where a financial team wants to represent the budget allocation of a company. There is a hierarchy in the process, so it is helpful to use a treemap chart. In the chart, the top-level rectangle could represent the total budget, and it would be subdivided into smaller rectangles, each denoting a specific department. Further subdivisions within these smaller rectangles might represent individual projects or cost categories.

Step 1: Define Your Data Hierarchy

While presenting data on the budget allocation, start by outlining the hierarchical structure. The sequence will be like the overall budget at the top, followed by departments, projects within each department, and finally, individual cost categories for each project.

• Top-level rectangle: Total Budget
• Second-level rectangles: Departments (Engineering, Marketing, Sales)
• Third-level rectangles: Projects within each department
• Fourth-level rectangles: Cost categories for each project (Personnel, Marketing Expenses, Equipment)

Step 2: Choose a Suitable Tool

It’s time to select a data visualization tool supporting Treemaps. Popular choices include Tableau, Microsoft Power BI, PowerPoint, or even coding with libraries like D3.js. It is vital to ensure that the chosen tool provides customization options for colors, labels, and hierarchical structures.

Here, the team uses PowerPoint for this guide because of its user-friendly interface and robust Treemap capabilities.

Step 3: Make a Treemap Chart with PowerPoint

After opening the PowerPoint presentation, they chose “SmartArt” to form the chart. The SmartArt Graphic window has a “Hierarchy” category on the left.  Here, you will see multiple options. You can choose any layout that resembles a Treemap. The “Table Hierarchy” or “Organization Chart” options can be adapted. The team selects the Table Hierarchy as it looks close to a Treemap.

Step 5: Input Your Data

After that, a new window will open with a basic structure. They add the data one by one by clicking on the text boxes. They start with the top-level rectangle, representing the total budget.  

Step 6: Customize the Treemap

By clicking on each shape, they customize its color, size, and label. At the same time, they can adjust the font size, style, and color of labels by using the options in the “Format” tab in PowerPoint. Using different colors for each level enhances the visual difference.

Treemaps excel at illustrating hierarchical structures. These charts make it easy to understand relationships and dependencies. They efficiently use space, compactly displaying a large amount of data, reducing the need for excessive scrolling or navigation. Additionally, using colors enhances the understanding of data by representing different variables or categories.

In some cases, treemaps might become complex, especially with deep hierarchies.  It becomes challenging for some users to interpret the chart. At the same time, displaying detailed information within each rectangle might be constrained by space. It potentially limits the amount of data that can be shown clearly. Without proper labeling and color coding, there’s a risk of misinterpretation.

A heatmap is a data visualization tool that uses color coding to represent values across a two-dimensional surface. In these, colors replace numbers to indicate the magnitude of each cell. This color-shaded matrix display is valuable for summarizing and understanding data sets with a glance [7] . The intensity of the color corresponds to the value it represents, making it easy to identify patterns, trends, and variations in the data.

As a tool, heatmaps help businesses analyze website interactions, revealing user behavior patterns and preferences to enhance overall user experience. In addition, companies use heatmaps to assess content engagement, identifying popular sections and areas of improvement for more effective communication. They excel at highlighting patterns and trends in large datasets, making it easy to identify areas of interest.

We can implement heatmaps to express multiple data types, such as numerical values, percentages, or even categorical data. Heatmaps help us easily spot areas with lots of activity, making them helpful in figuring out clusters [8] . When making these maps, it is important to pick colors carefully. The colors need to show the differences between groups or levels of something. And it is good to use colors that people with colorblindness can easily see.

Check our detailed guide on how to create a heatmap here. Also discover our collection of heatmap PowerPoint templates .

Pie charts are circular statistical graphics divided into slices to illustrate numerical proportions. Each slice represents a proportionate part of the whole, making it easy to visualize the contribution of each component to the total.

The size of the pie charts is influenced by the value of data points within each pie. The total of all data points in a pie determines its size. The pie with the highest data points appears as the largest, whereas the others are proportionally smaller. However, you can present all pies of the same size if proportional representation is not required [9] . Sometimes, pie charts are difficult to read, or additional information is required. A variation of this tool can be used instead, known as the donut chart , which has the same structure but a blank center, creating a ring shape. Presenters can add extra information, and the ring shape helps to declutter the graph.

Pie charts are used in business to show percentage distribution, compare relative sizes of categories, or present straightforward data sets where visualizing ratios is essential.

Real-Life Application of Pie Charts

Consider a scenario where you want to represent the distribution of the data. Each slice of the pie chart would represent a different category, and the size of each slice would indicate the percentage of the total portion allocated to that category.

Step 1: Define Your Data Structure

Imagine you are presenting the distribution of a project budget among different expense categories.

• Column A: Expense Categories (Personnel, Equipment, Marketing, Miscellaneous)
• Column B: Budget Amounts ($40,000, $30,000, $20,000, $10,000) Column B represents the values of your categories in Column A.

Step 2: Insert a Pie Chart

Using any of the accessible tools, you can create a pie chart. The most convenient tools for forming a pie chart in a presentation are presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Google Slides.  You will notice that the pie chart assigns each expense category a percentage of the total budget by dividing it by the total budget.

For instance:

• Personnel: $40,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 40%
• Equipment: $30,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 30%
• Marketing: $20,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 20%
• Miscellaneous: $10,000 / ($40,000 + $30,000 + $20,000 + $10,000) = 10%

You can make a chart out of this or just pull out the pie chart from the data.

3D pie charts and 3D donut charts are quite popular among the audience. They stand out as visual elements in any presentation slide, so let’s take a look at how our pie chart example would look in 3D pie chart format.

Step 03: Results Interpretation

The pie chart visually illustrates the distribution of the project budget among different expense categories. Personnel constitutes the largest portion at 40%, followed by equipment at 30%, marketing at 20%, and miscellaneous at 10%. This breakdown provides a clear overview of where the project funds are allocated, which helps in informed decision-making and resource management. It is evident that personnel are a significant investment, emphasizing their importance in the overall project budget.

Pie charts provide a straightforward way to represent proportions and percentages. They are easy to understand, even for individuals with limited data analysis experience. These charts work well for small datasets with a limited number of categories.

However, a pie chart can become cluttered and less effective in situations with many categories. Accurate interpretation may be challenging, especially when dealing with slight differences in slice sizes. In addition, these charts are static and do not effectively convey trends over time.

For more information, check our collection of pie chart templates for PowerPoint .

Histograms present the distribution of numerical variables. Unlike a bar chart that records each unique response separately, histograms organize numeric responses into bins and show the frequency of reactions within each bin [10] . The x-axis of a histogram shows the range of values for a numeric variable. At the same time, the y-axis indicates the relative frequencies (percentage of the total counts) for that range of values.

Whenever you want to understand the distribution of your data, check which values are more common, or identify outliers, histograms are your go-to. Think of them as a spotlight on the story your data is telling. A histogram can provide a quick and insightful overview if you’re curious about exam scores, sales figures, or any numerical data distribution.

Real-Life Application of a Histogram

In the histogram data analysis presentation example, imagine an instructor analyzing a class’s grades to identify the most common score range. A histogram could effectively display the distribution. It will show whether most students scored in the average range or if there are significant outliers.

Step 1: Gather Data

He begins by gathering the data. The scores of each student in class are gathered to analyze exam scores.

After arranging the scores in ascending order, bin ranges are set.

Step 2: Define Bins

Bins are like categories that group similar values. Think of them as buckets that organize your data. The presenter decides how wide each bin should be based on the range of the values. For instance, the instructor sets the bin ranges based on score intervals: 60-69, 70-79, 80-89, and 90-100.

Step 3: Count Frequency

Now, he counts how many data points fall into each bin. This step is crucial because it tells you how often specific ranges of values occur. The result is the frequency distribution, showing the occurrences of each group.

Here, the instructor counts the number of students in each category.

• 60-69: 1 student (Kate)
• 70-79: 4 students (David, Emma, Grace, Jack)
• 80-89: 7 students (Alice, Bob, Frank, Isabel, Liam, Mia, Noah)
• 90-100: 3 students (Clara, Henry, Olivia)

Step 4: Create the Histogram

It’s time to turn the data into a visual representation. Draw a bar for each bin on a graph. The width of the bar should correspond to the range of the bin, and the height should correspond to the frequency.  To make your histogram understandable, label the X and Y axes.

In this case, the X-axis should represent the bins (e.g., test score ranges), and the Y-axis represents the frequency.

The histogram of the class grades reveals insightful patterns in the distribution. Most students, with seven students, fall within the 80-89 score range. The histogram provides a clear visualization of the class’s performance. It showcases a concentration of grades in the upper-middle range with few outliers at both ends. This analysis helps in understanding the overall academic standing of the class. It also identifies the areas for potential improvement or recognition.

Thus, histograms provide a clear visual representation of data distribution. They are easy to interpret, even for those without a statistical background. They apply to various types of data, including continuous and discrete variables. One weak point is that histograms do not capture detailed patterns in students’ data, with seven compared to other visualization methods.

A scatter plot is a graphical representation of the relationship between two variables. It consists of individual data points on a two-dimensional plane. This plane plots one variable on the x-axis and the other on the y-axis. Each point represents a unique observation. It visualizes patterns, trends, or correlations between the two variables.

Scatter plots are also effective in revealing the strength and direction of relationships. They identify outliers and assess the overall distribution of data points. The points’ dispersion and clustering reflect the relationship’s nature, whether it is positive, negative, or lacks a discernible pattern. In business, scatter plots assess relationships between variables such as marketing cost and sales revenue. They help present data correlations and decision-making.

Real-Life Application of Scatter Plot

A group of scientists is conducting a study on the relationship between daily hours of screen time and sleep quality. After reviewing the data, they managed to create this table to help them build a scatter plot graph:

In the provided example, the x-axis represents Daily Hours of Screen Time, and the y-axis represents the Sleep Quality Rating.

The scientists observe a negative correlation between the amount of screen time and the quality of sleep. This is consistent with their hypothesis that blue light, especially before bedtime, has a significant impact on sleep quality and metabolic processes.

There are a few things to remember when using a scatter plot. Even when a scatter diagram indicates a relationship, it doesn’t mean one variable affects the other. A third factor can influence both variables. The more the plot resembles a straight line, the stronger the relationship is perceived [11] . If it suggests no ties, the observed pattern might be due to random fluctuations in data. When the scatter diagram depicts no correlation, whether the data might be stratified is worth considering.

Choosing the appropriate data presentation type is crucial when making a presentation . Understanding the nature of your data and the message you intend to convey will guide this selection process. For instance, when showcasing quantitative relationships, scatter plots become instrumental in revealing correlations between variables. If the focus is on emphasizing parts of a whole, pie charts offer a concise display of proportions. Histograms, on the other hand, prove valuable for illustrating distributions and frequency patterns. 

Bar charts provide a clear visual comparison of different categories. Likewise, line charts excel in showcasing trends over time, while tables are ideal for detailed data examination. Starting a presentation on data presentation types involves evaluating the specific information you want to communicate and selecting the format that aligns with your message. This ensures clarity and resonance with your audience from the beginning of your presentation.

1. Fact Sheet Dashboard for Data Presentation

Convey all the data you need to present in this one-pager format, an ideal solution tailored for users looking for presentation aids. Global maps, donut chats, column graphs, and text neatly arranged in a clean layout presented in light and dark themes.

Use This Template

2. 3D Column Chart Infographic PPT Template

Represent column charts in a highly visual 3D format with this PPT template. A creative way to present data, this template is entirely editable, and we can craft either a one-page infographic or a series of slides explaining what we intend to disclose point by point.

3. Data Circles Infographic PowerPoint Template

An alternative to the pie chart and donut chart diagrams, this template features a series of curved shapes with bubble callouts as ways of presenting data. Expand the information for each arch in the text placeholder areas.

4. Colorful Metrics Dashboard for Data Presentation

This versatile dashboard template helps us in the presentation of the data by offering several graphs and methods to convert numbers into graphics. Implement it for e-commerce projects, financial projections, project development, and more.

5. Animated Data Presentation Tools for PowerPoint & Google Slides

A slide deck filled with most of the tools mentioned in this article, from bar charts, column charts, treemap graphs, pie charts, histogram, etc. Animated effects make each slide look dynamic when sharing data with stakeholders.

6. Statistics Waffle Charts PPT Template for Data Presentations

This PPT template helps us how to present data beyond the typical pie chart representation. It is widely used for demographics, so it’s a great fit for marketing teams, data science professionals, HR personnel, and more.

7. Data Presentation Dashboard Template for Google Slides

A compendium of tools in dashboard format featuring line graphs, bar charts, column charts, and neatly arranged placeholder text areas. 

8. Weather Dashboard for Data Presentation

Share weather data for agricultural presentation topics, environmental studies, or any kind of presentation that requires a highly visual layout for weather forecasting on a single day. Two color themes are available.

9. Social Media Marketing Dashboard Data Presentation Template

Intended for marketing professionals, this dashboard template for data presentation is a tool for presenting data analytics from social media channels. Two slide layouts featuring line graphs and column charts.

10. Project Management Summary Dashboard Template

A tool crafted for project managers to deliver highly visual reports on a project’s completion, the profits it delivered for the company, and expenses/time required to execute it. 4 different color layouts are available.

11. Profit & Loss Dashboard for PowerPoint and Google Slides

A must-have for finance professionals. This typical profit & loss dashboard includes progress bars, donut charts, column charts, line graphs, and everything that’s required to deliver a comprehensive report about a company’s financial situation.

Overwhelming visuals

One of the mistakes related to using data-presenting methods is including too much data or using overly complex visualizations. They can confuse the audience and dilute the key message.

Inappropriate chart types

Choosing the wrong type of chart for the data at hand can lead to misinterpretation. For example, using a pie chart for data that doesn’t represent parts of a whole is not right.

Lack of context

Failing to provide context or sufficient labeling can make it challenging for the audience to understand the significance of the presented data.

Inconsistency in design

Using inconsistent design elements and color schemes across different visualizations can create confusion and visual disarray.

Failure to provide details

Simply presenting raw data without offering clear insights or takeaways can leave the audience without a meaningful conclusion.

Lack of focus

Not having a clear focus on the key message or main takeaway can result in a presentation that lacks a central theme.

Visual accessibility issues

Overlooking the visual accessibility of charts and graphs can exclude certain audience members who may have difficulty interpreting visual information.

In order to avoid these mistakes in data presentation, presenters can benefit from using presentation templates . These templates provide a structured framework. They ensure consistency, clarity, and an aesthetically pleasing design, enhancing data communication’s overall impact.

Understanding and choosing data presentation types are pivotal in effective communication. Each method serves a unique purpose, so selecting the appropriate one depends on the nature of the data and the message to be conveyed. The diverse array of presentation types offers versatility in visually representing information, from bar charts showing values to pie charts illustrating proportions. 

Using the proper method enhances clarity, engages the audience, and ensures that data sets are not just presented but comprehensively understood. By appreciating the strengths and limitations of different presentation types, communicators can tailor their approach to convey information accurately, developing a deeper connection between data and audience understanding.

[1] Government of Canada, S.C. (2021) 5 Data Visualization 5.2 Bar Chart , 5.2 Bar chart .  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/edu/power-pouvoir/ch9/bargraph-diagrammeabarres/5214818-eng.htm

[2] Kosslyn, S.M., 1989. Understanding charts and graphs. Applied cognitive psychology, 3(3), pp.185-225. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA183409.pdf

[3] Creating a Dashboard . https://it.tufts.edu/book/export/html/1870

[4] https://www.goldenwestcollege.edu/research/data-and-more/data-dashboards/index.html

[5] https://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/grf-line.htm

[6] Jadeja, M. and Shah, K., 2015, January. Tree-Map: A Visualization Tool for Large Data. In GSB@ SIGIR (pp. 9-13). https://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1393/gsb15proceedings.pdf#page=15

[7] Heat Maps and Quilt Plots. https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/population-health-methods/heat-maps-and-quilt-plots

[8] EIU QGIS WORKSHOP. https://www.eiu.edu/qgisworkshop/heatmaps.php

[9] About Pie Charts.  https://www.mit.edu/~mbarker/formula1/f1help/11-ch-c8.htm

[10] Histograms. https://sites.utexas.edu/sos/guided/descriptive/numericaldd/descriptiven2/histogram/ [11] https://asq.org/quality-resources/scatter-diagram

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• An Bras Dermatol
• v.89(2); Mar-Apr 2014

Presenting data in tables and charts *

Rodrigo pereira duquia.

1 Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA) - Porto Alegre (RS), Brazil.

João Luiz Bastos

2 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC) - Florianópolis (SC) Brazil.

Renan Rangel Bonamigo

David alejandro gonzález-chica, jeovany martínez-mesa.

3 Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) - Porto Alegre (RS) Brazil.

The present paper aims to provide basic guidelines to present epidemiological data using tables and graphs in Dermatology. Although simple, the preparation of tables and graphs should follow basic recommendations, which make it much easier to understand the data under analysis and to promote accurate communication in science. Additionally, this paper deals with other basic concepts in epidemiology, such as variable, observation, and data, which are useful both in the exchange of information between researchers and in the planning and conception of a research project.

INTRODUCTION

Among the essential stages of epidemiological research, one of the most important is the identification of data with which the researcher is working, as well as a clear and synthetic description of these data using graphs and tables. The identification of the type of data has an impact on the different stages of the research process, encompassing the research planning and the production/publication of its results. For example, the use of a certain type of data impacts the amount of time it will take to collect the desired information (throughout the field work) and the selection of the most appropriate statistical tests for data analysis.

On the other hand, the preparation of tables and graphs is a crucial tool in the analysis and production/publication of results, given that it organizes the collected information in a clear and summarized fashion. The correct preparation of tables allows researchers to present information about tens or hundreds of individuals efficiently and with significant visual appeal, making the results more easily understandable and thus more attractive to the users of the produced information. Therefore, it is very important for the authors of scientific articles to master the preparation of tables and graphs, which requires previous knowledge of data characteristics and the ability of identifying which type of table or graph is the most appropriate for the situation of interest.

BASIC CONCEPTS

Before evaluating the different types of data that permeate an epidemiological study, it is worth discussing about some key concepts (herein named data, variables and observations):

Data - during field work, researchers collect information by means of questions, systematic observations, and imaging or laboratory tests. All this gathered information represents the data of the research. For example, it is possible to determine the color of an individual's skin according to Fitzpatrick classification or quantify the number of times a person uses sunscreen during summer. 1 , 2 All the information collected during research is generically named "data." A set of individual data makes it possible to perform statistical analysis. If the quality of data is good, i.e., if the way information was gathered was appropriate, the next stages of database preparation, which will set the ground for analysis and presentation of results, will be properly conducted.

Observations - are measurements carried out in one or more individuals, based on one or more variables. For instance, if one is working with the variable "sex" in a sample of 20 individuals and knows the exact amount of men and women in this sample (10 for each group), it can be said that this variable has 20 observations.

Variables - are constituted by data. For instance, an individual may be male or female. In this case, there are 10 observations for each sex, but "sex" is the variable that is referred to as a whole. Another example of variable is "age" in complete years, in which observations are the values 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and so forth. In other words, variables are characteristics or attributes that can be measured, assuming different values, such as sex, skin type, eye color, age of the individuals under study, laboratory results, or the presence of a given lesion/disease. Variables are specifically divided into two large groups: (a) the group of categorical or qualitative variables, which is subdivided into dichotomous, nominal and ordinal variables; and (b) the group of numerical or quantitative variables, which is subdivided into continuous and discrete variables.

Categorical variables

• Dichotomous variables, also known as binary variables: are those that have only two categories, i.e., only two response options. Typical examples of this type of variable are sex (male and female) and presence of skin cancer (yes or no).
• Ordinal variables: are those that have three or more categories with an obvious ordering of the categories (whether in an ascending or descending order). For example, Fitzpatrick skin classification into types I, II, III, IV and V. 1
• Nominal variables: are those that have three or more categories with no apparent ordering of the categories. Example: blood types A, B, AB, and O, or brown, blue or green eye colors.

Numerical variables

• Discrete variables: are observations that can only take certain numerical values. An example of this type of variable is subjects' age, when assessed in complete years of life (1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, etc.) and the number of times a set of patients visited the dermatologist in a year.
• Continuous variables: are those measured on a continuous scale, i.e., which have as many decimal places as the measuring instrument can record. For instance: blood pressure, birth weight, height, or even age, when measured on a continuous scale.

