Frequency Tables

A frequency table shows the number of times each unique value appears in one or more variables.

They are commonly used for reporting (e.g., providing the data to appear in charts) and for data cleaning.

Typically, a frequency table shows:

• The unique values of a variable or set of variables. In the example below, the unique values are the age categories.
• Either or both of
  • The percentage of observations with each unique value
  • The number of observations with each unique value

Any other statistics of interest (e.g., cumulative percentages, expected values, residuals).

The table above shows a frequency table for a categorical variable. Frequency tables can also be created for sets of related variables. For example, the table below is for a multiple response question.

By default, frequency tables in some software show statistical significance, in arrows and colors, comparing each category to the average of all the categories (other than NET categories).