Descriptive analysis is a way of summarizing and aggregating results from groups. More emphasis will be placed on descriptive analysis in this fact sheet. Verbal Description of Data Many reports rely on narrative information to present most, if not all, of the necessary information. Standard writing style, that is, the use of sentences and paragraphs, is often the best way to present information, especially to audiences that are not accustomed to working with charts, graphs, tables, numbers, etc. It is the only way to present information such as examples and explanations.
Tables represent narrative or numerical information in tabular fashion.
A table arranges information in rows or columns, so that data elements may be referred to easily. They provide a clear and succinct way to present data, and are often more simple and understandable than standard writing style. They also facilitate the interpretation of data. They often describe information more clearly than several paragraphs of description. Organization charts are useful for presenting the chain of responsibility in a program.