It is important to point out that, depending on the objectives of the study, data may be collected as discrete or continuous variables and be subsequently transformed into categorical variables to suit the purpose of the research and/or make interpretation easier. However, it is important to emphasize that variables measured on a numerical scale (whether discrete or continuous) are richer in information and should be preferred for statistical analyses. Figure 1 shows a diagram that makes it easier to understand, identify and classify the abovementioned variables.

Types of variables

DATA PRESENTATION IN TABLES AND GRAPHS

Firstly, it is worth emphasizing that every table or graph should be self-explanatory, i.e., should be understandable without the need to read the text that refers to it refers.

Presentation of categorical variables

In order to analyze the distribution of a variable, data should be organized according to the occurrence of different results in each category. As for categorical variables, frequency distributions may be presented in a table or a graph, including bar charts and pie or sector charts. The term frequency distribution has a specific meaning, referring to the the way observations of a given variable behave in terms of its absolute, relative or cumulative frequencies.

In order to synthesize information contained in a categorical variable using a table, it is important to count the number of observations in each category of the variable, thus obtaining its absolute frequencies. However, in addition to absolute frequencies, it is worth presenting its percentage values, also known as relative frequencies. For example, table 1 expresses, in absolute and relative terms, the frequency of acne scars in 18-year-old youngsters from a population-based study conducted in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, in 2010. 3

Absolute and relative frequencies of acne scar in 18- year-old adolescents (n = 2.414). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010

The same information from table 1 may be presented as a bar or a pie chart, which can be prepared considering the absolute or relative frequency of the categories. Figures 2 and ​ and3 3 illustrate the same information shown in table 1 , but present it as a bar chart and a pie chart, respectively. It can be observed that, regardless of the form of presentation, the total number of observations must be mentioned, whether in the title or as part of the table or figure. Additionally, appropriate legends should always be included, allowing for the proper identification of each of the categories of the variable and including the type of information provided (absolute and/or relative frequency).

Absolute frequencies of acne scar in 18-year-old adolescents (n = 2.414). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010

Relative frequencies of acne scar in 18-year-old adolescents (n = 2.414). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010

Presentation of numerical variables

Frequency distributions of numerical variables can be displayed in a table, a histogram chart, or a frequency polygon chart. With regard to discrete variables, it is possible to present the number of observations according to the different values found in the study, as illustrated in table 2 . This type of table may provide a wide range of information on the collected data.

Educational level of 18-year-old adolescents (n = 2,199). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010

Table 2 shows the distribution of educational levels among 18-year-old youngsters from Pelotas, Southern Brazil, with absolute, relative, and cumulative relative frequencies. In this case, absolute and relative frequencies correspond to the absolute number and the percentage of individuals according to their distribution for this variable, respectively, based on complete years of education. It should be noticed that there are 450 adolescents with 8 years of education, which corresponds to 20.5% of the subjects. Tables may also present the cumulative relative frequency of the variable. In this case, it was found that 50.6% of study subjects have up to 8 years of education. It is important to point that, although the same data were used, each form of presentation (absolute, relative or cumulative frequency) provides different information and may be used to understand frequency distribution from different perspectives.

When one wants to evaluate the frequency distribution of continuous variables using tables or graphs, it is necessary to transform the variable into categories, preferably creating categories with the same size (or the same amplitude). However, in addition to this general recommendation, other basic guidelines should be followed, such as: (1) subtracting the highest from the lowest value for the variable of interest; (2) dividing the result of this subtraction by the number of categories to be created (usually from three to ten); and (3) defining category intervals based on this last result.

For example, in order to categorize height (in meters) of a set of individuals, the first step is to identify the tallest and the shortest individual of the sample. Let us assume that the tallest individual is 1.85m tall and the shortest, 1.55m tall, with a difference of 0.3m between these values. The next step is to divide this difference by the number of categories to be created, e.g., five. Thus, 0.3m divided by five equals 0.06m, which means that categories will have exactly this range and will be numerically represented by the following range of values: 1st category - 1.55m to 1.60m; 2nd category - 1.61m to 1.66m; 3rd category - 1.67m to 1.72m; 4th category - 1.73m to 1.78m; 5th category - 1.79m to 1.85m.

Table 3 illustrates weight values at 18 years of age in kg (continuous numerical variable) obtained in a study with youngsters from Pelotas, Southern Brazil. 4 , 5 Figure 4 shows a histogram with the variable weight categorized into 20-kg intervals. Therefore, it is possible to observe that data from continuous numerical variables may be presented in tables or graphs.

Weight distribution among 18-year-old young male sex (n = 2.194). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010

Weight distribution at 18 years of age among youngsters from the city of Pelotas. Pelotas (n = 2.194), Brazil, 2010

Assessing the relationship between two variables

The forms of data presentation that have been described up to this point illustrated the distribution of a given variable, whether categorical or numerical. In addition, it is possible to present the relationship between two variables of interest, either categorical or numerical.

The relationship between categorical variables may be investigated using a contingency table, which has the purpose of analyzing the association between two or more variables. The lines of this type of table usually display the exposure variable (independent variable), and the columns, the outcome variable (dependent variable). For example, in order to study the effect of sun exposure (exposure variable) on the development of skin cancer (outcome variable), it is possible to place the variable sun exposure on the lines and the variable skin cancer on the columns of a contingency table. Tables may be easier to understand by including total values in lines and columns. These values should agree with the sum of the lines and/or columns, as appropriate, whereas relative values should be in accordance with the exposure variable, i.e., the sum of the values mentioned in the lines should total 100%.

It is such a display of percentage values that will make it possible for risk or exposure groups to be compared with each other, in order to investigate whether individuals exposed to a given risk factor show higher frequency of the disease of interest. Thus, table 4 shows that 75.0%, 9.0%, and 0.3% of individuals in the study sample who had been working exposed to the sun for 20 years or more, for less than 20 years, and had never been working exposed to the sun, respectively, developed non-melanoma skin cancer. Another way of interpreting this table is observing that 25.0%, 91%,.0%, and 99.7% of individuals who had been working exposed to the sun for 20 years of more, for less than 20 years, and had never been working exposed to the sun did not develop non-melanoma skin cancer. This form of presentation is one of the most used in the literature and makes the table easier to read.

Sun exposure during work and non-melanoma skin cancer (hypothetical data).

The relationship between two numerical variables or between one numerical variable and one categorical variable may be assessed using a scatter diagram, also known as dispersion diagram. In this diagram, each pair of values is represented by a symbol or a dot, whose horizontal and vertical positions are determined by the value of the first and second variables, respectively. By convention, vertical and horizontal axes should correspond to outcome and exposure variables, respectively. Figure 5 shows the relationship between weight and height among 18-year-old youngsters from Pelotas, Southern Brazil, in 2010. 3 , 4 The diagram presented in figure 5 should be interpreted as follows: the increase in subjects' height is accompanied by an increase in their weight.

Point diagram for the relationship between weight (kg) and height (cm) among 18-year-old youngsters from the city of Pelotas (n = 2.194). Pelotas, Brazil, 2010.

BASIC RULES FOR THE PREPARATION OF TABLES AND GRAPHS

Ideally, every table should:

• Be self-explanatory;
• Present values with the same number of decimal places in all its cells (standardization);
• Include a title informing what is being described and where, as well as the number of observations (N) and when data were collected;
• Have a structure formed by three horizontal lines, defining table heading and the end of the table at its lower border;
• Not have vertical lines at its lateral borders;
• Provide additional information in table footer, when needed;
• Be inserted into a document only after being mentioned in the text; and
• Be numbered by Arabic numerals.

Similarly to tables, graphs should:

• Include, below the figure, a title providing all relevant information;
• Be referred to as figures in the text;
• Identify figure axes by the variables under analysis;
• Quote the source which provided the data, if required;
• Demonstrate the scale being used; and
• Be self-explanatory.

The graph's vertical axis should always start with zero. A usual type of distortion is starting this axis with values higher than zero. Whenever it happens, differences between variables are overestimated, as can been seen in figure 6 .

Figure showing how graphs in which the Y-axis does not start with zero tend to overestimate the differences under analysis. On the left there is a graph whose Y axis does not start with zero and on the right a graph reproducing the same data but with the Y axis starting with zero.

Understanding how to classify the different types of variables and how to present them in tables or graphs is an essential stage for epidemiological research in all areas of knowledge, including Dermatology. Mastering this topic collaborates to synthesize research results and prevents the misuse or overuse of tables and figures in scientific papers.

Conflict of Interest: None

Financial Support: None

How to cite this article: Duquia RP, Bastos JL, Bonamigo RR, González-Chica DA, Martínez-Mesa J. Presenting data in tables and charts. An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(2):280-5.

* Work performed at the Dermatology service, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Departamento de Saúde Pública e Departamento de Nutrição da UFSC.

Graphics & Tables in PowerPoint: A Guide for Clear and Impactful Presentations

• December 1, 2023
• Uncategorized

Table of Contents

Graphics and tables are crucial tools in PowerPoint presentations for presenting complex information in a visually appealing and comprehensible manner. This guide offers valuable tips and strategies for effectively using graphics and tables to create clear and impactful presentations.

Why Simplifying Complex Data is Crucial

In creating a presentation, it’s important to simplify complex data to make it understandable for your audience. No one wants to analyze numbers and diagrams for hours. By simplifying your data and presenting only the most crucial information, you can ensure your message is conveyed clearly and precisely.

A key aspect of simplifying complex data is choosing the right graphics and tables. Select charts that represent your data well and are easy to understand. Avoid cluttered graphics with too much information, as this can overwhelm the audience. However, simplifying complex data is not only relevant for presentations but also for everyday life. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with information, it is crucial to filter and understand relevant information. Simplifying complex data allows us to analyze it better and make informed decisions.

Another reason why simplifying complex data is important is that it facilitates communication. When we transform complex data into simple and understandable information, we can share it more effectively with others. This is especially important in professional environments, where sharing information and understanding data can be critical to the success of a project. Moreover, simplifying complex data can also help prevent misunderstandings and errors. If data is presented too complexly or unclearly, there’s a risk of misinterpretation. Simplifying the data ensures clarity and precision, leading to better communication and accuracy.

There are various methods to simplify complex data. One way is to transform it into visual representations such as diagrams, graphics, or infographics. These visual representations can make the information more understandable and accessible at a glance.

Another approach to simplifying complex data is breaking it down into smaller, more digestible sections. By organizing the data into clear segments and presenting them sequentially, you ensure your audience can absorb and understand the information better.

Overall, simplifying complex data is a crucial step in making information comprehensible, improving communication, and making informed decisions. Whether in presentations, daily life, or professional settings, the ability to simplify complex data is a valuable skill that helps us understand the world around us better.

Communicate Effectively: Tips for Presenting Complicated Data

Presenting complicated data can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can convey your message effectively. A key tip is to use visual hierarchies. Utilize different sizes, colors, and symbols to clarify the importance and relationships of your data. Another important tip is to integrate your data into contextual stories. Tell a story with your data to engage your audience’s interest and deliver your message effectively.

The use of visual hierarchies is a proven approach to clearly and comprehensibly presenting complex data. By using different sizes, colors, and symbols, you can highlight the significance and relationships of your data. For example, you could display key information in a larger font size to visually emphasize it. Colors can also be used to mark different categories or trends. Symbols can further highlight specific aspects of your data.

Another effective approach is integrating your data into contextual stories. Rather than just presenting numbers and facts, embed your data within a narrative structure. This allows the audience to connect with your data and understand it better. For instance, present a case study showing the impact of your data on a particular scenario or situation. Or tell a story that demonstrates the development and progress of your data over time.

Additionally, it’s important to tailor your presentation to your audience. Consider their prior knowledge and interests to ensure your message is relevant and engaging. For example, if speaking to a technically savvy audience, you can use more detailed information and technical terms. However, if presenting to a general audience, you should communicate your data and messages in simple, understandable language.

The use of visual aids like charts, graphics, and infographics can also help make complex data more comprehensible. These visual elements can visualize your data and ease understanding. However, ensure your visual aids are clear and uncluttered to prevent confusion in the audience.

Presenting complicated data can be challenging, but with the right techniques and approaches, you can effectively convey your message. Use visual hierarchies, integrate your data into contextual stories, and adapt your presentation to your audience. These tips will enable you to present complex data clearly and comprehensibly, impressing your audience.

The Role of Graphic Design in Making Complex Information Understandable

Graphic design plays a crucial role in making complex information understandable. With the right design techniques, you can transform your data into attractive and easily comprehensible graphics and tables. Choose suitable color palettes, fonts, and symbols to make your presentation professional and cohesive.

Besides the aesthetic aspect, graphic design can also help highlight important information and direct the audience’s focus to key points. Use visual elements like arrows, highlights, and info boxes to emphasize key information. Another important aspect of graphic design is choosing the right chart types. Depending on the nature of the data, different charts like bar, pie, or line charts can be used to present the information clearly and understandably. It’s crucial to select the chart type that best communicates your data.

Moreover, the arrangement of information plays a critical role. By strategically placing texts, graphics, and charts, you can control the flow of information and ensure your message is conveyed clearly and precisely. For example, use headings and subheadings to segment different sections, providing a clear guide for the audience.

Another important factor in making complex information understandable is considering your target audience. Depending on who is viewing your presentation or graphics, you might need to use different design elements. For instance, choose a detailed and technical presentation for a scientific audience, while preferring a simplified and easily understandable graphic for a broader audience.

When designing your graphics and charts, consider accessibility. Ensure your information is accessible to people with visual impairments by using alternative texts for images and optimizing contrasts for better readability. Overall, graphic design is an indispensable tool for presenting complex information in an understandable and appealing manner. By choosing the right design elements, chart types, and information arrangement, you can ensure your message is communicated clearly and effectively.

Finding the Right Balance Between Understandability and Detail Accuracy

When creating graphics and tables, it’s important to find the right balance between understandability and detail accuracy. While it’s important to simplify complex data, you should also ensure your graphics contain enough information to fully convey your message. A good approach is to display the most important information prominently and present additional details in smaller font size or footnotes. This way, you can ensure your audience grasps the main message while also having access to detailed information if needed.

There are various ways to achieve a balance between understandability and detail accuracy. One way is to present the information in layers. You could, for instance, create a basic chart showing the main points, then add additional layers for more detailed information. This approach ensures your audience can quickly grasp the key information while also having the option to delve deeper into the topic if desired.

Another important aspect is using visual elements to simplify complex data. Charts, graphics, and infographics can help present information in a visually appealing and easily understandable way. Using colors, shapes, and other visual elements, you can present complex data in a manner that’s easier to grasp than plain text.

It’s also important to keep your target audience in mind. For example, if creating a graphic for experts, you can use more technical details and jargon. However, if presenting information to a broader audience, you should ensure your graphics and tables are understandable to everyone. This might mean explaining technical terms or adding additional explanations to ensure your message is clearly communicated.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the right balance to present your information clearly and precisely, without overwhelming your audience. By harmonizing understandability and detail accuracy, you can ensure your graphics and tables are effective and successfully convey your message.

Clarity vs. Precision: Finding the Right Balance

When creating graphics and tables, it’s crucial to strike the right balance between clarity and precision. While it’s important to simplify complex data, you should also ensure that your graphics contain enough information to fully convey your message. A good approach is to display the key information prominently and present additional details in a smaller font size or in footnotes. This way, you can ensure that your audience understands the main message, while also providing access to detailed information if needed.

There are various ways to achieve a balance between clarity and precision. One way is to present information in layers. For example, you can create a basic graphic that shows the main points, and then add additional layers to display more detailed information. This ensures that your audience can quickly grasp the most important information while also having the opportunity to delve deeper into the topic if they wish.

Another key aspect is the use of visual elements to simplify complex data. Charts, graphs, and infographics can help present information in a visually appealing and easily understandable manner. By using colors, shapes, and other visual elements, you can present complex data in a way that is easier to comprehend than pure text.

It’s also important to keep your target audience in mind. For instance, if you’re creating a graphic for experts, you can use more technical details and jargon. However, if you’re presenting information to a broader audience, you should ensure that your graphics and tables are understandable to everyone. This might mean explaining technical terms or adding additional explanations to ensure that your message is clearly conveyed.

It’s about finding the right balance to present your information clearly and precisely, without overwhelming your audience. By aligning clarity and precision, you can ensure that your graphics and tables are effective and successfully convey your message.

How to Highlight Your Expertise Through Clear Visualisations

Clear visualisation of your data can not only help convey your message but also emphasise your expertise in the field. By transforming complex data into clear and precise graphics, you demonstrate your understanding of the information and your ability to present it in an understandable way.

Use appropriate graphic and design techniques to make your visualisations look professional. By highlighting key information and skillfully combining text and images, you can make your expertise visible and gain your audience’s trust. Visualisations are a fundamental part of data analysis and presentation. They allow you to present complex information in an appealing and easily understandable manner. By visualising your data in charts, graphs, or infographics, you can reveal patterns, trends, and correlations that might remain hidden in pure text data.

Another advantage of clear visualisations is the ability to grasp large amounts of data at a glance. Instead of sifting through endless tables or blocks of text, your viewers can quickly and efficiently process the information. This saves time and allows them to focus on the most important aspects of your presentation.

To highlight your expertise through visualisations, it’s crucial to use the right tools and techniques. Choose software or a program that offers you the ability to create appealing and user-friendly visualisations. Experiment with different types of charts, colour schemes, and layouts to find those that best suit your data and message.

Remember that clear visualisation is not just an aesthetic element but must also be substantively correct. Ensure that your data are accurate and meaningful and that you draw the right conclusions from them. Incorrect or misleading visualisation can undermine your credibility and shake your viewers’ trust.

Clear visualisations are a powerful tool to showcase your expertise and effectively convey your message. By using suitable graphic and design techniques, you can make your visualisations look professional and gain your audience’s trust. Ensure that your visualisations are substantively correct and draw the right conclusions. With these tips, you can highlight your expertise through clear visualisations and take your presentations to the next level.

The Art of Conveying Complex Data in a Few Minutes

In presentations, time is often limited, and it can be challenging to convey complex data quickly. However, with the right techniques and strategies, you can create a meaningful presentation even in a short time.

One way to quickly convey complex data is through the use of infographics. Infographics combine text, images, and symbols to communicate information swiftly and effectively. By presenting your data in concise and visually appealing infographics, you can capture your audience’s attention and effectively convey your message.

Another approach to conveying complex data in a short time is the use of storytelling techniques. By wrapping your data in a story, you can emotionally engage your audience while simultaneously conveying information. Stories have the power to make complex connections understandable and to spark the listeners’ interest.

Additionally, you can use visual aids such as charts and graphs to present complex data quickly and clearly. By visualising data, you can grasp complex information at a glance and make it understandable. Charts and graphs allow your audience to better understand relationships and process information faster.

You can also use comparisons and examples to convey complex data quickly. By linking your data with familiar situations or examples, you can make abstract information more tangible and easier to understand. Comparisons and examples help your audience better visualise the information and place it in a relevant context.

Another effective approach is to break down the data into small, digestible chunks and present these sequentially. By dividing the information into manageable units, you can ensure that your audience can better absorb and understand the data. This approach also allows you to maintain your audience’s attention throughout the presentation.

There are various techniques and strategies to convey complex data in a few minutes. The use of infographics, storytelling, visual aids, comparisons, examples, and breaking down the information into small units are just a few ways to make your presentation effective and meaningful. Experiment with different approaches and find out which method best suits your topic and audience.

Visualisation Strategies: Making Your Data More Accessible

An essential task in creating presentations is making your data accessible to your audience. Visual strategies can help you present complex data in a more understandable and engaging way.

Some strategies you can use include color-coding to distinguish different data categories, using charts or tables to present numerical data, and using visualisations to illustrate relationships and trends. By making your data accessible, you can ensure that your audience can easily understand and interpret the information.

Using color-coding is an effective method to highlight different data categories. By assigning a different color to each category, you can visually separate the data and help the audience better grasp the information. For example, in a presentation on a company’s revenue, you could represent income in green and expenses in red. This color-coding allows the audience to recognize at a glance which data category is being depicted.

