This Way and That

A two-way frequency table is a table that examines the relationship between the two categorical variables. Review the different frequencies that can be read in a two-way frequency table using the diagram below.

Use these graphics to help you when interpreting two-way frequency tables.

*Note that two-way tables can contain as many categories as needed. This table is just for reference.

		Variable 1
		Category 1*	Category 2*	Category 3*	Total
	Category 1*		Divide these values by same column or row TOTALS to find conditional relative frequencies
	Category 2*
	Category 3*
	Category 4*
	Total

An outline of a two-way table is shown. Three columns are shown and are titled Variable 1, and each individual column is titled Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3. Four rows are shown and are titled Variable 2, and each individual row is titled Category 1, Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4. A Total column and a total row is also given. The center cells of the table are highlighted, and the note “Divide these values by the same column or row totals to find the conditional relative frequencies” is given.

		Variable 1
		Category 1*	Category 2*	Category 3*	Total
	Category 1*		Divide these values
	Category 2*		by column or row
	Category 3*		OVERALL TOTAL to
	Category 4*		find joint frequencies
	Total

An outline of a two-way table is shown. Three columns are shown and are titled Variable 1, and each individual column is titled Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3. Four rows are shown and are titled Variable 2, and each individual row is titled Category 1, Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4. A Total column and a total row is also given. The center cells of the table are highlighted, and the note “Divide these values by column or row overall total to find the joint frequencies” is given.

		Variable 1
		Category 1*	Category 2*	Category 3*	Total
	Category 1*				Divide margin
	Category 2*				values by
	Category 3*				OVERALL TOTAL
	Category 4*				to find marginal
	Total	Divide margin values by OVERALL TOTAL to find marginal			frequencies

An outline of a two-way table is shown. Three columns are shown and are titled Variable 1, and each individual column is titled Category 1, Category 2 and Category 3. Four rows are shown and are titled Variable 2, and each individual row is titled Category 1, Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4. A Total column and a total row is also given. The column totals and row totals of the table are highlighted, and the note “Divide margin values by overall total to find marginal frequencies” is given.

Two-Way Frequency Table Tip