There are four major types of figures, line graphs, bar graphs, scatter graphs, and photographs. Line graphs are used to show the relation between two quantitative variables. They are most often used to show continuous change or when the shape of the curve or curves is important. Bar graphs or histograms are simple, adaptable, and telegraphic. A cluster of dots along a diagonal indicates a correlation.
Photographs have excellent eye appeal.
They should be of professional quality and should be prepared with a background that produces the greatest contrast. Many of the design and execution problems involved in producing figures are reduced with the use of the computer. Creating Figures with Excel One of the easiest ways to produce top quality figures is to use the spreadsheet Excel. Although the default settings for charts do not meet APA format standards, just a few modifications of the figure will produce a top figure. There are two basic types of figures that are used in psychology papers, line graphs and bar charts .