Charts and tables are also useful tools for presenting numerical data. A bar chart, for instance, can be used to illustrate the revenue of various products over time. Visualising the data in a chart form can make it easier to identify trends and patterns. Tables, on the other hand, are suitable for displaying detailed information, such as the number of units sold per product category. Visualisations can also be used to clarify relationships and trends in the data. One way to do this is by using line or area charts to show the progression of data over a certain period. By visualising the data in this manner, you can show the audience how certain values have changed over time and if there are any potential correlations.

By making your data accessible, you can ensure that your audience can easily understand and interpret the information. Visual strategies like color-coding, charts, and visualisations are effective tools for presenting complex data in a more understandable and engaging way. Utilize these strategies to make your presentations even more impactful and to impress your audience.

Collaboration with Graphic Designers: A New Approach to Your Presentations

Another way to elevate your presentations is by collaborating with professional graphic designers. Graphic designers can assist you in transforming complex data into attractive and professional graphics and tables.

By sharing your ideas and data with a graphic designer, you can ensure that your presentations are visually appealing and meaningful. An experienced graphic designer can also help you find the right balance between aesthetics and understandability, effectively conveying your message.

A well-designed chart or infographic can help present complex information in an easily understandable manner. Using colors, shapes, and symbols, graphic designers can visualize your data, thereby enhancing the understanding and attention of your audience.

Moreover, graphic designers can help make your presentations look more professional. They can assist you in selecting fonts, color schemes, and layouts to create a cohesive and appealing appearance. Using professional design elements can convey your commitment to quality and precision.

Collaborating with graphic designers also offers the opportunity to customize your presentations uniquely. An experienced designer can take into account your specific requirements and preferences, developing tailored solutions. This allows you to make your presentations unique and tailored to your target audience.

In addition to visual design, graphic designers can also support the optimization of your presentations for various media formats. They can ensure that your graphics and images look good and function well in different presentation programs and on various devices. This ensures that your message is consistently and effectively conveyed across all platforms.

Overall, collaborating with graphic designers can provide significant added value to your presentations. With their expertise and creative skills, they can help ensure that your presentations are visually appealing, meaningful, and professional. So, the next time you create a presentation, consider collaborating with a graphic designer to fully realize the potential of your presentations.

Feedback from Your Audience: How to Know If Your Presentation is Working

Feedback from your audience is a crucial indicator of whether your presentation is effective or not. Pay attention to your audience’s reactions and behavior during the presentation to gauge how well your message is being received.

Ask questions to your audience to test their understanding and interest. Request constructive feedback after the presentation. By collecting and analyzing feedback, you can continuously improve your presentations and ensure that your message is effectively conveyed.

The effective use of graphics and tables in PowerPoint presentations is key to presenting complex data in an understandable and engaging way. By applying the right techniques, showcasing your expertise, and considering the feedback of your audience, you can create clear and impactful presentations that impress your audience.

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The Power of Visuals: Tips for presenting data with tables and figures

By charlesworth author services.

• 21 November, 2023

In academic writing, inclusion of figures and tables brings data into life. They turn complex data into a comprehensible narrative that is easy to follow. But, you may wonder, what sets figures apart from tables, and how do you strike the perfect balance in their presentation?

The Need for Tables and Figures

Imagine a paper without figures and tables. The research might be there, but it would lack the factor that makes it interesting and easy to understand. Scientific tables and figures efficiently present extensive statistical data in a condensed format. Due to their accessibility, readers often find it convenient to glance through these tables and figures, gaining a preliminary understanding of the study before delving into the complete manuscript. At the initial review phase, as well as upon publication, figures and tables provide a swift summary of the research findings for both journal editors and reviewers. It is crucial to emphasise that tables and figures contribute meaningfully to the manuscript only when they strike a balance between being concise and sufficiently descriptive.

Tips for Effective Data Presentation Using Tables and Figures:

Determining the appropriate number of figures and tables for a research paper is essential for effective communication. Here are some key considerations:

i. Purposeful Selection:

• Choose tables or figures based on the nature of your data. 

• Tables are suitable for presenting precise values and relationships, while figures are effective for visualising trends, patterns, or comparisons.

ii. Overlap Considerations:

• Avoiding overlap between figures and tables, as well as limiting overlap with the text, is crucial. 

• Each visual element should have its designated space to ensure clarity and prevent confusion. 

• Overlapping figures and tables can hinder the reader’s ability to focus on individual components. Similarly, too much overlap with the text can distract readers from the main narrative, so it's important to strike a balance and ensure a clear visual hierarchy.

iii. Formatting Requirements:

• Journals often set limits on the number of figures and tables allowed. 

• Authors should view these limitations as guidelines aimed at maintaining a balance between conciseness and informativeness. 

• Exceeding the prescribed limit may compromise the effectiveness of the presentation. Quality should be prioritised over quantity to enhance the overall impact of the visual elements.

iv. Consistency is Key:

• Maintain consistency in style and formatting throughout your visual elements. 

• This includes using the same color schemes, symbols, and fonts for better coherence.

v. Supplementary Figures and Tables:

• Supplementary figures and tables serve as additional resources to provide in-depth information. 

• While not integral to the main narrative, they offer further context or details. 

• Authors should use supplementary material judiciously, ensuring that each additional figure or table contributes value without overwhelming the reader. 

• Striking a balance is essential, with supplementary material serving a specific purpose rather than being overly abundant.

Components of Effective Tables

1. Caption:

• Purpose: Clearly states what the table represents.

• Content: Provides a concise summary or explanation of the table's content.

• Placement: Positioned above the table for quick reference.

2. Headings:

• Clarity: Clearly labels each column or row.

• Consistency: Maintains a consistent style throughout the table.

• Informative: Conveys essential information about the data presented.

3. Body Cells:

• Data Accuracy: Contains accurate and precise numerical information.

• Organisation: Presents data logically, following a clear structure.

• Formatting: Adheres to a consistent format for numerical values, including units.

4. Footnotes:

• Explanation: Provides additional information or clarifications for specific entries.

• Conciseness: Keeps footnotes brief and relevant.

• Position: Placed below the table for easy reference.

Components of Effective Figures

• Description: Summarises the main purpose or findings of the figure.

• Completeness: Offers enough information for readers to understand the figure without relying on the main text.

• Clarity: Ensures that the visual representation is clear and easy to interpret. Consider the size, resolution, and the image’s overall visual attractiveness.

• Accuracy: Accurately reflects the data or information being presented.

• Relevance: Aligns with the key points highlighted in the caption.

3. Legends:

• Clarity: Clearly explains symbols, colors, or any other elements used in the figure.

• Conciseness: Provides necessary information without unnecessary details.

• Placement: Located strategically to avoid cluttering the figure.

4. Axis Labels:

• Precision: Clearly labels x and y-axes in graphs or any other relevant axes.

• Units: Includes units of measurement to avoid ambiguity.

• Orientation: Ensures that labels are easily readable and not crowded.

5. Data Points:

• Differentiation: Clearly distinguishes between various data points.

• Consistency: Maintains a consistent style for data points throughout the figure.

• Highlighting: Uses markers or colors to emphasise key data, if applicable.

6. Trend Lines or Bars:

• Interpretability: Ensures that trend lines or bars are easily understood.

• Context: Places trend lines or bars in relation to the overall figure.

• Consistency: Follows a consistent style if multiple trends are represented.

Navigating Common Pitfalls and Implementing Actionable Tips for Authors

Lack of context is a prevalent issue, where figures or tables are presented without sufficient contextual information, making interpretation challenging. Providing clear captions and additional explanations in the text can remedy this issue. Misleading scaling is a potential pitfall, with authors manipulating scales to exaggerate or minimise trends. To avoid misinterpretation, it's important to present data accurately and communicate the scale used clearly. Overemphasis on aesthetics at the expense of clarity and accuracy is another pitfall to be cautious about. Balancing aesthetics with functionality ensures that visuals effectively communicate the intended message. Finally, excessive detail in visuals can hinder comprehension. Authors should highlight essential information, using supplementary materials for additional details while keeping the main visuals concise.

Improving the quality of tables and figures involves actionable strategies. Authors should start by prioritizing information, identifying key messages, and focusing on the most relevant data. Testing interpretability by seeking feedback from colleagues or peers helps authors refine visuals for a broader audience. Simplifying complex data and choosing appropriate visualisation types are additional strategies to enhance understanding. Consistent and accurate labeling throughout visuals, paying attention to units of measurement, abbreviations, and other details, ensures clarity. By avoiding common pitfalls and implementing these actionable tips, authors can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of their tables and figures, turning them into valuable tools for conveying research findings.

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September special: Business Transformation PPT Templates

4 Steps for a Good-looking PowerPoint Table

• May 18, 2017
• PowerPoint guides and tricks , PowerPoint templates for download , Tables for PowerPoint

Tables are used everywhere in business – price lists, KPI comparisons, project meetings, quarter review meet-ups, and accounting audits…? Table infographics are one of the most common ways to present data. Making a table in PowerPoint or Excel is simple and quick. However, usually, those tables look pretty basic and boring. It’s time to change that!

Read on to find out four easy steps you can follow to quickly change default data tables into more attractive and professional-looking table graphics.

All graphics can be found in the Creative Tables Graphics slides collection . Click on the pictures to see the details. You’ll find more table and diagram collections here.

All the presented table makeovers you’re about to see are done using only standard MS Office PowerPoint tools.  You don’t need any special software, only a bit of inspiration. Let’s have a quick view of how tables can be redesigned.

Before and After PowerPoint Table Redesign

Below you can see a standard table comparing three product features created in PowerPoint. If you use the standard table style it will look like this – a grid with black lines and plain white cells filling:

Here’s an example of how such a table can be facelifted in a few steps to look consistent, and easier to read and remember.

Which table would resonate longer with your audience? Is the one above or below?

The best part is that it took me 5-10 minutes, using just colors, basic shapes, and a few simple symbols. So don’t worry, you don’t need to have profound design skills to achieve similar results.

For more table examples, check out this table graphics collection here.

Below you can see four steps that are easy to follow. Even if you don’t feel like a graphic designer, you can do it :).

1. Get rid of the heavy table grid

The table cell borders separate the content of your table cells. They are far less important than the content itself. Therefore it is a mistake to make them strong black as in the example. Make them look less important by replacing the high-contrast black grid with light gray (or any other color, which will suit your style, gray is one of the most neutral colors). You can also remove the borders completely if you have wide table margins. Here are two examples of such change:

Believe me, your tables will look more elegant and professional without the default black borders.

Eventually, you can get rid only of the outside grid and it will also look better.

To edit the table border click on the table itself and then select in the PowerPoint top menu: Design Table Tab: Borders .

2. Add shapes to table columns and rows headers

The next step is to enhance the headers. Adding a simple arrow shape behind the table will do the trick.

Then adjust the colors of added shapes. Depending on what the goal of the presentation slide is, select the colors:

• Use vivid colors like I did if you want people to focus on that part – in this case, the three products in my example.
• Use calmer colors for less important parts (e.g. shades of gray or blue)

Don’t forget to check if the text on the header is still readable after you add colors. Ensure the contrast – change the header font color to white from black if needed.

3. Illustrate your PowerPoint table with icons

If you have a few more minutes and want to move your tables to the next level, enrich them further with illustrative symbols. Using icons related to the concepts and ideas creates a strong visual association. That will help your audience focus on the information you want to present to them.

In the product table example below, the three features are replaced with simple flat icons – a shield for security, a gauge for efficiency, and cogs representing production.

For increasing visual power I also replaced the third column with discrete Yes / No values but Check / Uncheck icons.

If you need to represent a specific concept with a symbol, check the list of common business concept visualization ideas . We put together various concept visuals on how to illustrate ideas like strategy, competence, deadlines, taxes… Let us know if we missed anything.

By adding those small symbolic pictures you can focus people’s attention on the points you want: whether you want to emphasize the functionality of a product, the status of a project, or numeric values.

4. Highlight the key table cell content

Most probably there’s one key piece of information in the table you want to show in the context of other table data. Make this key value stand out. The easiest thing is to make the text or number bold or use a different color. However, to make it visually more attractive, I’d suggest other ways of highlighting it:

• make the table cell dark and the text white. This way the whole cell will stand out.
• add an extra shape e.g. a circle with an outline and transparent filling over the table. Or even better, add a hand-drawn swoosh shape . Using such a style will add a personal touch to the table – like you marked it with a pen on paper.

That’s all. Four tricks you can use to make your presentation tables fancier:

• Replace the default black table grid
• Add shapes under the table headers
• Illustrate items with icons to create a mnemonic association
• Highlight the key information in the table.

Most importantly, these simple do-it-yourself instructions will help you save time and create engaging infographic table designs using only PowerPoint shapes, markers, and icons. You can choose your favorite trick from above and try using it in every presentation (e.g. contrast colors, or icons), and see how it changes your slides.

If you like the slides above, you can download them directly here:

More resources to get inspired.

If you;re looking for more ideas on how to present tables in PowerPoint, check the following resources:

• Add Uniqueness to Your Data Presentation with Creative PowerPoint Table Graphics
• 7 Ways to Make PowerPoint Tables More Attractive and Clear
• How to Make Infographic Tables Stand Out with Colorful Flat PowerPoint Design
• How to Beautify a Table in PowerPoint

See the full instructions in this YouTube movie:

I hope this blog inspired you, and I’ll be happy to know if you could apply those steps in your presentation. If you have any other challenges that stop you from slide design, let me know in the comments, and I’ll be glad to share my advice.

Happy designing!

Subscribe to the newsletter  and follow our  YouTube channel  to get more design tips and slide inspiration.

Peter Zvirinsky CEO, Chief Slide Designer, Co-founder at infoDiagram.com

infoDiagram Co-founder, Visual Communication Expert

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9 Data Presentation Tools for Business Success

• By Judhajit Sen
• May 29, 2024

A data presentation is a slide deck that shares quantitative information with an audience using visuals and effective presentation techniques . The goal is to make complex data easily understandable and actionable using data presentation examples like graphs and charts, tables, dashboards, and clear text explanations. 

Data presentations help highlight trends, patterns, and insights, allowing the audience to grasp complicated concepts or trends quickly. This makes it easier for them to make informed decisions or conduct deeper analysis.

Data visualization in presentations is used in every field, from academia to business and industry. Raw data is often too complex to understand directly, so data analysis breaks it down into charts and graphs. These tools help turn raw data into useful information.

Once the information is extracted, it’s presented graphically. A good presentation can significantly enhance understanding and response.

Think of data presentation as storytelling in business presentations with charts. A common mistake is assuming the audience understands the data as well as the presenter. Always consider your audience’s knowledge level and what information they need when you present your data.

To present the data effectively:

1. Provide context to help the audience understand the numbers.

2. Compare data groups using visual aids.

3. Step back and view the data from the audience’s perspective.

Data presentations are crucial in nearly every industry, helping professionals share their findings clearly after analyzing data.

Key Takeaways

• Simplifying Complex Data: Data presentations turn complex data into easy-to-understand visuals and narratives, helping audiences quickly grasp trends and insights for informed decision-making.
• Versatile Tools: Various tools like bar charts, dashboards, pie charts, histograms, scatter plots, pictograms, textual presentations, and tables each serve unique purposes, enhancing the clarity and impact of the data.
• Audience Consideration: Tailor your presentation to the audience’s knowledge level, providing context and using simple visuals to make the information accessible and actionable.
• Effective Data Storytelling: Combining clear context, organized visuals, and thoughtful presentation ensures that the data’s story is conveyed effectively, supporting better business decisions and success.

Following are 9 data presentation tools for business success.

Bar charts are a simple yet powerful method of presentation of the data using rectangular bars to show quantities or frequencies. They make it easy to spot patterns or trends at a glance. Bar charts can be vertical (column charts) or horizontal, depending on how you want to display your data.

In a bar graph, categories are displayed on one axis, usually the x-axis for vertical charts and the y-axis for horizontal ones. The bars’ lengths represent the values or frequencies of these categories, with the scale marked on the opposite axis.

These charts are ideal for comparing data across different categories or showing trends over time. Each bar’s height (or length in a horizontal chart) is directly proportional to the value it represents. This visual representation helps illustrate differences or changes in data.

Bar charts are versatile tools in business reports, academic presentations, and more. To make your bar charts effective:

• Ensure they are concise and have easy-to-read labels.
• Avoid clutter by not including too many categories, making the chart hard to read.
• Keep it simple to maintain clarity and impact, whether your bars go up or sideways.

Line Graphs

Line graphs show how data changes over time or with continuous variables. They connect points of data with straight lines, making it easy to see trends and fluctuations. These graphs are handy when comparing multiple datasets over the same timeline.

Using line graphs, you can track things like stock prices, sales projections, or experimental results. The x-axis represents time or another continuous variable, while the y-axis shows the data values. This setup allows you to understand the ups and downs in the data quickly.

To make your graphs effective, keep them simple. Avoid overcrowding with too many lines, highlight significant changes, use labels, and give your graph a clear, catchy title. This will help your audience grasp the information quickly and easily.

A data dashboard is a data analysis presentation example for analyzing information. It combines different graphs, charts, and tables in one layout to show the information needed to meet one or more objectives. Dashboards help quickly see Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) by displaying visuals you’ve already made in worksheets.

It’s best to keep the number of visuals on a dashboard to three or four. Adding too many can make it hard to see the main points. Dashboards are helpful for business analytics, like analyzing sales, revenue, and marketing metrics. In manufacturing, they help users understand the production scenario and track critical KPIs for each production line.

Dashboards represent vital points of data or metrics in an easy-to-understand way. They are often an  interactive presentation idea , allowing users to drill down into the data or view different aspects of it.

Pie charts are circular graphs divided into parts to show numerical proportions. Each portion represents a part of the whole, making it easy to see each component’s contribution to the total.

The size of each slice is determined by its value relative to the total. A pie chart with more significant points of data will have larger slices, and the whole chart will be more important. However, you can make all pies the same size if proportional representation isn’t necessary.

Pie charts are helpful in business to show percentage distributions, compare category sizes, or present simple data sets where visualizing ratios is essential. They work best with fewer variables. For more variables, it’s better to use a pie chart calculator that helps to create pie charts easily for various data sets with different color slices. 

Each “slice” represents a fraction of the total, and the size of each slice shows its share of the whole. Pie charts are excellent for showing how a whole is divided into parts, such as survey results or demographic data.

While pie charts are great for simple distributions, they can get confusing with too many categories or slight differences in proportions. To keep things clear, label each slice with percentages or values and use a legend if there are many categories. If more detail is needed, consider using a donut chart with a blank center for extra information and a less cluttered look.

A histogram is a graphical presentation of data  to help in understanding the distribution of numerical values. Unlike bar charts that show each response separately, histograms group numeric responses into bins and display the frequency of reactions within each bin. The x-axis denotes the range of values, while the y-axis shows the frequency of those values.

Histograms are useful for understanding your data’s distribution, identifying shared values, and spotting outliers. They highlight the story your data tells, whether it’s exam scores, sales figures, or any other numerical data.

Histograms are great for visualizing the distribution and frequency of a single variable. They divide the data into bins, and the height of each bar indicates how many points of data fall into that bin. This makes it easy to see trends like peaks, gaps, or skewness in your data.

To make your histogram effective, choose bin sizes that capture meaningful patterns. Clear axis labels and titles also help in explaining the data distribution.

Scatter Plot

Using individual data points, a scatter plot chart is a presentation of data in visual form to show the relationship between two variables. Each variable is plotted along the x-axis and y-axis, respectively. Each point on the scatter plot represents a single observation.

Scatter plots help visualize patterns, trends, and correlations between the two variables. They can also help identify outliers and understand the overall distribution of data points. The way the points are spread out or clustered together can indicate whether there is a positive, negative, or no clear relationship between the variables.

Scatter plots can be used in practical applications, such as in business, to show how variables like marketing cost and sales revenue are related. They help understand data correlations, which aids in decision-making.

To make scatter plots more effective, consider adding trendlines or regression analysis to highlight patterns. Labeling key data points or tooltips can provide additional information and make the chart easier to interpret.

A pictogram is the simplest form of data presentation and analysis, often used in schools and universities to help students grasp concepts more effectively through pictures.

This type of diagram uses images to represent data. For example, you could draw five books to show the number of books sold in the first week of release, with each image representing 1,000 books. If consumers bought 5,000 books, you would display five book images.

Using simple icons or images makes the information visually intuitive. Instead of relying on numbers or complex graphs, pictograms use straightforward symbols to depict data points. For example, a thumbs-up emoji can illustrate customer satisfaction levels, with each emoji representing a different level of satisfaction.

