When writing reports you will often include media (Tables and Figures) which needs to be clearly identified and labelled.
If Referencing directs the reader to external sources of information, then clearly naming your internal media gives the reader the direction they need within the report.
Tables are representations of the data and show numbers in column or rows. Figures use that data to show the information in a more visual manner, assisting the reader in their understanding. While labeling the table, the label or numbers are centered and written on the top of the tables.
Example Table:
Table 1: Title
Figures refer to any visual information including but not limited to charts, diagrams, graphs, photos, etc. which are not Tables. They can be in the main sections of the report, or if they contain supplemental material they may be contained in an appendix e.g. survey questions used in a primary research project. Figures should always be numbered in the order they appear within the document e.g. Figure 1, and always underneath the image.
Example Figure:
Figure 1: Photo of a cat
Or if from a source of information - Figure 1: Photo of a cat (Heap, 2020)
Tech: How to......
Insert a caption for a picture
Insert a table of figures
Figure Caption / Figure Legend: sometimes these terms are used interchangeably. Figure captions provide more detail to the reader ensuring they can understand the figure without having to read the main body of text. Factors to include in a good caption: Figure X: title, materials and methods, results and any supporting definitions.