Pictograms are excellent for visual data presentation. Choose symbols that are easy to interpret and relevant to the data to ensure clarity. Consistent scaling and a legend explaining the symbols’ meanings are essential for an effective presentation.

Textual Presentation

Textual presentation uses words to describe the relationships between pieces of information. This method helps share details that can’t be shown in a graph or table. For example, researchers often present findings in a study textually to provide extra context or explanation. A textual presentation can make the information more transparent.

This type of presentation is common in research and for introducing new ideas. Unlike charts or graphs, it relies solely on paragraphs and words.

Textual presentation also involves using written content, such as annotations or explanatory text, to explain or complement data. While it doesn’t use visual presentation aids like charts, it is a widely used method for presenting qualitative data. Think of it as the narrative that guides your audience through the data.

Adequate textual data may make complex information more accessible. Breaking down complex details into bullet points or short paragraphs helps your audience understand the significance of numbers and visuals. Headings can guide the reader’s attention and tell a coherent story.

Tabular Presentation

Tabular presentation uses tables to share information by organizing data in rows and columns. This method is useful for comparing data and visualizing information. Researchers often use tables to analyze data in various classifications:

Qualitative classification: This includes qualities like nationality, age, social status, appearance, and personality traits, helping to compare sociological and psychological information.

Quantitative classification: This covers items you can count or number.

Spatial classification: This deals with data based on location, such as information about a city, state, or region.

Temporal classification: This involves time-based data measured in seconds, hours, days, or weeks.

Tables simplify data, making it easily consumable, allow for side-by-side comparisons, and save space in your presentation by condensing information.

Using rows and columns, tabular presentation focuses on clarity and precision. It’s about displaying numerical data in a structured grid, clearly showing individual data points. Tables are invaluable for showcasing detailed data, facilitating comparisons, and presenting exact numerical information. They are commonly used in reports, spreadsheets, and academic papers.

Organize tables neatly with clear headers and appropriate column widths to ensure readability. Highlight important data points or patterns using shading or font formatting. Tables are simple and effective, especially when the audience needs to know precise figures.

Elevate Business Decisions with Effective Data Presentations

Data presentations are essential for transforming complex data into understandable and actionable insights. Data presentations simplify the process of interpreting quantitative information by utilizing data presentation examples like charts, graphs, tables, infographics, dashboards, and clear narratives. This method of storytelling with visuals highlights trends, patterns, and insights, enabling audiences to make informed decisions quickly.

In business, data analysis presentations are invaluable. Different types of presentation tools like bar charts help compare categories and track changes over time, while dashboards consolidate various metrics into a comprehensive view. Pie charts and histograms offer clear views of distributions and proportions, aiding in grasping the bigger picture. Scatter plots reveal relationships between variables, and pictograms make data visually intuitive. Textual presentations and tables provide detailed context and precise figures, which are essential for thorough analysis and comparison.

Consider the audience’s knowledge level to tailor the best way to present data in PowerPoint. Clear context, simple visuals, and thoughtful organization ensure the data’s story is easily understood and impactful. Mastering these nine data presentation types can significantly enhance business success by making data-driven decisions more accessible and practical.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a data presentation?

A data presentation is a slide deck that uses visuals and narrative techniques to make complex data easy to understand and actionable. It includes charts, graphs, tables, infographics, dashboards, and clear text explanations.

2. Why are data presentations important in business?

Data presentations are crucial because they help highlight trends, patterns, and insights, making it easier for the audience to understand complicated concepts. This enables better decision-making and deeper analysis.

3. What types of data presentation tools are commonly used?

Common tools include bar charts, line graphs, dashboards, pie charts, histograms, scatter plots, pictograms, textual presentations, and tables. Each tool has a unique way of representing data to aid understanding.

4. How can I ensure my data presentation is effective?

To ensure effectiveness, provide context, compare data sets using visual aids, consider your audience’s knowledge level, and keep visuals simple. Organizing information thoughtfully and avoiding clutter enhances clarity and impact.

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Prezentium’s services are designed to help you make the most of your data, from bar charts to dashboards, ensuring your presentations are informative and visually engaging. Let us help you tell your data’s story in a way that resonates. Contact Prezentium today to elevate your business presentations.

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Remote Team Tips: 5 Ways to Improve Remote Communication

Prepare for a presentation: 11 presentation preparation tips, communication methods: 5 ways to communicate at the workplace.

• Data Science

Data Visualization: The Secrets of Creating Tables

It’s a proven fact: data is king. But the king cannot rule without the attention and dedication of the kingdom. 

That’s why data visualization matters so much. It enables you to quickly focus your audience on the essential, most important data points, and tell the story of your data in a compelling way.

Here, we’ll give you creative tips to help you emphasize your findings and ensure your audience grasps what really matters by optimizing tables for maximum impact.

The Top Reasons to Love Tables for Data Visualization

A table is one of the most common ways to represent data, regardless of the business industry. They’re intuitive to read, easy to build, and uncommonly flexible when it comes to customization. Unlike most bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts, tables are not limited to a specific data type; they can contain numbers, words, symbols, or even a combination of multiple data types.  

Table Terminology

Our brains process tables differently from graphs. A table enables you to inspect and read data by scanning rows and columns. The data is displayed as text, whether words or numbers, and tables are usually reinforced by grid lines, which help the viewer focus on the arrangement of information.

Finally, unlike other graphs, tables may be used to display non-quantitative data, with written entries like the title of a blog, the author, or even something longer like a summary. Use tables to combine numerical entries and written text entries.

When Should You Use a Table in Data Visualization?

Tables offer one primary benefit that other types of charts don’t: they make it easy to view the exact values you want, quickly. Tables are a great way to display simple relationships between quantitative values and the categories to which these values are related, enabling granular reading of one or more specific values.

Whenever you need to enable precise reading of data, the textual encoding of tables is a great option. Exact numerical values can be displayed when you need that extra precision.

Another strength of tables is that they can include multiple sets of quantitative values that are expressed into different units of measure (ex: dollar amount, numbers, percentage, etc.).

Consider using a table when:

• Readers will want to look up values
• The quantitative information involves different types of measurement
• Multiple comparisons need to be addressed in a large set of data
• Measurements need to be precise OR entries might be verbose

When to Not Use a Table

However, using a table during a live presentation may not be the best approach, as it requires time and a lot of reading from your audience. Instead, you may highlight the main insight and add the table in an appendix.

How to Build a Clear and Compelling Table

Careful with the grid lines.

Whenever you create a table, many tools provide a default grid line that is supposed to enhance the presentation of your data. Although a thick black grid line seems appealing to improve the legibility of your data, it may also divert your audience’s attention. This is problematic, as you want your audience to focus on the data, not the noise around it.

Take a look at the examples below and see how the manipulation of borders in the second and third iterations helps the data stand out more than the structural component of the table.

In the example above, borders are getting in the way and don’t add value or context to the chart.

Table designs can (and must) fade into the background, helping the viewer to focus on the data.

Use Preattentive Attributes

Once your table is built, you might want to add some preattentive visual properties, which the fancy term for color-coding or highlighting.

What are Preattentive Attributes?

Preattentive attributes, also known as preattentive visual properties, are visual characteristics that the human brain can quickly and automatically process without the need for focused attention. These attributes are recognized effortlessly and rapidly, often within milliseconds, allowing for the rapid perception of patterns and information in visual stimuli. 

Preattentive processing occurs before conscious attention is fully engaged. They are an important aspect of data visualization because they enable us to redirect the viewer’s attention toward the most important information in our visual representation of data.

Preattentive Attributes in Tables

In the beautiful world of tables, we’ll focus on two types of preattentive attributes that are commonly used:

Data highlight (highest or lowest) : If you have a table with a lot of data for different categories, highlight the lowest or the highest value to help the audience find them quickly. For example, it will take you some time to determine the highest values on this table.

But with this version, it’s suddenly much easier, isn’t it?

Heatmap : Use colors and color saturation to represent data values. Simply put, it’s a table with color-coded cells where each color variation/intensity is associated with the magnitude of the number.

By using color saturations, we help our eyes more quickly target the main point of interest within a table, as well as the comparisons between values.

Use the Correct Alignment for Your Data

“The most effective alignment of text is primarily a matter of convention rather than the mechanics of visual perception,” explains Stephen Few in his book Show Me the Numbers . These conventions are quite powerful, so ignoring them may lead to confusion.

There are five rules to keep in mind when aligning data into a table:

• Numerical data should be right-aligned (easier to read).
• Dates are best aligned to the left, using the format that uses a number in each portion of the date (ex: MM/DD/YY).
• Other text data should be left-aligned.
• Table headers should be aligned with their data.
• Do not use center alignment (even if it’s tempting and your tool does it by default).

In summary, leveraging tables creatively and strategically can help you more profoundly connect your audience with your data. It’s vital to customize every aspect of your table to highlight the essential elements of your data. And since data serves as the ultimate validation of your work, it makes sense to beautify and clarify your data for maximum impact.

Additional Resources

• Show Me the Numbers by Stephen Few
• Better Data Visualizations by Jonathan A. Schwabish
• Storytelling With Data by Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
• Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven Design by Andy Kirk

Using Tables in PowerPoint [Everything You Need to Know]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

Using tables is a smart and efficient way to represent data in PowerPoint. It gives you the flexibility to show various permutations and combinations as well as make it simpler for your audience to understand the data.

But, it is often very difficult to work with tables in PowerPoint. The truth is, there are several options that are often either overlooked or unknown to people that can make their tables look really cool!

So, in this article, I’ll share with you a complete beginner’s guide on how to use tables in PowerPoint.

I do want to mention that sharing all of the information in just one article and keeping it readable is not possible. So, throughout the article, I shall link other detailed articles that go more in-depth into that topic! I would encourage you to open those articles that interest you for further information!

Now, without any further delay, let’s get started!

1. Add Tables in PowerPoint

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can insert a new blank table using the “Insert” tab. I’ve written a detailed article on adding tables to your PowerPoint presentation . Make sure you check it out for more tips!

Meanwhile, here’s one way to add a table in PowerPoint –

Step-1: Click on the “Insert” tab

The first step is to open the “Insert” menu. To do so, click on the “Insert” tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen. In the “Insert” menu,  click on the “Table” option and then click on the “Insert Table” option in the dropdown menu under the “Table” option.

Step-2: Set the number of columns and rows

In the “Insert Table” dialog box, click on the “Number of columns” box and type in the number of columns you want to add to the table. Similarly, type in the preferred number of rows for the table in the “Number of rows” box.

Step-3: Click on the “OK” button

Now all you have to do is click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Insert Table” dialog box to insert the table.

2. How to Align Text in a Table in PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, you can align the text in a cell, column, row, or the entire table both horizontally and vertically. You can do so by using the “Alignment” option. I cover this exclusively in my other article on how to align text in a table in PowerPoint . Make sure to check out that article!

That said, you should know the following steps at the very least in order to align text in a table correctly in PowerPoint –

Step-1: Click on the “Layout” tab

The first step is to highlight the text that you want to align inside the table to select them. Then click on the “Layout” tab which is the last tab in the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Select preferred alignment

In the “Alignment” group of the “Layout” tab, you can now select your preferred alignment options. The options available for the horizontal alignment are “Left” , “Center” , and “Right” .

The vertical alignment options are available in the second row which are the “Top” , the “Middle” , and the “Bottom” . You can choose any combination of the vertical and horizontal alignment for the selected text in the table.

3. How to Move or Resize Table in PowerPoint?

PowerPoint also allows you to resize and move your table easily. Again, I go in-depth into this topic in my other article where I show different methods to move or resize a table in PowerPoint .

Here’s one way to change the size or position of a table. You will need to use the “Format Shape” option, follow the 4 simple steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Format Shape” option

In the open slide, “Right Click” on the table that you want to move or resize. In the right-click menu, click on the “Format Shape” option to open the sidebar.

Step-2: Click on the “Size and Properties” option

In the “Format Shape” sidebar located on the right side of the screen, you have to click on the “Shape Options” tab. Then click on the “Size and Properties” option which is the third icon under the “Shape Options” tab.

Step-3: Click on the “Size” option

To resize the table, all you have to do now is click on the “Size” option in the “Format Shape” sidebar. This will expand the resize options that you can use to customize the size of the selected table.

Step-4: Click on the “Position” option

To change the table position, all you have to do now is click on the “Position” option in the “Format Shape” sidebar. This will expand the reposition options that you can use to customize the position of the selected table inside the slide.

4. Using Table Styles in PowerPoint

The table style in Microsoft PowerPoint is a gallery of predesigned table designs that you can use inside your presentation slide.

You can access the table style options in the “Table Style” group of the “Table Design” tab. Click here to read more about how to use these table styles including how to copy tables style from one table to another.

To apply a table style to a selected table, follow the 2 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Table Design” tab

You have to first access the contextual tabs for the table. To do so, click on a table to select it. Then click on the contextual tab “Table Design” from the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Click on the “Table Styles” gallery

In the “Table Design” tab, you have to now click on the “More” option which is the downward arrow on the “Table Styles” gallery to expand it. Then all you have to do is click on your preferred table style for the selected table from the gallery.

5. Add Table Border in PowerPoint

The borders in a table in PowerPoint are easily insertable and removable. Read my other article to learn about different methods of adding a table border .

Meanwhile, here’s one way to add a table border using the “Borders” option.

The first step is to click on the table to which you want to add borders. Then click on the “Table Design” tab from the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen.

Step-2: Click on the “Borders” option

In the “Table Styles” group of the “Table Design” tab, click on the downward arrow by the “Borders” option. Then click on your preferred border option from the dropdown menu under the “Borders” option to add borders to the selected table.

6. Change Table Border Color in PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to customize the border color of individual cells, rows, columns, or the entire table in a slide.

In my other article on how to change table border color in PowerPoint , I show you how to customize the table border, and even for each cell, row, or column!

That said, here’s how to change the border color of the entire table –

The first step is to click anywhere on the table to access the contextual tabs. Then click on the “Table Design” tab from the menu ribbon.

Step-2: Click on the “Pen Color” option

In the “Draw Borders” group of the “Table Design” tab, click on the “Pen Color” option. Then select a preferred color from the dropdown menu under the “Pen Color” option.

Step-3: Click on the “Borders” option

Now all you have to do is click on the “Borders” option in the “Table Styles” group to change the border color to the newly selected color.

7. Changing Table Color in PowerPoint

Using the “Format Shape” sidebar in Microsoft PowerPoint, you can change the color of the table. All you have to do is follow the 3 easy steps.

The first step is to “Right Click” on the table where you want to add the color. Then click on the “Format Shape” option from the right-click menu.

Step-2: Click on the “Solid Fill” option

In the “Format Shape” sidebar, click on the “Solid fill” option under the “Fill” section. This will expand the color fill options.

Step-3: Click on the “Color” box

The next step is to click on the “Color” box. Now you can select a background color from the pop-up menu. You can also click on the “More Colors” option to access more colors.

8. How to Format a Table in PowerPoint?

The “Format Shape” option in PowerPoint contains various features that you can use to format a table inside the presentation slide.

To access the “Format Shape” option, all you have to do is “Right Click” on a table. Then click on the “Format Shape” option from the bottom of the right-click menu to open the “Format Shape” sidebar. You can now use the options available in the sidebar to format the table.

There are actually several other table formatting options that are available. To learn more about formatting tables in PowerPoint, check out my article here.

9. How to Insert a Pivot Table in PowerPoint?

Pivot tables are a special type of table where you can sort data during the presentation to tend to your audience’s understanding.

The process to insert a pivot table in PowerPoint from Excel needs some understanding and practice to do it right. To add a pivot table using the “Insert Object” feature, follow the 4 simple steps.

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “Insert” tab. Then click on the “Object” option which is the bottom icon in the “Text” group of the “Insert” menu.

Step-2: Click on the “Create from file” option

In the left column of the “Insert Object” dialog box, click on the “Create from file” option to insert an existing Excel file from your device to the PowerPoint slide.

Step-3: Click on the “Browse” option

The next step is to click on the “Browse” button in the “Insert Object” dialog box to open the “Browse” dialog box. In the “Browse” dialog box, select the Excel sheet containing the pivot table and then click on the “Open” button at the bottom.

Step-4: Click on the “OK” button

Click on the “Link” option in the “Insert Object” dialog box to add the hyperlink. Then all you have to do is click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the dialog box to insert the pivot table into the PowerPoint slide.

10. How to Insert a Table in PowerPoint Notes?

Not many people are aware that you can actually also insert a table in the notes section in PowerPoint.

You can use the “Notes View” option to add and read speaker notes. You can add any object including tables to your speaker notes. To learn about the detailed steps for adding, viewing, and editing tables in PowerPoint notes, read my article here .

To add a table in the “Notes View” , follow the 5 easy steps.

Step-1: Click on the “Notes Page” option

In the menu ribbon located at the top of the screen, click on the “View” tab. In the “View” menu, click on the “Notes Page” option from the “Presentation Views” group.

Step-2: Click on the “Insert” tab

The next step is to scroll down in the “Notes Page” to find the slide where you want to add the table. Then click on the “Insert” tab in the menu ribbon to open the “Insert” menu.

Step-3: Click on the “Insert Table” option

Now all you have to do is click on the “Table” option in the “Insert” menu. Then click on the “Insert Table” option from the dropdown menu under the “Table” option.

Step-4: Select the number of columns and rows

In the “Insert Table” dialog box, you can now type in the preferred number of columns and rows in the “Number of columns” box and the “Number of rows” box respectively.

Step-5: Click on the “OK” button

Finally, you can click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Insert Table” dialog box to insert the table into the slide notes.

11. How to Insert Table in PowerPoint from Excel?

The “Insert Table” feature in Microsoft PowerPoint allows you to only add new tables to your slide. To insert a table from Microsoft Excel, you can use the “ Paste Special ” feature in PowerPoint. You can read more about inserting a table in PowerPoint from excel in detail in my article here.

Here are a few steps involved in brief –

Step-1: Click on the “Copy” option

The first step is to copy the Excel table. To do so, open the Microsoft Excel worksheet and highlight the preferred columns and rows to select them. Then “Right Click” on it and click on the “Copy” option. Alternatively, you can press the “Ctrl+C” keys on your keyboard.

Step-2: Click on the “Paste Special” option

Now you have to return to the PowerPoint file. In the “Paste” group of the “Home” tab, click on the downward arrow under the “Paste” icon. Then click on the “Paste Special” option from the dropdown menu under the “Paste” option.

Step-3: Click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option

In the “Paste Special” dialog box, click on the “Paste” option from the left column. Then click on the “Microsoft Excel Worksheet Object” option from the “As” section in the middle of the dialog box.

Now all you have to do is click on the “OK” button at the bottom of the “Paste Special” dialog box to paste the Excel table into the open PowerPoint slide.

12. How to Animate Table in PowerPoint?

The “Animations” tab in the menu ribbon in Microsoft PowerPoint lets you animate any object inside the presentation slides.

However, when you animate a table in PowerPoint, you can only apply a single animation style to the entire table. To animate the cells, rows, or columns of a table separately, you can follow some hacks.

I’ve covered these hacks in my other article where I show 4 ways to animate a table in PowerPoint . Make sure to give it a read!

13. How to Sort Table in PowerPoint?

In Microsoft PowerPoint, there is actually no feature that allows you to sort a selected table.

However, you can export the table to Microsoft Word or to Microsoft Excel and sort it there. The “Sort” feature is only available in the tables in Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word.

The process is a bit cumbersome. Nevertheless, I’ve covered the complete steps in my other article where I show detailed steps to sort a PowerPoint table .

14. Transpose Table in PowerPoint?

Lastly, sometimes, you need to convert the data from rows into columns and vice-versa. Unfortunately, PowerPoint doesn’t allow you to transpose a table on a slide!

However, I’ve shared an amazing hack to circumvent this problem by exporting the table in Excel. Check out my detailed article on how to transpose a table in PowerPoint .

Credit to cookie_studio  (on Freepik) for the featured image of this article (further edited).

• List of Commerce Articles
• Tabular Presentation Of Data

Tabular Presentation of Data

What is tabular presentation of data.

It is a table that helps to represent even a large amount of data in an engaging, easy to read, and coordinated manner. The data is arranged in rows and columns. This is one of the most popularly used forms of presentation of data as data tables are simple to prepare and read.

The most significant benefit of tabulation is that it coordinates data for additional statistical treatment and decision making. The analysis used in tabulation is of four types. They are:

• Qualitative
• Quantitative

1. Qualitative classification: When the classification is done according to traits such as physical status, nationality, social status, etc., it is known as qualitative classification.

2. Quantitative classification:  In this, the data is classified on the basis of features that are quantitative in nature. In other words, these features can be estimated quantitatively.

3. Temporal classification: In this classification, time becomes the categorising variable and data are classified according to time. Time, maybe in years, months, weeks, days, hours, etc.,

4. Spatial classification: When the categorisation is done on the basis of location, it is known as spatial classification. The place may be a country, state, district, block, village/town, etc.

Related read: T.R. Jain and V.K. Ohri Solutions for Presentation of Data

Basics of Tabular Presentation

Objectives Of Tabulation

Following are the o bjectives of tabulation :

• To simplify the complex data
• To bring out essential features of the data
• To facilitate comparison
• To facilitate statistical analysis
• Saving of space

What are the Three Limitations of a Table?

Following are the major limitations of a table:

(1) Lacks description

• The table represents only figures and not attributes.
• It ignores the qualitative aspects of the facts.

(2) Incapable of presenting individual items

• It does not present individual items.
• It presents aggregate data.

(3) Needs special knowledge

• The understanding of the table requires special knowledge.
• It cannot be easily used by a layman.

Explain the Main Parts of a Table:

Following are the main parts of a table:

Multiple choice questions

The above-mentioned concept is for CBSE class 11 Statistics for Economics – Tabular Presentation of Data. For solutions and study materials for class 11 Statistics for Economics, visit BYJU’S or download the app for more information and the best learning experience.

Important Topics in Commerce:

• What is a Balance Sheet?
• What Are Current Assets
• What is Goodwill?
• Treatment of Goodwill
• What Is Partnership

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A Guide to Effective Data Presentation

Key objectives of data presentation, charts and graphs for great visuals, storytelling with data, visuals, and text, audiences and data presentation, the main idea in data presentation, storyboarding and data presentation, additional resources, data presentation.

Tools for effective data presentation

Financial analysts are required to present their findings in a neat, clear, and straightforward manner. They spend most of their time working with spreadsheets in MS Excel, building financial models , and crunching numbers. These models and calculations can be pretty extensive and complex and may only be understood by the analyst who created them. Effective data presentation skills are critical for being a world-class financial analyst .

It is the analyst’s job to effectively communicate the output to the target audience, such as the management team or a company’s external investors. This requires focusing on the main points, facts, insights, and recommendations that will prompt the necessary action from the audience.

One challenge is making intricate and elaborate work easy to comprehend through great visuals and dashboards. For example, tables, graphs, and charts are tools that an analyst can use to their advantage to give deeper meaning to a company’s financial information. These tools organize relevant numbers that are rather dull and give life and story to them.

Here are some key objectives to think about when presenting financial analysis:

• Visual communication
• Audience and context
• Charts, graphs, and images
• Focus on important points
• Design principles
• Storytelling
• Persuasiveness

For a breakdown of these objectives, check out Excel Dashboards & Data Visualization course to help you become a world-class financial analyst.

Charts and graphs make any financial analysis readable, easy to follow, and provide great data presentation. They are often included in the financial model’s output, which is essential for the key decision-makers in a company.

The decision-makers comprise executives and managers who usually won’t have enough time to synthesize and interpret data on their own to make sound business decisions. Therefore, it is the job of the analyst to enhance the decision-making process and help guide the executives and managers to create value for the company.

When an analyst uses charts, it is necessary to be aware of what good charts and bad charts look like and how to avoid the latter when telling a story with data.

Examples of Good Charts

As for great visuals, you can quickly see what’s going on with the data presentation, saving you time for deciphering their actual meaning. More importantly, great visuals facilitate business decision-making because their goal is to provide persuasive, clear, and unambiguous numeric communication.

For reference, take a look at the example below that shows a dashboard, which includes a gauge chart for growth rates, a bar chart for the number of orders, an area chart for company revenues, and a line chart for EBITDA margins.

To learn the step-by-step process of creating these essential tools in MS Excel, watch our video course titled “ Excel Dashboard & Data Visualization .”  Aside from what is given in the example below, our course will also teach how you can use other tables and charts to make your financial analysis stand out professionally.

Learn how to build the graph above in our Dashboards Course !

Example of Poorly Crafted Charts

A bad chart, as seen below, will give the reader a difficult time to find the main takeaway of a report or presentation, because it contains too many colors, labels, and legends, and thus, will often look too busy. It also doesn’t help much if a chart, such as a pie chart, is displayed in 3D, as it skews the size and perceived value of the underlying data. A bad chart will be hard to follow and understand.

Aside from understanding the meaning of the numbers, a financial analyst must learn to combine numbers and language to craft an effective story. Relying only on data for a presentation may leave your audience finding it difficult to read, interpret, and analyze your data. You must do the work for them, and a good story will be easier to follow. It will help you arrive at the main points faster, rather than just solely presenting your report or live presentation with numbers.

The data can be in the form of revenues, expenses, profits, and cash flow. Simply adding notes, comments, and opinions to each line item will add an extra layer of insight, angle, and a new perspective to the report.

Furthermore, by combining data, visuals, and text, your audience will get a clear understanding of the current situation,  past events, and possible conclusions and recommendations that can be made for the future.

The simple diagram below shows the different categories of your audience.

  This chart is taken from our course on how to present data .

Internal Audience

An internal audience can either be the executives of the company or any employee who works in that company. For executives, the purpose of communicating a data-filled presentation is to give an update about a certain business activity such as a project or an initiative.

Another important purpose is to facilitate decision-making on managing the company’s operations, growing its core business, acquiring new markets and customers, investing in R&D, and other considerations. Knowing the relevant data and information beforehand will guide the decision-makers in making the right choices that will best position the company toward more success.

External Audience

An external audience can either be the company’s existing clients, where there are projects in progress, or new clients that the company wants to build a relationship with and win new business from. The other external audience is the general public, such as the company’s external shareholders and prospective investors of the company.

When it comes to winning new business, the analyst’s presentation will be more promotional and sales-oriented, whereas a project update will contain more specific information for the client, usually with lots of industry jargon.

Audiences for Live and Emailed Presentation

A live presentation contains more visuals and storytelling to connect more with the audience. It must be more precise and should get to the point faster and avoid long-winded speech or text because of limited time.

In contrast, an emailed presentation is expected to be read, so it will include more text. Just like a document or a book, it will include more detailed information, because its context will not be explained with a voice-over as in a live presentation.

When it comes to details, acronyms, and jargon in the presentation, these things depend on whether your audience are experts or not.

Every great presentation requires a clear “main idea”. It is the core purpose of the presentation and should be addressed clearly. Its significance should be highlighted and should cause the targeted audience to take some action on the matter.

An example of a serious and profound idea is given below.

To communicate this big idea, we have to come up with appropriate and effective visual displays to show both the good and bad things surrounding the idea. It should put emphasis and attention on the most important part, which is the critical cash balance and capital investment situation for next year. This is an important component of data presentation.

The storyboarding below is how an analyst would build the presentation based on the big idea. Once the issue or the main idea has been introduced, it will be followed by a demonstration of the positive aspects of the company’s performance, as well as the negative aspects, which are more important and will likely require more attention.

Various ideas will then be suggested to solve the negative issues. However, before choosing the best option, a comparison of the different outcomes of the suggested ideas will be performed. Finally, a recommendation will be made that centers around the optimal choice to address the imminent problem highlighted in the big idea.

This storyboard is taken from our course on how to present data .

To get to the final point (recommendation), a great deal of analysis has been performed, which includes the charts and graphs discussed earlier, to make the whole presentation easy to follow, convincing, and compelling for your audience.

CFI offers the Business Intelligence & Data Analyst (BIDA)® certification program for those looking to take their careers to the next level. To keep learning and developing your knowledge base, please explore the additional relevant resources below:

• Investment Banking Pitch Books
• Excel Dashboards
• Financial Modeling Guide
• Startup Pitch Book
• See all business intelligence resources
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Top 15 PPT Table Templates for Analytical Data Visualization 

When it comes to managing bulk data, tables are an indispensable part of any business management. 

Whether you wish to present data to clients or analyze the figures to define your business goals, arranging the information in tabular format gives always a green signal. It helps you evaluate the data in a feasible manner, enabling you to highlight the progress or shortcomings quickly.

Data tables are powerful business tools that add a visual pattern to the information and make it easier for the audience to identify needs and measure impact. Since one size never fits all, there are different types of data tables, each serving their specific purpose. Using rows and columns, you can segregate the information into distinct categories making it easy for your audience to grasp the facts and make informed decisions. 

Moreover, the application of tables in PowerPoint presentations extends far beyond showcasing data. You can use them for comparing products, features, prices, etc. This allows you to perform a comprehensive competitive analysis that directs you to create growth-oriented strategies.

In this blog, we will focus on business-specific PPT table template collection, such as the comparison table, pricing table, product comparison chart, competitive advantage table, and more. Also, we will walk you through some tables categorized on basis of their number of columns which include — 2-column table, 3-column table, 5-column table, and 8-column table. Leaving no stone unturned, this blog will further provide you with some additional topic-specific single slides.  

Let’s begin right away!

Template 1: Comparison PPT Table Template 

Utilize this comparison table PPT template to analyze different attributes of your business. You will be able to discuss and compare company objectives, social media platform users, employee performance, etc. You can even compare features of a product, find viable solutions, and more. Download now.

Download this template

Template 2: Product Comparison Chart PowerPoint Presentation

Present comprehensive data with this PPT table template. It is replete with rows and columns created for different purposes. From comparing prices to accurately analyzing product attributes, the given design has a table for every requirement. Get it today.

Template 3: Pricing PPT Table Template

Price selection plays a vital role in determining the turnover of the company. You can deploy this PowerPoint layout to analyze and showcase various price packages to attract potential customers. The given design will also help you calculate and plan your activities to achieve the desired profits. With this sample, you can analyze different factors, such as competitive prices, standout features, and more, to set an informed pricing value. Get it today.

Template 4: Benchmark Table Template PPT

Explore the set standards to get an idea of the existing competition. This benchmark table PowerPoint template will allow you to focus your efforts on goal achievement. You can scrutinize your competitors’ working methodology, evaluate marketing goals, set business goals, etc. It will also help you get a fair opinion about the market and trends. Get it now.

Template 5: Competitive Advantage PPT  Table Template

Deploy this PPT complete deck to examine the competitive edge. With this theme, you can analyze various elements, such as cost and efficiency, brand image, market share, social impact, etc. You can also compare other attributes like price, quality, functionality, and more to ensure the strong foothold of your company. Grab this PPT now.

Template 6: Action Item Table PPT Presentation

Plans without proper execution are as good as vehicles without wheels. Ensure an effective and streamlined workflow with this high-quality action item table PPT template. The given sample will help you mention the task details like assigned to, related notes, due date, project status, etc. You can also mark the priority level for each action item to ensure and organize the project. Download it right away.

Template 7: Figure Table PowerPoint Template

Manage your database in an efficient manner with this predesigned figure table PPT template. You can illustrate multiple elements in a tabular format to gain a comprehensive perspective. The given design sample will help you elucidate components, such as weekly revenue sales report, company sales forecast, showcase ROI calculations emphasizing the profitability of investments, etc. It also includes slides dedicated to cost allocation, data comparison, sales plan, customer retention statistics, and more. Download it today.

Template 8: 2-Column PPT Table Template

You can benefit from this 2-column PPT design when you need to compare two components. It can help you segregate their properties, highlight the features, distinguish prices, etc. The given slides contain infographics for data integration, data storage technology, etc. Organize your data with this well-formatted column table PPT layout. Download it immediately.

Template 9: Three-Column PPT Table Template

Segment facts and figures in a well-organized manner with this 3-column table PPT design. This high-quality template will enable you to provide a clear and concise description of various elements. You can manage them in multiple ways as per your requirements. Get it now.

Template 10: Five-Column Table PPT Template

This PowerPoint design is suitable for comparing and contrasting five different components. It can offer detailed and comprehensive information allowing for a thorough decision. You can deploy this theme for business, research, and other purposes. It will enable you to depict the results in an easy-to-understand manner. Grab this PPT today.

Template 11: 8-column PPT Table Template

Don’t miss out on any important detail by using this 8-column table PPT design. This all-inclusive sample design fosters a systematic flow of information by arranging it into groups that clearly outline the concept. You can mention specifications, features, workflow, activities, and more. The tabular format helps you assess data easily and present it in a visually engaging manner. Download now.

Template 12: Competitive-comparison Table Presentation Slide

Utilize this content-ready competition comparison table PPT design template to evaluate multiple attributes of your competitors. This multi-dimensional table will help you analyze the strengths and shortcomings of your company. You can elucidate factors, such as revenue, profit, market share, product quality, employee count, and more. The given PowerPoint slide will help you gain an overview of your competition to channel your efforts accordingly. Get it immediately.

Template 13: Customer Touch Point Analysis PPT Table Design

Improve your customer engagement by analyzing various touch points with this infographic. The given PowerPoint design can benefit you in scrutinizing the strengths and weaknesses of the current customer strategy. You can use this slide for training, assessing the impact of each phase, and working on improving lead generation. This theme will support you in building a strong brand reputation, thereby promoting business growth. Download it right away.

Template 14: Financial Planning PPT Table Template

Create a descriptive financial infographic using this content-ready PPT design. The given table theme will benefit you to display multiple fiscal components, such as cost, revenue, profit, etc, arranged in a monthly order. It will help you gain a monetary business overview, allowing you to modify your plans and strategies. Grab this template immediately.

Template 15: PPT Table Template for Visualizing Business Information 

Use this PPT slide to showcase your business information in a neat and organized way. The tabular format allows for a clear depiction of data and helps you put forward your case efficiently. You can use this design to segment different aspects or categories of your business, enabling better evaluation and comprehension. These organized details can be utilized for improving plans that support business growth and coordination. Grab this PPT slide immediately.

Let your data breathe with these professionally designed table templates. Our PowerPoint format collection will help you organize and represent details in a comprehensive way, promoting easy understanding and better audience engagement. These sample layouts are fully customizable, thereby saving your time and effort. Download them now.

P.S. Give your market research an edge by creating a useful demographic table with the help of PowerPoint templates featured in this informative guide .

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PowerPoint Tables & Text For Your Data Presentations

This tables and text templates are a powerful tool that helps to classify and display information in your presentations. Presenting textual information and numerical data can appear drab to your audience without crisp tables and visually appealing text. These slides have easy-to-use predefined layouts, crisp designs, themes and attractive colors. Appropriate used of graphs and tables is the best way to get your message across. So download our tables and text templates and customize them to suit your needs. You would find it so easy to organize and present your data in your next presentation.

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Microsoft Office vs. Google Docs, Sheets, Slides: Which Is Best?

This is how i take classes online for free, here's how to ensure a smooth switch from samsung messages to google messages, quick links, insert a table in powerpoint, format a table in powerpoint.

Tables are flexible yet clean tools for displaying data. So if you need a bit of structure to show numbers, figures, or text in your Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow, consider using a table.

If you already have the data you need, you can certainly embed an Excel sheet in a PowerPoint slide . But if you don't have a spreadsheet of data or simply want to structure new items just for the presentation, you can easily insert and then format your table with an array of features.

There are two simple ways to insert a table into a slide in PowerPoint. So depending on if you're starting with a slide that has a content box or a blank slide, use one of these methods.

Insert a Table Using a Content Box

Within a slide content box, you can add all sorts of media and items with a simple click. Move your cursor over the table icon in the content box and click.

When the tiny Insert Table window opens, select the number of columns and rows you want for your table and click "OK."

Insert a Table on a Blank Slide

If you're using a blank slide, head to the Insert tab and click the "Table" drop-down box. You can either move your cursor to cover the number of columns and rows you want to insert, or click "Insert Table" and use the tiny window shown above.

The nice thing about using the grid in the Table drop-down box is that as you drag across the columns and rows, you'll see a preview of the table on your slide.

Once you insert your table in PowerPoint, you may see some upfront formatting. This can include a shaded table with alternating colors and a header row. You can keep this formatting or choose your own along with many other features.

Select your table, and then click the Table Design tab to start sprucing it up.

Table Style Options

Starting on the left side of the ribbon, you'll see Table Style Options. If you saw the mentioned formatting when you inserted the table, this is where it all began. So you might see the Header Row and Banded Rows options checked.

Along with these two, you can use a Total Row, First Column, Last Column, and Banded Columns. Each option will highlight the corresponding part of the table.

The Banded Rows and Banded Columns refer to alternating colors.

Table Styles

Depending on the theme or color scheme you're using in your slideshow, you may want to choose a matching table style. Use the up and down arrows to see a quick view of the styles.

Or click the lined arrow at the bottom to display all available styles. If you see one you want to use, simply select it, and your table will update immediately.

To the right of the Table Styles, you have options for Shading, Borders, and Effects.

Shading lets you apply a gradient, texture, picture, or table background. This can give your table a unique look or one tailored to your presentation.

Borders give you basic options for top, bottom, left, right, outside, or all borders. These can help you distinguish the data into the cells or call out specific portions of the table.

And if you want to get super detailed with your table or cell borders, incorporate the Draw Borders section all the way to the right in the ribbon. You can select a line style, size, and color and then draw borders exactly where you want them.

Effects let you add a bevel, reflection, or shadow to your table. One of these can give your table that little extra pizzazz that adds to its appearance.

WordArt Styles

Maybe you're taking a subtle approach to the formatting for the table. Or perhaps you've copied the table from somewhere like Word. You can give your content a boost for the presentation with the WordArt Styles section.

Related: How to Copy a Table From Word to PowerPoint

Like the shading, border, and effects for the table itself, you can liven up the table content by choosing one of the Quick Styles, fill and line colors, or a special effect.

Whether you want to make a table the star of the show or make the content within it shine bright in your PowerPoint slideshow, you have a great number of flexible features. And remember, you can insert other things to make your presentations pop, like a useful calendar or helpful organizational chart .

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Tables are one of the most widely used tools for presenting various data. In simple words, a table is a grid of cells that are arranged in rows and columns. They are compatible with numerical data, as well as with text information. These creative Tables in PowerPoint can be easily edited to fit your company’s needs and you can rest assured that the final outcome will be of a sophisticated and professional nature.

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Matrix organization structure table slide.

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These kinds of tables offer even better visualization. They serve as decent infographics and you can fill in the empty spaces with arrows, Harvey balls, crosses, and ticks. They are best for indicating trends, sales, spending, comparisons and etc. You can also easily create reports on data volumes or you can show expenditure thorough time.

A table is a simple grid of cells arranged in rows and columns

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• Published: 31 August 2024

Effects of pecha kucha presentation pedagogy on nursing students’ presentation skills: a quasi-experimental study in Tanzania

• Setberth Jonas Haramba 1 ,
• Walter C. Millanzi 1 &
• Saada A. Seif 2  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  952 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Introduction

Ineffective and non-interactive learning among nursing students limits opportunities for students’ classroom presentation skills, creativity, and innovation upon completion of their classroom learning activities. Pecha Kucha presentation is the new promising pedagogy that engages students in learning and improves students’ speaking skills and other survival skills. It involves the use of 20 slides, each covering 20 seconds of its presentation. The current study examined the effect of Pecha Kucha’s presentation pedagogy on presentation skills among nursing students in Tanzania.

The aim of this study was to establish comparative nursing student’s presentation skills between exposure to the traditional PowerPoint presentations and Pecha Kucha presentations.

The study employed an uncontrolled quasi-experimental design (pre-post) using a quantitative research approach among 230 randomly selected nursing students at the respective training institution. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire adopted from previous studies to measure presentation skills between June and July 2023 was used. The study involved the training of research assistants, pre-assessment of presentation skills, training of participants, assigning topics to participants, classroom presentations, and post-intervention assessment. A linear regression analysis model was used to determine the effect of the intervention on nursing students’ presentation skills using Statistical Package for Social Solution (SPSS) version 26, set at a 95% confidence interval and 5% significance level.

Findings revealed that 63 (70.87%) participants were aged ≤ 23 years, of which 151 (65.65%) and 189 (82.17%) of them were males and undergraduate students, respectively. Post-test findings showed a significant mean score change in participants’ presentation skills between baseline (M = 4.07 ± SD = 0.56) and end-line (M = 4.54 ± SD = 0.59) that accounted for 0.4717 ± 0.7793; p  < .0001(95%CI) presentation skills mean score change with a medium effect size of 0.78. An increase in participants’ knowledge of Pecha Kucha presentation was associated with a 0.0239 ( p  < .0001) increase in presentation skills.

Pecha Kucha presentations have a significant effect on nursing students’ presentation skills as they enhance inquiry and mastery of their learning content before classroom presentations. The pedagogical approach appeared to enhance nursing students’ confidence during the classroom presentation. Therefore, there is a need to incorporate Pecha Kucha presentation pedagogy into nursing curricula and nursing education at large to promote student-centered teaching and learning activities and the development of survival skills.

Trial registration

It was not applicable as it was a quasi-experimental study.

Peer Review reports

The nursing students need to have different skills acquired during the learning process in order to enable them to provide quality nursing care and management in the society [ 1 ]. The referred nursing care and management practices include identifying, analyzing, synthesizing, and effective communication within and between healthcare professionals [ 1 ]. Given an increasing global economy and international competition for jobs and opportunities, the current traditional classroom learning methods are insufficient to meet such 21st - century challenges and demands [ 2 ]. The integration of presentation skills, creativity, innovation, collaboration, information, and media literacy skills helps to overcome the noted challenges among students [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. The skills in question constitute the survival skills that help the students not only for career development and success but also for their personal, social and public quality of life as they enable students to overcome 21st challenges upon graduation [ 2 ].

To enhance the nursing students’ participation in learning, stimulating their presentation skills, critical thinking, creativity, and innovation, a combination of teaching and learning pedagogy should be employed [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Among others, classroom presentations, group discussions, problem-based learning, demonstrations, reflection, and role-play are commonly used for those purposes [ 5 ]. However, ineffective and non-interactive learning which contribute to limited presentation skills, creativity, and innovation, have been reported by several scholars [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. For example, poor use and design of student PowerPoint presentations led to confusing graphics due to the many texts in the slides and the reading of about 80 slides [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Indeed, such non-interactive learning becomes boring and tiresome among the learners, and it is usually evidenced by glazing eyes, long yawning, occasional snoring, the use of a phone and frequent trips to the bathroom [ 12 , 14 ].

With an increasing number of nursing students in higher education institutions in Tanzania, the students’ traditional presentation pedagogy is insufficient to stimulate their presentation skills. They limit nursing student innovation, creativity, critical thinking, and meaningful learning in an attempt to solve health challenges [ 15 , 16 ].These hinder nursing students ability to communicate effectively by being able to demonstrate their knowledge and mastery of learning content [ 17 , 18 ]. Furthermore, it affects their future careers by not being able to demonstrate and express their expertise clearly in a variety of workplace settings, such as being able to present at scientific conferences, participating in job interviews, giving clinic case reports, handover reports, and giving feedback to clients [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].

Pecha Kucha presentation is a new promising approach for students’ learning in the classroom context as it motivates learners’ self-directed and collaborative learning, learner creativity, and presentation skills [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. It encourages students to read more materials, enhances cooperative learning among learners, and is interesting and enjoyable among students [ 23 ].

Pecha Kucha presentation originated from the Japanese word “ chit chat , ” which represents the fast-paced presentation used in different fields, including teaching, marketing, advertising, and designing [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. It involves 20 slides, where each slide covers 20 s, thus making a total of 6 min and 40 s for the whole presentation [ 22 ]. For effective learning through Pecha Kucha presentations, the design and format of the presentation should be meaningfully limited to 20 slides and targeted at 20 s for each slide, rich in content of the presented topic using high-quality images or pictures attuned to the content knowledge and message to be delivered to the target audiences [ 14 , 16 ]. Each slide should contain a primordial message with well-balanced information. In other words, the message should be simple in the sense that each slide should contain only one concept or idea with neither too much nor too little information, thus making it easy to be grasped by the audience [ 14 , 17 , 19 ].

The “true spirit” of Pecha Kucha is that it mostly consists of powerful images and meaningful specific text rather than the text that is being read by the presenter from the slides, an image, and short phrases that should communicate the core idea while the speaker offers well-rehearsed and elaborated comments [ 22 , 28 ]. The presenter should master the subject matter and incorporate the necessary information from classwork [ 14 , 20 ]. The audience’s engagement in learning by paying attention and actively listening to the Pecha Kucha presentation was higher compared with that in traditional PowerPoint presentations [ 29 ]. The creativity and collaboration during designing and selecting the appropriate images and contents, rehearsal before the presentation, and discussion after each presentation made students satisfied by enjoying Pecha Kucha presentations compared with traditional presentations [ 21 , 22 ]. Time management and students’ self-regulation were found to be significant through the Pecha Kucha presentation among the students and teachers or instructors who could appropriately plan the time for classroom instruction [ 22 , 23 ].

However, little is known about Pecha Kucha presentation in nursing education in Sub-Saharan African countries, including Tanzania, since there is insufficient evidence for the research(s) that have been published on the description of its effects on enhancing students’ presentation skills. Thus, this study assessed the effect of Pecha Kucha’s presentation pedagogy on enhancing presentation skills among nursing students. In particular, the study largely focused on nursing students’ presentation skills during the preparation and presentation of the students’ assignments, project works, case reports, or field reports.

The study answered the null hypothesis H 0  = H 1, which hypothesized that there is no significant difference in nursing students’ classroom presentation skills scores between the baseline and end-line assessments. The association between nursing students’ presentation skills and participants’ sociodemographic characteristics was formulated and analyzed before and after the intervention. This study forms the basis for developing new presentation pedagogy among nursing students in order to stimulate effective learning and the development of presentation skills during the teaching and learning process and the acquisition of 21st - century skills, which are characterized by an increased competitive knowledge-based society due to changing nature and technological eruptions.

The current study also forms the basis for re-defining classroom practices in an attempt to enhance and transform nursing students’ learning experiences. This will cultivate the production of graduates nurses who will share their expertise and practical skills in the health care team by attending scientific conferences, clinical case presentations, and job interviews in the global health market. To achieve this, the study determined the baseline and end-line nursing students’ presentation skills during the preparation and presentation of classroom assignments using the traditional PowerPoint presentation and Pecha Kucha presentation format.

Methods and materials

This study was conducted in health training institutions in Tanzania. Tanzania has a total of 47 registered public and private universities and university colleges that offer health programs ranging from certificate to doctorate degrees [ 24 , 25 ]. A total of seven [ 7 ] out of 47 universities offer a bachelor of science in nursing, and four [ 4 ] universities offer master’s to doctorate degree programs in nursing and midwifery sciences [ 24 , 26 ]. To enhance the representation of nursing students in Tanzania, this study was conducted in Dodoma Municipal Council, which is one of Tanzania’s 30 administrative regions [ 33 ]. Dodoma Region has two [ 2 ] universities that offer nursing programs at diploma and degree levels [ 34 ]. The referred universities host a large number of nursing students compared to the other five [ 5 ] universities in Tanzania, with traditional students’ presentation approaches predominating nursing students’ teaching and learning processes [ 7 , 32 , 35 ].

The two universities under study include the University of Dodoma and St. John’s University of Tanzania, which are located in Dodoma Urban District. The University of Dodoma is a public university that provides 142 training programs at the diploma, bachelor degree, and master’s degree levels with about 28,225 undergraduate students and 724 postgraduate students [ 26 , 27 ]. The University of Dodoma also has 1,031 nursing students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 335 nursing students pursuing a Diploma in Nursing in the academic year 2022–2023 [ 33 ]. The St. John’s University of Tanzania is a non-profit private university that is legally connected with the Christian-Anglican Church [ 36 ]. It has student enrollment ranging from 5000 to 5999 and it provides training programs leading to higher education degrees in a variety of fields, including diplomas, bachelor degrees, and master’s degrees [ 37 ]. It hosts 766 nursing students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 113 nursing students pursuing a Diploma in Nursing in the academic year 2022–2023 [ 30 , 31 ].

Study design and approach

An uncontrolled quasi-experimental design with a quantitative research approach was used to establish quantifiable data on the participants’ socio-demographic profiles and outcome variables under study. The design involved pre- and post-tests to determine the effects of the intervention on the aforementioned outcome variable. The design involved three phases, namely the baseline data collection process (pre-test via a cross-sectional survey), implementation of the intervention (process), and end-line assessment (post-test), as shown in Fig.  1 [ 7 ].

A flow pattern of study design and approach

Target population

The study involved nursing students pursuing a Diploma in nursing and a bachelor of science in nursing in Tanzania. The population was highly expected to demonstrate competences and mastery of different survival and life skills in order to enable them to work independent at various levels of health facilities within and outside Tanzania. This cohort of undergraduate nursing students also involved adult learners who can set goals, develop strategies to achieve their goals, and hence achieve positive professional behavioral outcomes [ 7 ]. Moreover, as per annual data, the average number of graduate nursing students ranges from 3,500 to 4,000 from all colleges and universities in the country [ 38 ].

Study population

The study involved first- and third-year nursing students pursuing a Diploma in Nursing and first-, second-, and third-year nursing students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Dodoma. The population had a large number of enrolled undergraduate nursing students, thus making it an ideal population for intervention, and it approximately served as a good representation of the universities offering nursing programs [ 11 , 29 ].

Inclusion criteria

The study included male and female nursing students pursuing a Diploma in nursing and a bachelor of science in nursing at the University of Dodoma. The referred students included those who were registered at the University of Dodoma during the time of study. Such students live on or off campus, and they were not exposed to PK training despite having regular classroom attendance. This enhanced enrollment of adequate study samples from each study program, monitoring of study intervention, and easy control of con-founders.

Exclusion criteria

All students recruited in the study were assessed at baseline, exposed to a training package and obtained their post-intervention learning experience. None of the study participants, who either dropped out of the study or failed to meet the recruitment criteria.

Sample size determination

A quasi-experimental study on Pecha Kucha as an alternative to traditional PowerPoint presentations at Worcester University, United States of America, reported significant student engagement during Pecha Kucha presentations compared with traditional PowerPoint presentations [ 29 ]. The mean score for the classroom with the traditional PowerPoint presentation was 2.63, while the mean score for the Pecha Kucha presentation was 4.08. This study adopted the formula that was used to calculate the required sample size for an uncontrolled quasi-experimental study among pre-scholars [ 39 ]. The formula is stated as:

Where: Zα was set at 1.96 from the normal distribution table.

Zβ was set at 0.80 power of the study.

Mean zero (π0) was the mean score of audiences’ engagement in using PowerPoint presentation = 2.63.

Mean one (π1) was the mean score of audience’s engagement in using Pecha Kucha presentation = 4.08.

Sampling technique

Given the availability of higher-training institutions in the study area that offer undergraduate nursing programs, a simple random sampling technique was used, whereby two cards, one labelled “University of Dodoma” and the other being labelled “St. Johns University of Tanzania,” were prepared and put in the first pot. The other two cards, one labelled “yes” to represent the study setting and the other being labelled “No” to represent the absence of study setting, were put in the second pot. Two research assistants were asked to select a card from each pot, and consequently, the University of Dodoma was selected as the study setting.

To obtain the target population, the study employed purposive sampling techniques to select the school of nursing and public health at the University of Dodoma. Upon arriving at the School of Nursing and Public Health of the University of Dodoma, the convenience sampling technique was employed to obtain the number of classes for undergraduate nursing students pursuing a Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The study sample comprised the students who were available at the time of study. A total of five [ 5 ] classes of Diploma in Nursing first-, second-, and third-years and Bachelor of Science in Nursing first-, second-, and third-years were obtained.

To establish the representation for a minimum sample from each class, the number of students by sex was obtained from each classroom list using the proportionate stratified sampling technique (sample size/population size× stratum size) as recommended by scholars [ 40 ]. To recruit the required sample size from each class by gender, a simple random sampling technique through the lottery method was employed to obtain the required sample size from each stratum. During this phase, the student lists by gender from each class were obtained, and cards with code numbers, which were mixed with empty cards depending on the strata size, were allocated for each class and strata. Both labeled and empty cards were put into different pots, which were labeled appropriately by their class and strata names. Upon arriving at the specific classroom and after the introduction, the research assistant asked each nursing student to pick one card from the respective strata pot. Those who selected cards with code numbers were recruited in the study with their code numbers as their participation identity numbers. The process continued for each class until the required sample size was obtained.

To ensure the effective participation of nursing students in the study, the research assistant worked hand in hand with the facilitators and lecturers of the respective classrooms, the head of the department, and class representatives. The importance, advantages, and disadvantages of participating in the study were given to study participants during the recruitment process in order to create awareness and remove possible fears. During the intervention, study participants were also given pens and notebooks in an attempt to enable them to take notes. Moreover, the bites were provided during the training sessions. The number of participants from each classroom and the sampling process are shown in Fig.  2 [ 7 ].

Flow pattern of participants sampling procedures

Data collection tools

The study adapted and modified the students’ questionnaire on presentation skills from scholars [ 20 , 23 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. The modification involved rephrasing the question statement, breaking down items into specific questions, deleting repeated items that were found to measure the same variables, and improving language to meet the literacy level and cultural norms of study participants.

The data collection tool consisted of 68 question items that assessed the socio-demographic characteristics of the study participants and 33 question items rated on a five-point Likert scale, which ranges from 5 = strongly agree, 4 = agree, 3 = not sure, 2 = disagree, and 1 = strongly disagree. The referred tool was used to assess the students’ skills during the preparation and presentation of the assignments using the traditional PowerPoint presentation and Pecha Kucha presentation formats.

The students’ assessment specifically focused on the students’ ability to prepare the presentation content, master the learning content, share presentation materials, and communicate their understanding to audiences in the classroom context.

Validity and reliability of research instruments

Validity of the research instrument refers to whether the instrument measures the behaviors or qualities that are intended to be measured, and it is a measure of how well the measuring instrument performs its function [ 41 ]. The structured questionnaire, which intends to assess the participants’ presentation skills was validated for face and content validity. The principal investigator initially adapted the question items for different domains of students’ learning when preparing and presenting their assignment in the classroom.

The items were shared and discussed by two [ 2 ] educationists, two [ 2 ] research experts, one [ 1 ] statistician, and supervisors in order to ensure clarity, appropriateness, adequacy, and coverage of the presentation skills using Pecha Kucha presentation format. The content validity test was used until the saturation of experts’ opinions and inputs was achieved. The inter-observer rating scale on a five-point Likert scale ranging from 5-points = very relevant to 1-point = not relevant was also used.

The process involved addition, input deletion, correction, and editing for relevance, appropriateness, and scope of the content for the study participants. Some of the question items were broken down into more specific questions, and new domains evolved. Other question items that were found to measure the same variables were also deleted to ease the data collection and analysis. Moreover, the grammar and language issues were improved for clarity based on the literacy level of the study participants.

Reliability of the research instruments refers to the ability of the research instruments or tools to provide similar and consistent results when applied at different times and circumstances [ 41 ]. This study adapted the tools and question items used by different scholars to assess the impact of PKP on student learning [ 12 , 15 , 18 ].

To ensure the reliability of the tools, a pilot study was conducted in one of the nursing training institutions in order to assess the complexity, readability, clarity, completeness, length, and duration of the tool. Ambiguous and difficult (left unanswered) items were modified or deleted based on the consensus that was reached with the consulted experts and supervisor before subjecting the questionnaires to a pre-test.

The study involved 10% of undergraduate nursing students from an independent geographical location for a pilot study. The findings from the pilot study were subjected to explanatory factor analysis (Set a ≥ 0.3) and scale analysis in order to determine the internal consistency of the tools using the Cronbach alpha of ≥ 0.7, which was considered reliable [ 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Furthermore, after the data collection, the scale analysis was computed in an attempt to assess their internal consistency using SPPSS version 26, whereby the Cronbach alpha for question items that assessed the participants’ presentation skills was 0.965.

Data collection method

The study used the researcher-administered questionnaire to collect the participants’ socio-demographic information, co-related factors, and presentation skills as nursing students prepare and present their assignments in the classroom. This enhanced the clarity and participants’ understanding of all question items before providing the appropriate responses. The data were collected by the research assistants in the classroom with the study participants sitting distantly to ensure privacy, confidentiality, and the quality of the information that was provided by the research participants. The research assistant guided and led the study participants to answer the questions and fill in information in the questionnaire for each section, domain, and question item. The research assistant also collected the baseline information (pre-test) before the intervention, which was then compared with the post-intervention information. This was done in the first week of June 2023, after training and orientation of the research assistant on the data collection tools and recruitment of the study participants.

Using the researcher-administered questionnaire, the research assistant also collected the participants’ information related to presentation skills as they prepared and presented their given assignments after the intervention during the second week of July 2023. The participants submitted their presentations to the principle investigator and research assistant to assess the organization, visual appeal and creativity, content knowledge, and adherence to Pecha Kucha presentation requirements. Furthermore, the evaluation of the participants’ ability to share and communicate the given assignment was observed in the classroom presentation using the Pecha Kucha presentation format.

Definitions of variables

Pecha kucha presentation.

It refers to a specific style of presentation whereby the presenter delivers the content using 20 slides that are dominated by images, pictures, tables, or figures. Each slide is displayed for 20 s, thus making a total of 400 s (6 min and 40 s) for the whole presentation.

Presentation skills in this study

This involved students’ ability to plan, prepare, master learning content, create presentation materials, and share them with peers or the audience in the classroom. They constitute the learning activities that stimulate creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Measurement of pecha kucha preparation and presentation skills

The students’ presentation skills were measured using the four [ 4 ] learning domains. The first domain constituted the students’ ability to plan and prepare the presentation content. It consisted of 17 question items that assessed the students’ ability to gather and select information, search for specific content to be presented in the classroom, find out the learning content from different resources, and search for literature materials for the preparation of the assignment using traditional PowerPoint presentations and Pecha Kucha formats. It also aimed to ascertain a deeper understanding of the contents or topic, learning ownership and motivation to learn the topics with clear understanding and the ability to identify the relevant audience, segregate, and remove unnecessary contents using the Pecha Kucha format.

The second domain constituted the students’ mastery of learning during the preparation and presentation of their assignment before the audience in the classroom. It consisted of six [ 6 ] question items that measured the students’ ability to read several times, rehearse before the classroom presentation, and practice the assignment and presentation harder. It also measures the students’ ability to evaluate the selected information and content before their actual presentation and make revisions to the selected information and content before the presentation using the Pecha Kucha format.

The third domain constituted the students’ ability to prepare the presentation materials. It consisted of six [ 6 ] question items that measured the students’ ability to organize the information and contents, prepare the classroom presentation, revise and edit presentation resources, materials, and contents, and think about the audience and classroom design. The fourth domain constituted the students’ ability to share their learning. It consisted of four [ 4 ] question items that measured the students’ ability to communicate their learning with the audience, present a new understanding to the audience, transfer the learning to the audience, and answer the questions about the topic or assignment given. The variable was measured using a 5-point Likert scale. The average scores were computed for each domain, and an overall mean score was calculated across all domains. Additionally, an encompassing skills score was derived from the cumulative scores of all four domains, thus providing a comprehensive evaluation of the overall skills level.

Implementation of intervention

The implementation of the study involved the training of research assistants, sampling of the study participants, setting of the venue, pre-assessment of the students’ presentation skills using traditional PowerPoint presentations, training and demonstration of Pecha Kucha presentations to study participants, and assigning the topics to study participants. The implementation of the study also involved the participants’ submission of their assignments to the Principal Investigator for evaluation, the participants’ presentation of their assigned topic using the Pecha Kucha format, post-intervention assessment of the students’ presentation skills, data analysis, and reporting [ 7 ]. The intervention involved Principal Investigator and two [ 2 ] trained research assistants. The intervention in question was based on the concept of multimedia theory of cognitive learning (MTCL) for enhancing effective leaning in 21st century.

Training of research assistants

Two research assistants were trained with regard to the principles, characteristics, and format of Pecha Kucha presentations using the curriculum from the official Pecha Kucha website. Also, research assistants were oriented to the data collection tools and methods in an attempt to guarantee the relevancy and appropriate collection of the participants’ information.

Schedule and duration of training among research assistants

The PI prepared the training schedule and venue after negotiation and consensus with the research assistants. Moreover, the Principle Investigator trained the research assistants to assess the learning, learn how to collect the data using the questionnaire, and maintain the privacy and confidentiality of the study participants.

Descriptions of interventions

The intervention was conducted among the nursing students at the University of Dodoma, which is located in Dodoma Region, Tanzania Mainland, after obtaining their consent. The participants were trained regarding the concepts, principles, and characteristics of Pecha Kucha presentations and how to prepare and present their assignments using the Pecha Kucha presentation format. The study participants were also trained regarding the advantages and disadvantages of Pecha Kucha presentations. The training was accompanied by one example of an ideal Pecha Kucha presentation on the concepts of pressure ulcers. The teaching methods included lecturing, brainstorming, and small group discussion. After the training session, the evaluation was conducted to assess the participants’ understanding of the Pecha Kucha conceptualization, its characteristics, and its principles.

Each participant was given a topic as an assignment from the fundamentals of nursing, medical nursing, surgical nursing, community health nursing, mental health nursing, emergency critical care, pediatric, reproductive, and child health, midwifery, communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases, orthopedics and cross-cutting issues in nursing as recommended by scholars [ 21 , 38 ]. The study participants were given 14 days for preparation, rehearsal of their presentation using the Pecha Kucha presentation format, and submission of the prepared slides to the research assistant and principle investigator for evaluation and arrangement before the actual classroom presentation. The evaluation of the participants’ assignments involved the number of slides, quality of images used, number of words, organization of content and messages to be delivered, slide transition, duration of presentation, flow, and organization of slides.

Afterwards, each participant was given 6 min and 40 s for the presentation and 5 min to 10 min for answering the questions on the topic presented as raised by other participants. An average of 4 participants obtained the opportunity to present their assignments in the classroom every hour. After the completion of all presentations, the research assistants assessed the participant’s presentation skills using the researcher-administered questionnaire. The collected data were entered in SPSS version 26 and analyzed in an attempt to compare the mean score of participants’ presentation skills with the baseline mean score. The intervention sessions were conducted in the selected classrooms, which were able to accommodate all participants at the time that was arranged by the participant’s coordinators, institution administrators, and subject facilitators of the University of Dodoma, as described in Table  1 [ 7 ].

Evaluation of intervention

During the classroom presentation, there were 5 to 10 min for classroom discussion and reflection on the content presented, which was guided by the research assistant. During this time, the participants were given the opportunity to ask the questions, get clarification from the presenter, and provide their opinion on how the instructional messages were presented, content coverage, areas of strength and weakness for improvement, and academic growth. After the completion of the presentation sessions, the research assistant provided the questionnaire to participants in order to determine their presentation skills during the preparation of their assignments and classroom presentations using the Pecha Kucha presentation format.

Data analysis

The findings from this study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) computer software program version 26. The percentages, frequencies, frequency distributions, means, standard deviations, skewness, and kurtosis were calculated, and the results were presented using the figures, tables, and graphs. The mean score analysis was computed, and descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the demographic information of the participants in an attempt to determine the frequencies, percentages, and mean scores of their distributions. A paired sample t-test was used to compare the mean score differences of the presentation skills within the groups before and after the intervention. The mean score differences were determined based on the baseline scores against the post-intervention scores in order to establish any change in terms of presentation skills among the study participants.

The association between the Pecha Kucha presentation and the development of participants’ presentation skills was established using linear regression analysis set at a 95% confidence interval and 5% (≤ 0.05) significance level in an attempt to accept or reject the null hypothesis.

However, N-1 dummy variables were formed for the categorical independent variables so as to run the linear regression for the factors associated with the presentation skills. The linear regression equation with dummy variables is presented as follows:

Β 0 is the intercept.

Β 1 , Β 2 , …. Β k-1 are the coefficients which correspond to the dummy variables representing the levels of X 1 .

Β k is the coefficient which corresponds to the dummy variable representing the levels of X 2 .

Β k+1 is the coefficient which corresponds to the continuous predictor X 3 .

X 1,1 , X 1,2 ,……. X 1,k-1 are the dummy variables corresponding to the different levels of X 1 .

ε represents the error term.

The coefficients B1, B2… Bk indicate the change in the expected value of Y for each category relative to the reference category. If the Beta estimate is positive for the categorical or dummy variables, it means that the corresponding covariate has a positive impact on the outcome variable compared to reference category. However, if the beta estimate is positive for the case of continuous covariates, it means that the corresponding covariate has direct proportion effect on the outcome variables.

The distribution of the outcome variables was approximately normally distributed since the normality of the data is one of the requirements for parametric analysis. A paired t test was performed to compare the presentation skills of nursing students before and after the intervention.

Social-demographic characteristics of the study participants

The study involved a total of 230 nursing students, of whom 151 (65.65%) were male and the rest were female. The mean age of study participants was 23.03 ± 2.69, with the minimum age being 19 and the maximum age being 37. The total of 163 (70.87%) students, which comprised a large proportion of respondents, were aged less than or equal to 23, 215 (93.48%) participants were living on campus, and 216 (93.91) participants were exposed to social media.

A large number of study participants (82.17%) were pursuing a bachelor of Science in Nursing, with the majority being first-year students (30.87%). The total of 213 (92.61%) study participants had Form Six education as their entry qualification, with 176 (76.52%) participants being the product of public secondary schools and interested in the nursing profession. Lastly, the total of 121 (52.61%) study participants had never been exposed to any presentation training; 215 (93.48%) students had access to individual classroom presentations; and 227 (98.70%) study participants had access to group presentations during their learning process. The detailed findings for the participants’ social demographic information are indicated in Table  2 [ 46 ].

Baseline nursing students’ presentation skills using traditional powerPoint presentations

The current study assessed the participant’s presentation skills when preparing and presenting the materials before the audience using traditional PowerPoint presentations. The study revealed that the overall mean score of the participants’ presentation skills was 4.07 ± 0.56, including a mean score of 3.98 ± 0.62 for the participants’ presentation skills during the preparation of presentation content before the classroom presentation and a mean score of 4.18 ± 0.78 for the participants’ mastery of learning content before the classroom presentation. Moreover, the study revealed a mean score of 4.07 ± 0.71 for participants’ ability to prepare presentation materials for classroom presentations and a mean score of 4.04 ± 0.76 for participants’ ability to share the presentation materials in the classroom, as indicated in Table  3 [ 46 ].

Factors Associated with participants’ presentation skills through traditional powerPoint presentation

The current study revealed that the participants’ study program has a significant effect on their presentation skills, whereby being the bachelor of science in nursing was associated with a 0.37561 (P value < 0.027) increase in the participants’ presentation skills.The year of study also had significant effects on the participants’ presentation skills, whereby being a second-year bachelor student was associated with a 0.34771 (P value < 0.0022) increase in the participants’ presentation skills compared to first-year bachelor students and diploma students. Depending on loans as a source of student income retards presentation skills by 0.24663 (P value < 0.0272) compared to those who do not depend on loans as the source of income. Furthermore, exposure to individual presentations has significant effects on the participants’ presentation skills, whereby obtaining an opportunity for individual presentations was associated with a 0.33732 (P value 0.0272) increase in presentation skills through traditional PowerPoint presentations as shown in Table  4 [ 46 ].

Nursing student presentation skills through pecha kucha presentations

The current study assessed the participant’s presentation skills when preparing and presenting the materials before the audience using Pecha Kucha presentations. The study revealed that the overall mean score and standard deviation of participants’ presentation skills using the Pecha Kucha presentation format were 4.54 ± 0.59, including a mean score of 4.49 ± 0.66 for participant’s presentation skills during preparation of the content before classroom presentation and a mean score of 4.58 ± 0.65 for participants’ mastery of learning content before classroom presentation. Moreover, the study revealed a mean score of 4.58 ± 0.67 for participants ability to prepare the presentation materials for classroom presentation and a mean score of 4.51 ± 0.72 for participants ability to share the presentation materials in the classroom using Pecha Kucha presentation format as indicated in Table  5 [ 46 ].

Comparing Mean scores of participants’ presentation skills between traditional PowerPoint presentation and pecha kucha Presentation

The current study computed a paired t-test to compare and determine the mean change, effect size, and significance associated with the participants’ presentation skills when using the traditional PowerPoint presentation and Pecha Kucha presentation formats. The study revealed that the mean score of the participants’ presentation skills through the Pecha Kucha presentation was 4.54 ± 0.59 (p value < 0.0001) compared to the mean score of 4.07 ± 0.56 for the participants’ presentation skills using the traditional power point presentation with an effect change of 0.78. With regard to the presentation skills during the preparation of presentation content before the classroom presentation, the mean score was 4.49 ± 0.66 using the Pecha Kucha presentation compared to the mean score of 3.98 ± 0.62 for the traditional PowerPoint presentation. Its mean change was 0.51 ± 0.84 ( p  < .0001) with an effect size of 0.61.

Regarding the participants’ mastery of learning content before the classroom presentation, the mean score was 4.58 ± 0.65 when using the Pecha Kucha presentation format, compared to the mean score of 4.18 ± 0.78 when using the traditional power point presentation. Its mean change was 0.40 ± 0.27 ( p  < .0001) with an effect size of 1.48. Regarding the ability of the participants to prepare the presentation materials for classroom presentations, the mean score was 4.58 ± 0.67 when using the Pecha Kucha presentation format, compared to 4.07 ± 0.71 when using the traditional PowerPoint presentation. Its mean change was 0.51 ± 0.96 ( p  < .0001) with an effect size of 0.53.

Regarding the participants’ presentation skills when sharing the presentation material in the classroom, the mean score was 4.51 ± 0.72 when using the Pecha Kucha presentation format, compared to 4.04 ± 0.76 when using the traditional PowerPoint presentations. Its mean change was 0.47 ± 0.10, with a large effect size of 4.7. Therefore, Pecha Kucha presentation pedagogy has a significant effect on the participants’ presentation skills than the traditional PowerPoint presentation as shown in Table  6 [ 46 ].

Factors associated with presentation skills among nursing students through pecha kucha presentation

The current study revealed that the participant’s presentation skills using the Pecha Kucha presentation format were significantly associated with knowledge of the Pecha Kucha presentation format, whereby increase in knowledge was associated with a 0.0239 ( p  < .0001) increase in presentation skills. Moreover, the current study revealed that the presentation through the Pecha Kucha presentation format was not influenced by the year of study, whereby being a second-year student could retard the presentation skills by 0.23093 (p 0.039) compared to a traditional PowerPoint presentation. Other factors are shown in Table  7 [ 46 ].

Social-demographic characteristics profiles of participants

The proportion of male participants was larger than the proportion of female participants in the current study. This was attributable to the distribution of sex across the nursing students at the university understudy, whose number of male nursing students enrolled was higher than female students. This demonstrates the high rate of male nursing students’ enrolment in higher training institutions to pursue nursing and midwifery education programs. Different from the previous years, the nursing training institutions were predominantly comprised of female students and female nurses in different settings. This significant increase in male nursing students’ enrollment in nursing training institutions predicts a significant increase in the male nursing workforce in the future in different settings.

These findings on Pecha Kucha as an alternative to PowerPoint presentations in Massachusetts, where the proportion of female participants was large as compared to male participants, are different from the experimental study among English language students [ 29 ]. The referred findings are different from the results of the randomized control study among the nursing students in Anakara, Turkey, where a large proportion of participants were female nursing students [ 47 ]. This difference in participants’ sex may be associated with the difference in socio-cultural beliefs of the study settings, country’s socio-economic status, which influence the participants to join the nursing profession on the basis of securing employment easily, an opportunity abroad, or pressure from peers and parents. Nevertheless, such differences account for the decreased stereotypes towards male nurses in the community and the better performance of male students in science subjects compared to female students in the country.

The mean age of the study participants was predominantly young adults with advanced secondary education. Their ages reflect adherence to national education policy by considering the appropriate age of enrollment of the pupils in primary and secondary schools, which comprise the industries for students at higher training institutions. This age range of the participants in the current study suits the cognitive capability expected from the participants in order to demonstrate different survival and life skills by being able to set learning goals and develop strategies to achieve their goals according to Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive learning [ 41 , 42 ].

Similar age groups were noted in the study among nursing students in a randomized control study in Anakara Turkey where the average age was 19.05 ± 0.2 [ 47 ]. A similar age group was also found in a randomized control study among liberal arts students in Anakara, Turkey, on differences in instructor, presenter, and audience ratings of Pecha Kucha presentations and traditional student presentations where the ages of the participants ranged between 19 and 22 years [ 49 ].

Lastly, a large proportion of the study participants had the opportunity for individual and group presentations in the classroom despite having not been exposed to any presentation training before. This implies that the teaching and learning process in a nursing education program is participatory and student-centered, thus giving the students the opportunity to interact with learning contents, peers, experts, webpages, and other learning resources to become knowledgeable. These findings fit with the principle that guides and facilitates the student’s learning from peers and teachers according to the constructivism theory of learning by Lev Vygotsky [ 48 ].

Effects of pecha kucha presentation pedagogy on participants’ presentation skills

The participants’ presentation skills were higher for Pecha Kucha presentations compared with traditional PowerPoint presentations. This display of the Pecha Kucha presentation style enables the nursing students to prepare the learning content, master their learning content before classroom presentations, create good presentation materials and present the materials, before the audience in the classroom. This finding was similar to that at Padang State University, Indonesia, among first-year English and literature students whereby the Pecha Kucha Presentation format helped the students improve their skills in presentation [ 20 ]. Pecha Kucha was also found to facilitate careful selection of the topic, organization and outlining of the students’ ideas, selection of appropriate images, preparation of presentations, rehearsing, and delivery of the presentations before the audience in a qualitative study among English language students at the Private University of Manila, Philippines [ 23 ].

The current study found that Pecha Kucha presentations enable the students to perform literature searches from different webpages, journals, and books in an attempt to identify specific contents during the preparation of the classroom presentations more than traditional PowerPoint presentations. This is triggered by the ability of the presentation format to force the students to filter relevant and specific information to be included in the presentation and search for appropriate images, pictures, or figures to be presented before the audience. Pecha Kucha presentations were found to increase the ability to perform literature searches before classroom presentations compared to traditional PowerPoint presentations in an experimental study among English language students at Worcester State University [ 29 ].

The current study revealed that Pecha Kucha presentations enable the students to create a well-structured classroom presentation effectively by designing 20 meaningful and content-rich slides containing 20 images, pictures, or figures and a transitional flow of 20 s for each slide, more than the traditional PowerPoint presentation with an unlimited number of slides containing bullets with many texts or words. Similarly, in a cross-sectional study of medical students in India, Pecha Kucha presentations were found to help undergraduate first-year medical students learn how to organize knowledge in a sequential fashion [ 26 ].

The current study revealed that Pecha Kucha presentations enhance sound mastery of the learning contents and presentation materials before the classroom presentation compared with traditional PowerPoint presentations. This is hastened by the fact that there is no slide reading during the classroom Pecha Kucha presentation, thus forcing students to read several times, rehearse, and practice harder the presentation contents and materials before the classroom presentation. Pecha Kucha presentation needed first year English and literature students to practice a lot before their classroom presentation in a descriptive qualitative study at Padang State University-Indonesia [ 20 ].

The current study revealed that the participants became more confident in answering the questions about the topic during the classroom presentation using the Pecha Kucha presentation style than during the classroom presentation using the tradition PowerPoint presentation. This is precipitated by the mastery level of the presentation contents and materials through rehearsal, re-reading, and material synthesis before the classroom presentations. Moreover, Pecha Kucha was found to significantly increase the students’ confidence during classroom presentation and preparation in a qualitative study among English language students at the Private University of Manila, Philippines [ 23 ].

Hence, there was enough evidence to reject the null hypothesis in that there was no significant difference in nursing students’ presentation skills between the baseline and end line. The Pecha Kucha presentation format has a significant effect on nursing student’s classroom presentation skills as it enables them to prepare the learning content, have good mastery of the learning contents, create presentation materials, and confidently share their learning with the audience in the classroom.

The current study’s findings complement the available pieces of evidence on the effects of Pecha Kucha presentations on the students’ learning and development of survival life skills in the 21st century. Pecha kucha presentations have more significant effects on the students’ presentation skills compared with traditional PowerPoint presentations. It enables the students to select the topic carefully, organize and outline the presentation ideas, select appropriate images, create presentations, rehearse the presentations, and deliver them confidently before an audience. It also enables the students to select and organize the learning contents for classroom presentations more than traditional PowerPoint presentations.

Pecha Kucha presentations enhance the mastery of learning content by encouraging the students to read the content several times, rehearse, and practice hard before the actual classroom presentation. It increases the students’ ability to perform literature searches before the classroom presentation compared to a traditional PowerPoint presentation. Pecha Kucha presentations enable the students to create well-structured classroom presentations more effectively compared to traditional PowerPoint presentations. Furthermore, Pecha Kucha presentations make the students confident during the presentation of their assignments and project works before the audience and during answering the questions.

Lastly, Pecha Kucha presentations enhance creativity among the students by providing the opportunity for them to decide on the learning content to be presented. Specifically, they are able to select the learning content, appropriate images, pictures, or figures, organize and structure the presentation slides into a meaningful and transitional flow of ideas, rehearse and practice individually before the actual classroom presentation.

Strength of the study

This study has addressed the pedagogical gap in nursing training and education by providing new insights on the innovative students’ presentation format that engages students actively in their learning to bring about meaningful and effective students’ learning. It has also managed to recruit, asses, and provide intended intervention to 230 nursing students without dropout.

Study limitation

The current study has pointed out some of the strengths of the PechaKucha presentations on the students’ presentation skills over the traditional students’ presentations. However, the study had the following limitations: It involved one group of nursing students from one of the public training institutions in Tanzania. The use of one university may obscure the interpretation of the effects of the size of the intervention on the outcome variables of interest, thus limiting the generalization of the study findings to all training institutions in Tanzania. Therefore, the findings from this study need to be interpreted by considering this limitation. The use of one group of nursing students from one university to explore their learning experience through different presentation formats may also limit the generalization of the study findings to all nursing students in the country. The limited generalization may be attributed to differences in socio-demographic characteristics, learning environments, and teaching and learning approaches. Therefore, the findings from this study need to be interpreted by considering this limitation.

Suggestions for future research

The future research should try to overcome the current study limitations and shortcomings and extend the areas assessed by the study to different study settings and different characteristics of nursing students in Tanzania as follows: To test rigorously the effects of Pecha Kucha presentations in enhancing the nursing students’ learning, the future studies should involve nursing students’ different health training institutions rather than one training institution. Future studies should better use the control students by randomly allocating the nursing students or training institutions in the intervention group or control group in order to assess the students’ learning experiences through the use of Pecha Kucha presentations and PowerPoint presentations consecutively. Lastly, future studies should focus on nursing students’ mastery of content knowledge and students’ classroom performance through the use of the Pecha Kucha presentation format in the teaching and learning process.

Data availability

The datasets generated and analyzed by this study can be obtained from the corresponding author on reasonable request through [email protected] & [email protected].

Abbreviations

Doctor (PhD)

Multimedia Theory of Cognitive Learning

National Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Principle Investigator

Pecha Kucha presentation

Statistical Package for Social Sciences

Tanzania Commission for Universities

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgements

The supervisors at the University of Dodoma, statisticians, my employer, family members, research assistants and postgraduate colleagues are acknowledged for their support in an attempt to facilitate the development and completion of this manuscript.

The source of funds to conduct this study was the registrar, Tanzania Nursing and Midwifery Council (TNMC) who is the employer of the corresponding author. The funds helped the author in developing the protocol, printing the questionnaires, and facilitating communication during the data collection and data analysis and manuscript preparation.

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Contributions

S.J.H: conceptualization, proposal development, data collection, data entry, data cleaning and analysis, writing the original draft of the manuscript W.C.M: Conceptualization, supervision, review, and editing of the proposal, and the final manuscript S.S.A: Conceptualization, supervision, review, and editing of the proposal and the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Setberth Jonas Haramba .

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Ethics approval and consent to participate.

All methods were carried out under the relevant guidelines and regulations. Since the study involved the manipulation of human behaviors and practices and the exploration of human internal learning experiences, there was a pressing need to obtain ethical clearance and permission from the University of Dodoma (UDOM) Institution of Research Review Ethics Committee (IRREC) in order to conduct this study. The written informed consents were obtained from all the participants, after explaining to them the purpose, the importance of participating in the study, the significance of the study findings to students’ learning, and confidentiality and privacy of the information that will be provided. The nursing students who participated in this study benefited from the knowledge of the Pecha Kucha presentation format and how to prepare and present their assignments using the Pecha Kucha presentation format.

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Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of breast cancer in Ethiopia: a systematic review

• Firaol Guyassa Dandena 1 , 2 ,
• Berhanetsehay Teklemariam Teklewold 2 ,
• Tadele Dana Darebo 3 &
• Yisihak Debodina Suga 2  

BMC Cancer volume  24 , Article number:  1102 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

According to GLOBOCAN 2020 Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the prevalence is increasing worldwide and in Ethiopia. This review assessed studies conducted in Ethiopia on the clinical features and epidemiology of breast cancer.

Data base search conducted PubMed, Google Scholar African Journals Online (AJOL), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Hinari without time restrictions. The search keywords included; prevalence and pattern, clinical presentation, histological and molecular subtypes, and management. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline to identify, search, extract articles, and report this systematic review. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO, ID: CRD42023403320.

Twenty studies were included in the review with 33,369 participants and 3 were community-based and 17 were hospital-based. In all except two reviewed studies, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of Ethiopia. The most frequent presenting symptom was a breast lump/mass and commonly affected side was right breast. Most patients presented at a late stage and they were premenopausal age group. The commonest histology type is ductal carcinoma, that the most prevalent receptor was estrogen receptor positive, and the most common molecular subtype was Luminal A in pathology samples. Surgery is main stay of treatment and the most common surgical technique practiced in Ethiopia is modified radical mastectomy.

Breast cancer incidence is rising, and it accounts for the major cancer burden in the country. There is a need for additional awareness-raising and health education because delayed presentation are critical problems throughout Ethiopia. For planning and monitoring cancer patterns, comprehensive demographic and clinical data from a population or facility-based registry are needed in the regions. The available treatment options are still limited in Ethiopia it needs infrastructural development.

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Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that in 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common cancer with 685,000 deaths worldwide. It continues to cause more disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in women worldwide than any other cancer. Deaths from breast cancer are high in African countries due to poor health infrastructure, poor vital records, delayed health-seeking behavior, and low community awareness [ 1 ].

Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates in the world have increased over the last three decades. Study done on Breast cancer incidence and mortality from 1990 to 2016. In 60 out of 102 countries, the incidence of breast cancer has more than doubled, while the death rate has doubled in 43 out of 102 countries [ 2 ]. By 2030, it is predicted that there will be 2.7 million new cases worldwide each year and 0.87 million deaths from breast cancer [ 3 ].

A country assessment showed that breast cancer is the most common cancer illness in Ethiopia, accounting for 16,133 (20.9%) of all cancer cases and 9,061 (17.5%) of all cancer-related deaths [ 4 ]. Approximately 80% of breast cancer cases in sub-Saharan Africa are detected at late stages (stage III or IV), compared to 15% in high-income countries [ 5 ].

Breast cancer arises from the epithelium lining the milk ducts, known as invasive ductal carcinoma. This is the most common subgroup (50–80%), followed by the group arising from the glandular tissue of the breast lobules [ 6 ]. Based on mRNA gene expression levels, breast cancer can be classified into molecular subgroups. The four main intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and basal-like). Regarding Hormone status of breast cancers ER-positive tumors account for almost 70% of all breast cancers in Western populations [ 7 , 8 ]. The TNM system for cancer staging refers to the classification of a tumor based on a list of factors, including the degree of disease affecting the main tumor (Tis to T4), regional lymph node status (N0 to N3), and distant metastases (M0 or M1) (0 to IV) [ 9 ].

When choosing a treatment plan, the type of breast cancer and its stage are often considered. Patients with breast cancer are often given several types of treatment. The current choices are radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and chemotherapy [ 10 ]. According to studies from underdeveloped countries, stage I and stage II have five-year survival rates of 90% and 65%, respectively, while stage III and stage IV have rates of only 33% and 6%, respectively [ 11 ].

Until April 2022, the Tikur Anbesa Specialized Hospital (TASH) was the only center in the country that offered radiotherapy. As of April 2022, Ethiopia has two additional functional radiation therapy centers: Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) in the southwest of the country and Hiwot Fana Specialized Hospital at Haramaya University in the eastern part of the country.

Rationale of the study

Based on a preliminary search, we couldn’t find compressive evidence at the country level regarding breast cancer patients’ epidemiology and clinical profile. Therefore, a thorough examination of the existing evidence on breast cancer would aid in understanding breast cancer epidemiology and clinical profile in the country. This review provides evidence for the development of future strategies that are especially suited to the Ethiopian population.

Study objective

This study aimed to generate country wide evidence on epidemiology and clinical characteristics of breast cancer in Ethiopia.

The PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic review database checked for already-done or ongoing systematic reviews with the same objective before the data collection process started. The protocol of this review is registered in ID: CRD42023403320. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline to identify, search, extract articles, and report this systematic review [ 12 ].

Search strategy

The electronic databases and search engines PubMed, Google Scholar African Journals Online, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature and Hinari were searched until June 20, 2023. The MeSH terms and key words were as follows: breast cancer, breast neoplasm, prevalence, epidemiology, Sign, Symptom Presentation, histology, molecular subtype, and management of breast cancer. The MeSH keywords were combined using Boolean operators (AND/OR), and Ethiopia’s name was appended at the end. To enhance the number of articles included and lower the number of missing articles, hand searching was done on the citations and references listed in the eligible articles ( Tables  1 and 2 ).

Eligibility criteria

Selection of study and extraction.

As shown in the PRISMA flowchart, all articles identified from the electronic database searches were imported into Zotero and Duplicates were removed. Further Exclusion of articles conducted using title and abstract screening. Articles with full text were assessed for eligibility and further full text exclusion done on those articles which do not have a clearly written result. FGD and BTT extracted data simultaneously and independently, and any disagreements were resolved after independent review by the TGD and YDS. Finally, we extracted relevant information from each literature using an Excel spreadsheet template to avoid missing important information when preparing the results of the review or for future cross-checking. The extracted data includes first author’s name, year of publication, study design, location, prevalence and pattern, Presenting Symptom, Stage at presentation, Histology findings, Molecular Features and Treatment.

PRISMA flowchart for article Search and Selection Process

Data analysis

The extracted data were further categorized into institution-based and community-based according to the setting in which the studies took place and further sorted according to the institution in which the studies were conducted. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist [ 13 ].

Study selection and characteristics

A total of 352 articles were found from electronic data base searching on the search engines and databases. All of these search results exported to Zotero computer software, where 140 duplicate records were removed and 149 were removed after being screened based on title and abstract. Further 43 articles were removed based on an objective of the review. Finally, 20 eligible articles, which enrolled 33,369 participants, were included in the systematic review (Fig.  1 ).

Most of the studies were conducted in Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital (TASH)(6/20), which was only hospital with radiotherapy treatment in the country until April 2022. Articles based on the study setting: 3 (15%) articles were community-based, and 17 (85%) articles were hospital-based. Based on study design, 9 (45%) articles were cross-sectional, 10 (50%) retrospective chart reviews, and one retrospective cohort.

Prevalence and pattern

Five studies assessed the prevalence and pattern of breast cancer in the country. All hospital-based studies showed the prevalence of breast cancer compared to other cancers. Breast cancer accounts for 15.2–26% of all cancers [ 14 , 15 ] and from female cancer 29.3–37% [ 11 , 16 ].

A community-based study done using the Addis Ababa City Cancer Registry (AACCR) showed the incidence of breast cancer (2012–2013) to be 31.5% of all female cancers [ 17 ] and a study done during 2012–2015 from AACCR and six regions showed breast cancer constituted 33% of all cancers in women and 23% of all cancers [ 18 ].

According to a study done at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (HUCSH) from 2013 to 2019, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer in hospitals has increased from 69 (12.3%) In 2013, 106 (19%) in 2019 [ 19 ].

A study from Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (GUCSH), showed breast cancer accounts for 76 (14.1%) of all cancers [ 15 ] and finding from TASH showed breast cancer accounts for 26% of female cancers [ 14 ].

A study conducted at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), of all malignancies, breast cancer accounted for 587 (29.3%) in 2019, making it the second most common disease after cervical CA [ 16 ].

Presenting symptom

Fourteen studies reported Age at diagnosis. The median age ranges 38-55.8 years [ 19 , 20 ] and mean age ranges 42.1–47.5 years [ 16 , 21 ].

Premenopausal patients represent the majority of female breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis, with the median age being between 40 and 46 years (14,15,17,19,23,2829). Breast lumps or masses were the most common presenting symptoms in all studies, followed by breast pain and ulceration [ 20 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 ]. A study conducted at the GUCSH, where 65 (79%) patients presented with breast mass and breast ulceration in 15 patients (18%) [ 26 ].

Similar findings from two university hospitals (Gondar and Felege Hiwot University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital) (GUCSH and FHCSH) revealed that breast lump or mass was the most common presentable symptom in 328 (88.4%), followed by painful wound in 161 (43.4%) [ 22 ].

A study at Dessie Referral Hospital (DRH) showed 117 (57.4%) patients presented with breast lumps, followed by breast pain in 70 (34.3%) [ 25 ]. A multicenter study in Addis Ababa showed that breast lumps were found in 344 (78.0%) patients, followed by pain in 53 (10.2%) patients [ 24 ].

Regarding lymph node involvement, the findings from GUCSH and FHCSH showed that (320, 86.3%) and DRH 30, (14.7%), had a lymph node involvement at presentation [ 22 , 25 ]. According to studies done at the GUCSH and TASH, breast CA commonly affects the right breast 48 (59%), and, 160 (38.4%) respectively ( 26 , 19 and 27 )and unlike others finding from HUCSH showed left breast in is commonly affected 302 (54%), and the upper outer quadrant was the most commonly involved according to the findings from TASH 154 (78.2%) ,40 (9.6%) [ 27 , 28 ].

Stage at presentation

Nine studies included stage at presentation. Eight studies showed most of the patients presented in late stages (stage III and stage IV), and the prevalence of advanced stages ranges from 57 to 71.2% in ( 22 , 19 , 29 , and 25 ). This was shown in a study conducted in GUCSH and FHCSH, in which 53 (14.3%) patients were diagnosed at stage IV and 211 (56.9%) patients were diagnosed at stage III [ 22 ]. According to HUCSH findings, 24 (12.2%) were diagnosed with stage IV disease, 113 (57.4%) with stage III disease, and 160 (30.4%) with early-stage disease [ 19 ].

Findings from DRH showed 82 (40.2%) and 53 (25.5%) were diagnosed with stage IV and stage III, and early stage presentation was 69 (33.8%) [ 27 ]. TASH stages at diagnosis: 74 (57%) were diagnosed at stages III and IV. Stage III: 63 (48.5%); Stage IV: 11 (8.5%) [ 29 ].

Unlike the previous papers, a finding from the TASH showed that the majority of patients 56(59%) of patients presented with early and late stages accounted for 40(41%) [ 30 ].

Histology findings

Nine studies included histologic findings and in all reviewed studies, ductal carcinoma is the most prevalent histology type. The prevalence of ductal carcinoma in studies done in SPHMMC, (GUCSH and FHCSH), GUCSH, and HUCSH studies was 479 (81.6%), 347 (93.5%), 61 (74%), and 156 (79.2), respectively [ 16 , 22 , 26 , 28 ]. Out of nine studies 5 studies were from TASH. Ductal carcinoma is the most common histology type in TASH, followed by lobular carcinoma, with a prevalence ranging from 55.3 to 83.7% [ 20 , 27 , 29 , 30 , 31 ].

Regarding the level of differentiation, studies conducted in TASH and HUCSH, showed that moderate differentiation carcinoma is the commonest type (177 (31.7%) and 91 (46.2%), followed by poor differentiation (155 (27.7%) and 72 (36.5%), respectively [ 28 , 31 ]. Unlike the previous study findings, those from northern Ethiopia (GUCSH and FHCSH) and GUCSH showed that poor differentiation was the most common among types 140 (45.6%) and 30 (37%), followed by moderate differentiation in patients 79 (40.7%) and 14 (17%), respectively [ 22 , 26 ].

Molecular features

Two studies from TASH looked at the prevalence of hormone receptors and molecular subtypes. Both papers showed that the most prevalent receptor was estrogen receptor positive, and the most common molecular subtype was Luminal A in pathology samples. In a study from TASH in 2018, the prevalence of estrogen receptor positivity was 74 (65%), progesterone receptor positivity was 49 (43%), and HER2 positivity was 26 (23%). Regarding molecular subtype, the prevalence of Luminal A (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-) was 45 (40%), Luminal B (ER + and/or PR+, HER2+) was 30 (26%), HER2-enriched (ER-, PR-, HER2+) was 11 (10%), and Triple Negative/Basal like (ER-, PR-, HER2-) was 26 (23%) [ 30 ]. In a similar study from the same institution (2017), 137 biopsies were found to be ER+ (65.5%), PR+ (58%), and HER2 positive (28%) in a study, and the prevalence of molecular subtypes was shown to be Luminal A (54%), Luminal B (22%), HER2-enriched (6%), and Triple 29 Negative/Basal-like (18%) [ 29 ].

Studies included in this review Reported modalities of treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonal therapy. Surgery remain the mainstay of management in many settings in Ethiopia, and the most prevalent surgical technique was modified radical mastectomy (MRM) [ 19 , 22 , 25 ].

Finding from GUCSH showed, surgery was done for all 82 patients of which 51 (62%) of patients underwent MRM, and 79 (96%) received chemotherapy. The commonest chemotherapy regimen is Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide (AC). Hormonal treatment given to 60 (73%) and Tamoxifen 18 (22%) was the commonest type [ 26 ].

Surgery was performed in 357 (96.2%) patients by two university hospitals (GUCSH and FHCSH); chemotherapy was performed in 163 (43.9%); and hormone therapy was performed in 50 (13.5%) [ 22 ].

According to a study conducted at HUCSH, chemotherapy provided for all 559 (100%) patients and Doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel were the chemotherapy regiment was commonest. Hormonal therapy provided 168(30%) and Tamoxifen regiment was commonest hormonal therapy patients, and surgery (modified radical mastectomy) was done for 196 (35.1%) [ 19 ].

Chemotherapy was given for 275 (90.7) patients in TASH in 2019, with the most prevalent regimen being 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FAC) in 66.9% of cases. Surgery was done for 257 (85%) , combination therapy (surgery, chemotherapy, and palliative care) delivered to 189 (55.8%) and Radiotherapy was provided for 107 (35%) [ 21 ].

A similar study from TASH on 2013 Surgery was done for 902 (87%), and the majority had a modified radical mastectomy of 880 (95%). The majority of patients 893 (83%) also received chemotherapy, mainly anthracycline-containing chemotherapy (FAC)782 (73%). Hormonal therapy provided for 864 (81%) [ 31 ].

According to a study conducted at ACSH, 121 (65.1%) patients had surgery and 33 (17.7%) had chemotherapy, while the rest had both surgery and chemotherapy [ 30 ]. In TASH(2017), 192 (74%) patients received surgical intervention, the commonest being mastectomy 126, (65.6%); radiotherapy was provided for 53 (20.5%); and chemotherapy was provided for 231 (89.2%) patients [ 29 ].

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in Ethiopia in most reviewed studies, where the prevalence ranges from 15.2 to 26% from all cancers [ 14 , 15 ] and from female cancer 29.3–37% [ 11 , 16 ]. The pattern of breast cancer is increasing in Ethiopia. A study from HUCSH showed the breast cancer rate in hospitals has increased from 69 (12.3%) in 2013 to 106 (19%) in 2019 [ 19 ] and Results from TASH showed changes in breast cancer between 1997 and 2012, with a prevalence in 2012 has increased by more than seven times compared 1997 [ 32 ].

finding from different studies support this review’s finding which shows incidence increased by 1.44% per year from 1990 to 2017 and as for regional changes in incidence, all regions of breast cancer had increased incidence except North America, and the Middle East and North Africa had the largest increase in overall incidence [ 33 ]. In a similar study conducted between 2000 and 2012, incidence rates of breast cancer increased in South Korea, China, and the United Kingdom while decreasing in the United States [ 34 ]. The breast cancer incidence in Africa continues to increase and is projected to double by 2050.

This review showed commonest age group was from 40 to 46 years ( 7 , 22 , 23 , 21 , 16 , 28 , and 20 ) which similar finding other African studies [ 35 , 36 , 37 ].

Regarding stage at presentation, most of the patients presented with late stages (stages 3 and 4), with a prevalence range of 57–71.2% [ 19 , 22 , 25 , 29 ]. which is supported by papers from Africa showed with 89.6% and 72.8% of breast patients in Kenya and Nigeria respectively presenting with advanced stage disease [ 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Studies in South Africa reported an advanced stage breast cancer incidence of 50 and 55% [ 40 ]. This review showed that early-stage (stages I and II) accounts for 15–35% [ 6 , 8 , 15 , 27 ]. Similar findings were found in other developing countries, where only 20–50% of patients in the majority of low- and middle-income countries were diagnosed in these earlier stages [ 39 ].

Breast lump or mass is the most common presenting symptom in all studies from various parts of the country, ranging from 57.4 to 88.4% [ 22 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].

Regarding histological findings of breast cancer in Ethiopia, the commonest histology is ductal carcinoma, followed by lobar carcinoma in all reviewed research and prevalence ranges (55.3–93.5%) [ 16 , 20 , 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 41 ].

The prevalence of hormone receptors and molecular subtypes is high; estrogen receptor positivity is the most common receptor and is found in more than 65% of breast cancer patients. In terms of molecular subtype, Luminal A (ER + and/or PR+, HER2-) is the most common finding in breast cancer biopsies, accounting for more than 40% of cases, while Triple Negative/Basal-like cases account for more than 15% of cases [ 20 , 29 ]. Similar finding from studies from south Africa showed Estrogen Receptor is the commonest hormone receptors [ 39 , 40 ].

This review showed surgery is the mainstay treatment for breast cancer in Ethiopia, and radiotherapy is only provided in the capital city on TASH. A similar study from Africa showed a mastectomy rate greater than 85% and a huge difference from Europe’s breast cancer mastectomy of 30% [ 41 ].

Limitations of the study

Only English language articles were included.

Conclusion and recommendation

This review summarized the epidemiology, clinical and histological characteristics, and treatment modalities of breast cancer in Ethiopia. Breast cancer incidence is rising, and it accounts for the major cancer burden in the country. There is a need for additional awareness-raising and health education because delayed presentation is a critical problem throughout Ethiopia. For planning and monitoring cancer patterns, comprehensive demographic and clinical data from a population- or facility-based registry are needed. Currently, only one exists in the capital, the Addis Ababa City Cancer Registry (AACCR). There is a need to establish and strengthen histologic and pathology labs, as most hospitals are doing surgeries without histologic, molecular, or receptor identification since it helps with targeted therapy, according to what current best practice suggests. The available treatment options are still limited in Ethiopia; it needs Expanding radiation facilities is a major step toward improving outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Data availability

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in supplementary file .

Abbreviations

Addis Ababa City Cancer Registry 

Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

• Breast Cancer

Dessie Referral Hospital

Ethiopian Public Health Institute

Estrogen Receptor

Felege Hiwot Comprehensive specialized hospitals

Gondar University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

Human Epidermal Receptor

Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital

Institutional Review Board

Jimma University Medical Center

Low- and Middle-Income Country

Medical Subjects Headings

Modified Radical Mastectomy  

Progesterone Receptor

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical Collage

Tikur Anbesa specialized hospital

World Health Organization

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Firaol Guyassa Dandena

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FGD and BTT developed the protocol, reviewed the reference list, extracted data, and conducted the analyses. TDD and YDS assessed the quality of the data, ensured the absence of errors and arbitrated in case of disagreement. FGD developed the draft manuscript and TDD critically reviewed it. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Dandena, F.G., Teklewold, B.T., Darebo, T.D. et al. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of breast cancer in Ethiopia: a systematic review. BMC Cancer 24 , 1102 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12822-5

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Received : 22 April 2024

Accepted : 19 August 2024

Published : 04 September 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-024-12822-5

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